If you want to grow flowers, it is essential that you understand the basics. From prepping the soil and selecting plants to controlling pests.
Fragrant flowers create an inviting garden. By selecting flowers with staggered bloom times, you are assured of fresh floral arrangements throughout the year. Incorporating shrubs provides four-season interest and structure.
Determine Your Garden’s Location
Beginning a flower garden from scratch begins by choosing its location. For optimal success, consider planting in an area with ample sunlight and good drainage.
A shady garden can be less productive, while wet soil can wreak havoc with flowers. Considerations regarding proximity to your house and water sources should also be made when locating your site. Depending on your climate and growing zone requirements, taking note of both could help ensure plants flourish without succumbing to too much heat or too little cold – plants in either of these categories won’t survive long term.
Another factor to keep in mind when creating your garden is how easy it will be for you to maintain it. If you’re new to gardening, select low-maintenance flowers like annuals that require minimal care. Furthermore, be sure to monitor its conditions – such as sunlight and drainage – on different days so as to capture any differences in weather patterns.
Prepare the Soil
Before beginning digging for your flower garden, it’s essential that you make sure there are no buried utility lines nearby. Most cities provide an information number which can help locate these lines – this will save both time and trouble in the future.
Flower gardens require rich, loamy soil that drains well. A soil test can show what changes need to be made in order to optimize your planting site, while adding well-rotted manure or compost will only improve matters further.
Opt for year-round color and fragrance when selecting plants. Group flowers according to their sun/water needs; color combinations are pleasing to the eye while foliage adds texture and color after blooms have faded. If possible, create a flower bed that’s easy for others to walk through without blocking anyone’s view.
Plant the Right Plants
As with any garden, planting flowers that thrive in your region is key. Native perennials tend to require less water and fertilizer than exotic varieties and tend to be harder and more resistant to disease than their exotic counterparts.
Shape of flowers you select is also critical, according to acclaimed Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf. He suggests creating your flower gardens using repetition of certain shapes for maximum visual harmony and tranquillity in your garden space.
As soon as you’re ready to plant, ensure the soil is sufficiently dry for digging or handling, to avoid compacted and restricted growth of flowers. Planted your flowers carefully according to their mature size and maintenance needs; drought-tolerant species should be planted together while moisture-lovers may need space between each other.
Care for Your Garden
Flower gardens add the perfect ambience and curb appeal to outdoor living spaces and can transform curb appeal. However, gardening can be intimidating for newcomers; to begin successfully it’s important to plan the layout, prepare the soil and research which flowers thrive best in your climate.
When selecting flowers, remember that perennials and annuals differ greatly in color and scent of blooms, so staggered flowering times ensure your garden blooms throughout the season.
As weeds compete for water and nutrients with your flowers, remove any unwanted plants regularly. Apply fertilizers at planting time to replenish lost nutrients in your soil; work them into the top 6-8 inches where most flower roots develop. Avoid working the wet soil as this harms its structure and lessens its acceptability for plant roots; water your garden thoroughly but avoid overwatering it.