An attractive flower garden can do wonders for our spirits. From fragrant perennials and annuals to vibrant annuals, planning and hard work go into achieving the desired look of any garden.
Step one of starting your flower garden should be to walk around your yard and identify the optimal spot. Make sure the area receives enough sunlight.
Soil
No matter whether your goal is to include flowers as part of a vegetable garden, attract pollinators or simply enjoy their beauty, having a flower garden requires good soil. An amended with compost and lime mixture can provide your flowers with essential nutrients they require to thrive.
Sun/Shade
Selecting a sunny site for your flower garden will help it to flourish; many perennials and annuals need full sun (a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight a day). If there is shaded land available to you, consider planting both shade-loving ferns as well as shade-tolerant flowers such as hostas or lilies to provide optimal conditions.
Fertilize your flower garden on an ongoing basis. Liquid fertilizer can be purchased at most garden centers and should be applied according to label or soil test recommendations. Or you could make your own fertilizing tea by soaking manure or compost in water and diluting before applying directly onto beds.
Sun/Shade
Flowers need plenty of sun in order to thrive, so select locations in your yard where there is at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Plant a combination of annuals and perennials so that blooms can appear all season long.
When selecting flowers, choose those which are easy to grow and care for. Avoid plants with holes or sticky leaves that have become root bound; gently shake any plant to see how its roots hold together.
Before planting flowering plants, prepare the soil by digging a hole and adding garden compost or well-rotted manure into it. By mixing in this organic matter, light soil conditions will be maintained while improving structure and nutrients in your soil. After you plant your flowers, water them thoroughly to give them an ideal start; use a fine spray pattern hose attachment so as not to damage new growth!
Water
Plant your flower garden during spring when all risk of frost has passed, after you’ve prepared the soil by digging it over, mixing in well-rotted manure or garden compost and raking. Give seeds or potted plants an ample soak prior to planting to ensure a fast start-up time.
Strive for a harmonious flower garden by mixing blooms of various colors together with foliage of complimentary hues. Furthermore, take note of shape: repetition of similar shapes–spires, plumes, daisies–creates visual harmony according to world-renowned Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf.
Select perennial flowers such as lilies and pansies for lower maintenance needs, while including native species to create an insect-, bird- and butterfly-friendly garden. Don’t forget evergreens either for structure and year-round color! Keep an eye out for fungal diseases like leaf spot and blight that could compromise the beauty of your blossoms; prevent these common gardening pests with Daconil Fungicide Ready-to-Use or Daconil Concentrate products to combat them effectively.
Fertilize
Flowers bring color, fragrance and beauty to any garden. A colorful mix of low-growing annuals like sweet alyssum or lobelia, or tall beauties like sunflowers or hollyhocks creates a welcoming front-of-house display while perennials and bulbs extend bloom time throughout the year.
Flowering plants typically need full sun – meaning a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight daily – in order to flourish, although planting in partial-sun or shaded environments may still be possible, although you will have less options as far as what species or varieties of plant you can cultivate.
Prior to planting flowering plants, most require a generous dose of organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure, such as compost. A nutrient rich soil will enable flowers to flourish better and bloom larger, while liquid fertilizers may be applied in early spring or as the buds form as extra boost of nutrients for blooms to develop further. Be wary of overfertilization though – overdoing it could damage roots and leaves; always follow label instructions regarding application rates and times when applying any liquid fertilizers.