Flower gardens add vibrant splashes of color to any yard, whether planted with perennial blooms that come back year after year or with annuals such as zinnias and marigolds.
Preparing the soil correctly for a successful flower garden is key to its success. Plan ahead so that flowers bloom all season.
Choose a Site
No matter the source, flowers add color and fragrance to any landscape. From perennials that bloom year after year to annuals that burst forth instantly – whatever type of garden you create with flowers can bring joy if done correctly. Here are a few steps that will ensure its success:
Start by considering what kind of garden you want to build: cutting garden, bee & butterfly habitat or something in between? Once you know its purpose, draw a sketch to help determine your available space; pay particular attention to where sunlight will hit it since this will have an impactful influence over which flowers you can grow and their flourishing success.
Avoid planting under deep shade and near mature trees as this environment makes establishing roots difficult, offers few nutrients, and competes heavily with their roots for moisture and nourishment.
Create a Bed
When creating a flower garden, establishing an ideal planting bed is essential to its success. Doing this ensures your blooms receive adequate amounts of water and sunlight needed for their full blossom. Use a hose or marking paint to outline its shape before placing plants there.
Before beginning to dig, it is wise to contact your local utility company in order to check for buried utility lines. A quick call should provide all the answers.
Dependent upon the types of flowers you plan to grow, your flower bed may require additional preparations. When planting perennials, for instance, consider using the thriller, spiller and filler formula when designing your garden: Plant tall plants at the back with small shrubs like nandina, loropetalum and distylium adding evergreen color, finishing off the design with colorful annuals cascading over its edges for an eye-catching pop of color and landscape edging as another way of adding structure and character into your flower garden design!
Plant the Right Flowers
Flowers add vibrant color and fragrance to your yard, as well as increasing curb appeal, drawing pollinators in, and providing evergreen foliage. When selecting plants to grow in your climate and garden site, it’s essential that they fit within their USDA growing zone – knowing which varieties to grow can help make that decision.
Before planting your garden site, take note of how much sunlight it receives throughout the day. This will enable you to select suitable flowers – drought-tolerant succulents do well in full sunlight while hydrangeas require shade during morning and afternoon hours.
Be mindful of flowering times so you can combine perennials with staggered blooming periods and add annuals for color fill-in. Consider adding an inch or so of organic material at planting time – working wet soil can damage its structure and render it less friendly towards flowers!
Water
Flower gardens bring color and attract pollinators into your landscape, but before blooms start appearing there’s much work to do in preparation and planting the right flowers for you and your landscape. From soil preparation and layout planning, through choosing appropriate blooms to selecting them all and planting.
Start by clearing away grass and tilling the area where your flower bed will go, before amending its soil with compost, shredded leaves, coconut coir or well-rotted manure to retain moisture while providing essential nutrients to your flowers.
Select a site with full sunlight and without shade, as shade will limit how many flowers will grow in your garden. Also take into account rainfall in your region as well as how much water your plants require; most require at least an inch per week while drought-tolerant perennials and xeric annuals may require less. Water your plants early morning or evening so the moisture doesn’t evaporate during hot hours of the day.