Each flower requires specific environmental conditions in order to thrive, so select plants that will thrive best in your soil and climate.
Pick plants that complement both your color preferences and design style, while keeping shape in mind as well. According to world-renowned Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf, repetition of key shapes provides continuity within a flower garden.
Choose a Location
Starting a flower garden involves selecting an ideal location. Choose somewhere easily accessible for watering and where you can appreciate its beauty, while taking into account your USDA growing zone and first/last frost dates to plan accordingly.
Once you’ve selected your spot, clear away grass, weeds and debris before adding compost or organic matter such as leaf mold to improve soil quality. Work the soil until its depth reaches 6-8 inches before planting your crops – however avoid working wet soil, as this damages its structure and prevents your plants from receiving adequate moisture and nutrition.
Create a planting map by positioning tall plants toward the back and shorter ones closer to the front of the bed. Consider selecting perennials with staggered bloom times as well as annuals that will provide visual interest through-out the season, while bee-friendly varieties should not be forgotten!
Prepare the Soil
Every flower needs the ideal combination of soil conditions, temperature, moisture and sunlight in order to flourish and bloom in its environment. Gardeners must know their USDA growing zone in order to select flowers which can thrive locally.
An essential element of successful gardening lies within its soil. Soil tests provide an inexpensive and straightforward way to assess whether the soil is acidic or alkaline and assist you with improving it before planting your garden.
Soil that is too sandy or clay-like will not provide sufficient nutrition for flowers, so amending it with compost, manure, leaf mold or peat will increase their chance of success.
Make the garden more visually engaging from all sides by mixing up heights, colors and textures – like with heuchera and astilbe – as you add shrubs that provide structure and four-season interest like heuchera and astilbe shrubs. Mixing heights, colors and textures will ensure an appealing display from all perspectives; incorporate foliage such as gladiolus sword-like gladiolus for textural contrast as well as Iris pallida ‘Aureo-Variegata’ for textural contrast; always ensure the soil remains moist when working; dry soil may make digging difficult while wet soil will clump together when working on.
Plant the Flowers
Decide on your ideal flower types. Consider perennials such as lilacs and iris; shrubs with colorful blooms such as vibrant hydrangeas; annuals such as petunias or geraniums; as well as flowers that attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds as well as drought-tolerant varieties which thrive in your climate. Also keep pollinators in mind by seeking native species of flowers which promote bee, butterfly and hummingbird activity as well as drought-tolerant species that thrive in your climate.
Once you have selected your flower plants, the next step should be preparing the soil. This can be achieved by digging at least a spade depth, carefully clearing away weeds. Add well-rotted manure or garden compost then fork it into the soil surface so water drains properly.
Plant your flowers once all danger of frost has passed and according to the instructions on their seed packet or plant tag. Keep in mind that tall annuals, like sunflowers and zinnias, may require stakes or trellis supports in order to remain upright.
Care for the Flowers
Flowers gardens can bring joy and beauty year-round, whether your preference lies with perennials or annuals. Planning your flowers wisely takes into account mature height and spread, mature flower colors, seasons of blooming and visual continuity for maximum impact and joy!
First, determine how much sunlight your planting site receives. Monitor this area over several days to observe when and where the sun hits it during each day; then choose flowers which thrive in this environment.
Once the flowers have been planted, take note of their needs for water and nutrition. Remember that plants require consistent moisture until they become established – ensure your hose has a fine spray pattern to avoid disrupting new buds or leaves! Don’t forget deadheading to encourage repeat blooming; using sharp scissors or snips is the most efficient way to do this.