No matter if this is your first garden or just another attempt at creating one, there are certain key things you must remember when beginning this endeavor.
One of the easiest and cheapest ways to begin gardening is with flowers from seed. Not only is this start-up process straightforward and cost-effective; its potential rewards can also be enormous.
Prepare the Site
Prior to planting, it’s essential that the site be thoroughly prepared. This involves clearing away grass and improving the soil – either manually or mechanically. Be sure to add plenty of organic matter and water, too, as the ideal environment for blooming shrubs and perennials to thrive is well-drained soil with proper drainage. As well as being enhanced by regular fertilizer applications, flower beds also benefit from regular pruning sessions to maintain healthful shrubbery and perennials. Utilizing improper tools can be hazardous to your garden’s wellbeing, so be mindful in selecting your blades. In addition to trimming and pruning tasks, try aerating your beds using an air rake for additional leaf-clearing benefits and improved airflow. Alternatively, hire professional gardeners if need be!
Select the Plants
Selecting the ideal flowers for your flower garden is essential to creating an engaging landscape. Selecting flowers that thrive in both climate and soil conditions will make planting and maintaining it much simpler.
Start by researching your region’s hardiness zone to determine what kinds of plants will thrive there, then choose an area that gets at least six hours of sun each day and is protected from direct winds.
Once you’ve selected your flower garden’s site, prepare the site by clearing away any grassy areas and loosening up soil. Dig in plenty of compost to enrich the soil so your flowers thrive!
As part of your flower garden design, select plants that best complement its height and bloom time. Taller blooms should go in the back; just make sure that they don’t block windows or doors!
Plan the Layout
No matter the size or scale of your flower garden, its success requires an organized plan. The optimal design will depend on factors like its location, light conditions and personal objectives.
World-renowned Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf recommends pairing plants with shapes to add interest and create an overall aesthetic in your garden. Depending on the size of your space, multiple flowers could be combined together for this look.
Design with repetition: According to John Wiley from Washington State University Extension, repetition of key colors and shapes creates an environment of peace and unanimity while repeating patterns help provide visual continuity from one area to the next.
Consider Bloom Times: To extend the season and keep your garden looking its best, incorporate plants that bloom at different times throughout the year. That way, when some flowers fade or die off suddenly, others can step in quickly to fill in any gaps left by faded ones.
Plant the Flowers
Flower gardening can be a rewarding way to reduce stress, enhance your landscape and attract pollinators to local areas. But it can also be challenging – particularly if it’s your first attempt and/or you have no experience planting flowers or are uncertain what types of plants will work in your space.
It’s essential to select appropriate flowers and plant them effectively; vibrant sunflowers prefer full sun while succulents do better in shaded locations.
Before choosing which flowers to plant in your garden area, ensure it receives enough sunlight throughout the day. Perennial flowers require six hours of direct sun every day while others prefer partial or full shade.
Start by prepping the soil by layering 2 to 3 inches of compost into it using a shovel, providing much-needed nutrients that flowers require for growth.