Flower gardens bring color and beauty to any home landscape. Learn how to start one from scratch, including soil preparation and layout options.
Step one of creating your flower garden should be selecting an ideal location. Make sure there will be ample sunlight; full-sun plants may perish in shaded environments.
Prepare the Soil
If you’re planning a flower garden, selecting plants that thrive in your climate and environment is key to its success. Also consider what you plan on using the flowers for: bouquets, crafts or cutting. Knowing your area’s spring and fall frost dates is also key when setting up a planting schedule.
Preparing the soil may seem intimidating, but it’s crucial for creating a successful garden. Begin by clearing away any grassy areas within your designated garden space.
Apply 12-18 inches of organic matter such as bokashi compost, leaves, grass clippings, manure or straw. To determine whether the soil is workable, squeeze a handful of dirt between your fingers – if it crumbles easily and does not hold its shape then the soil is ready to be planted immediately; otherwise wait a few days and return later to try again.
Select Your Plants
Prior to buying flowers for your garden site, take note of how much sunlight each area receives. Some plants require full sun while others thrive in partial shade conditions. Watch where the sun moves during a day and where standing water remains after rainfall has fallen.
Once you know the amount of sunlight available in your space, research spring and fall frost dates in your region for guidance when planning to plant. Since many flowering plants bloom at different times during the growing season, mix up colors as much as possible so as to provide color and texture throughout its entirety.
Strive for a garden design that provides four-season interest, especially in cold climates. Include native flowers to attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds while including shrubs with fruiting branches or twisty shapes that offer winter interest. Mixing heights, sizes and textures together for a harmonious, flowing design; garden designer Piet Oudolf recommends grouping plants with similar flower shapes to achieve this aim.
Plan the Layout
Flower gardens add color, texture and depth to any yard. Whether your intention is for cut arrangements or simply enjoyment, the key to designing an eye-catching blooming garden is choosing a focal point and planning around it.
Master flower garden designers employ various strategies to make their gardens visually appealing, such as grouping plants according to size and shape, creating layers, and choosing color combinations that create layers. Plants with similar water and sunlight requirements should also be grouped together; as world-renowned Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf notes, plant shapes play an integral part in the overall composition. Taller plants should typically be placed towards the back or center, with medium height or shorter plants added nearer the front for depth.
Experienced flower garden designers also know to use plants with staggered bloom times so the garden remains visually stimulating throughout its cycle of seasons. This can be achieved by mixing shrubs for winter interest, perennials for summer flowers and annuals for fall hues into their designs.
Set Up the Bed
If you want your flowers to flourish at their full potential, soil preparation will play a vital role. A simple task, it will drastically enhance your garden’s aesthetic while aiding flower development.
As your first step, remove any weeds or debris from the area, as well as digging up and disposing of existing sod. A flat shovel or spade designed specifically for gardening beds can make this task easier, making it easier to slice through sod without damaging its roots.
Before choosing any plants to plant in this space, assess its sunlight needs. Many annual and perennial flowering annuals require full sun to thrive. If the site receives only partial or shade sun, your options for plants may be severely restricted. For optimal results, at least six hours of direct sunlight daily should be available for selection.