Starting a flower garden from scratch is an enjoyable task for a novice gardener. The first step should be identifying an area in your yard for your flower bed, marking off an area and clearing away grass and any unwanted vegetation from that space.
Make sure the area receives ample sunlight; most flowers and plants require it in order to thrive. Next, determine the soil type and condition.
Location
Selecting an ideal spot for your flower garden is one of the most critical steps. A strategically-conceived flower bed will save time and effort later on.
Step one is clearing away grass, weeds and debris to prepare the area for planting. Next, amend the soil by amending it using a soil test kit in order to enrich it for flowers; aim for an acidity level between 6.5-7.2 as most flowers prefer these conditions.
Consider the sun requirements of your desired plants when designing your garden. A full-sun garden works great for blooms such as coreopsis and coneflower, while shade-lovers such as hosta and heuchera do well too. Make sure that at least six hours of direct sunlight reach your garden daily.
Soil
An attractive flower garden adds vivid hues and lush textures to any yard, adding vibrant, lush colors that last year-round. From annuals for quick bursts of blooming color, or perennials that provide year-long beauty, there are numerous seed catalogs out there with endless choices available to them.
Before sowing seeds, it’s essential to assess your soil’s needs. Flowers will only thrive if their needs are met by their environment.
Begin by noting how much sunlight your location receives; plants that thrive in full sun will soon perish if planted in an overly shaded garden bed.
Before planting your flower garden, till and loosen the site 8 to 12 inches deep before applying an all-purpose balanced fertilizer like Pennington UltraGreen All Purpose Plant Food 10-10-10 or organic material such as compost or manure to enrich it further. Avoid working wet soil as this compromises garden beds’ integrity; ensure watering can easily reach it by placing your garden within reach of a hose hose to make life simpler!
Planting
Flower gardens add beauty, fragrance and bouquets of color both inside and outside your home. To create the ideal garden space, start by prepping the soil properly and matching plants to their environments. From there on out, it is up to you if your design features formal straight-edged beds with orderly rows of blooms or an organic design with irregular clusters of blooms.
Sunlight should always be considered, with different flowers needing full or partial sun depending on their individual requirements. Checking plant labels to ascertain this information, locate your flower beds in spots that receive this amount of sunshine and then arrange them accordingly.
Be sure to place the flower bed within reach of your garden hose for easy watering and to prevent knocking off blooms accidentally. Also avoid situating it near a mature tree as they often produce deep shade that discourages flowering; furthermore, their roots compete for nutrients with many flowering plants, thus impeding their success.
Care
Once you understand how much space there is to work with, what colors you desire, and your maintenance time commitment, it’s time to select flowers. A mix of annuals and perennials that bloom season-long is ideal, such as lilyturf or peonies; medium plants such as dianthus or lavender; as well as shrubs with colorful foliage such as heuchera or nandina which add structure and texture can add interest.
Make sure that the flowers you select meet their requirements for sunlight exposure, which is the single most essential aspect of flower gardening. Plants requiring full sun are unlikely to survive in shaded beds while part-shade varieties could experience fade in harsh lighting conditions.
Prior to planting your garden site, prepare it by clearing away grass, weeds, and any debris from the area. Loosen the soil using a shovel or dirt rake before adding well-rotted manure or compost as additional nutrition for your new flowers.