Flower gardens add fragrance, color and pollinators-attracting benefits to the landscape while being an exciting challenge for new gardeners.
Learn the steps necessary to start a flower garden from scratch and avoid common mistakes. Keep in mind your flower plants may require fungicides in order to combat leaf spot and blight.
Consider your USDA growing zone when choosing flowers. Get acquainted with first and last frost dates as well as which types thrive best in your climate.
Choose a Location
An elegant flower garden adds the finishing touches to any home while providing pollinators habitat. But before diving in the dirt, it’s essential that the chosen garden be suitable for its environment and you.
Start by understanding the needs of the plants you’re cultivating, such as sunlight, soil type and temperature preferences. Flowers that prefer full sunlight will quickly wither under shaded conditions while those requiring cooler temperatures could wilt under direct sunlight.
Consider your garden’s maintenance requirements and desired style before designing, as renowned Dutch designer Piet Oudolf suggests. “Creating your garden with repeated plant heights, shapes and colors will give a unified appearance,” according to Oudolf.
If you intend to grow large flowers for cutting, choose a location near a water hose so you can efficiently trim and treat the blooms. Otherwise, hauling water may take more time. Paths could also help ensure no unexpected steps trample over the flowers by mistake.
Prepare the Soil
Once you’ve selected the location for your flower garden and purchased or planted seeds, it’s time to get dirty! A shovel, dirt rake and trowel will serve as essential tools in loosening and working the soil – this process should be performed prior to planting your flowers so the ground absorbs water freely and absorbs its full benefit. Blending in some well-rotted manure or compost may further enrich the quality of your soil for greater success.
As part of this phase, it’s also wise to create pathways through your flower garden. This will make it easier to navigate around, trim and treat plants without accidentally treading on or damaging them. Also important: give flowers enough room so they have room to flourish – overcrowding can interfere with air circulation leading to fungal diseases; furthermore packing down soil can prevent proper root development.
Plant the Flowers
Flowers add color, fragrance and pollinators to any landscape. Flowers can be planted as three-season beds or combined with perennials and shrubs for four-season interest.
Choose flowers based on color, size, shape and fragrance to meet your own personal preferences. Furthermore, selecting plants suited for your region’s climate is equally essential; native perennials support local wildlife while potentially needing less watering than fancy hybrids.
Before planting, always carefully read and follow the label’s specifications on height, spacing and ideal conditions for growing each variety of plant. Doing this will ensure your garden will look attractive after several seasons rather than overcrowded or sparse.
To achieve optimal results, work with soil that is slightly damp. Digging or handling dry soil can compact it and limit root development, so to achieve the best results it’s best to water after planting your flower garden early each day; doing this helps avoid fungal diseases that could ruin leaves and stems later.
Take Care of the Flowers
Flower gardens require a sunny location with reliable watering and nutrients for their best look, with each transplant or seed providing its own maintenance instructions. Flowering times also play a factor, with perennials having staggered blooming periods to ensure something always has bloomed, as well as adding vibrant annuals for year-round color.
Soil quality plays an integral role in garden plot design. Certain plants simply won’t flourish in rocky, sandy or clay-like soil, while some types require extensive prep work prior to planting.
Ideal settings for flower gardens include sunny spots in your yard, but containers can also work effectively – just ensure there is access to a water faucet or hose connection so as to meet their watering needs. Water slowly and deeply when watering early in the day in order to avoid splashing or spraying foliage with excess moisture that could lead to disease outbreak.