Flower gardens add color and dimension to any landscape. From perennial blooms that return each year to annuals that bloom only once, proper care ensures your flower garden looks its best.
Before you even touch a rake to dig in the dirt, you must first prepare the soil. Many flower varieties flourish best in loose loam soil that’s been improved with plenty of compost and organic matter.
Location
If you’re starting a flower garden from scratch, make sure the location is carefully considered. Aim to find a spot with at least six hours of sun per day; sunlight plays a critical role in flower growth; additionally it’s also essential to pay attention whether there is full, partial, or shade exposure as this will determine which species of flowers can grow there.
Once you know where your garden will be, the next step should be personalizing it to reflect your tastes and needs. Consider what style best fits the location – cutting garden for filling floral arrangements, blooming garden with minimal upkeep or pollinator-attracting areas are among many possibilities – then shape by adding curves rather than sharp edges for a more natural appearance. Finally, prepare the site by spreading plenty of compost to give flowers an ideal start.
Soil
Flowers add beauty, fragrance and color to gardens of any size. Beginning a flower garden from scratch can be both rewarding and exciting – whether you are new to gardening or an experienced practitioner.
Before planting, prepare the soil bed. Remove existing sod, as necessary, using a flat shovel or garden hoe to slice into it, before working its blade into it as far as it will go until all sod has been cleared away from your flower garden site.
Once your soil is prepared, amend it with organic material such as compost to make it more ideal for flower roots to flourish. A soil test will also allow you to assess what additional ingredients may be necessary in order to optimize its quality for gardening.
Water
Water is essential to flowers and greenery. Without enough of it, leaves and petals shrivel, while overwatering is just as harmful.
Deep soaking rather than superficial surface watering helps facilitate root development and prevent soil compaction that deprives plants of essential moisture.
Flowering plants typically prefer rich, well-drained garden loam (an even mix of sand, clay and silt). At planting time, supplement the top six to eight inches with all-purpose balanced fertilizer and plenty of organic matter for an environment welcoming to their roots.
Some flowers such as azaleas and hydrangeas prefer slightly acidic soil pH levels; an easy soil test can reveal how best to adapt your natural soil environment for their requirements.
Fertilizer
At garden centers and home improvement stores, fertilizer aisles can be filled with an overwhelming variety of liquid and granular formulas, sprays, pellets, concentrates and more containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as major flower nutrients in various proportions; each packaging will indicate this in its percentages alongside any minor nutrients or filler ingredients that might also be included.
Cowan advises gardeners to consider the specific nutrient needs of individual flowers when gardening, such as their need for sun or shade exposure or susceptibility to drought and heat stress. These factors affect the amount, timing, frequency, and application frequency of nutrients required. When using liquid fertilizer be sure to water first to allow your flowers to absorb it without burning themselves from overexposure to sun.
Pruning
When starting a flower garden, it’s essential that you understand the needs of the plants within it. They require adequate sunlight, soil conditions and water in order to thrive and bloom into beautiful blooms.
Make sure your planting site gets six or more hours of full sunlight each day, as perennial flowers that need direct sun will perish in shaded garden beds while full-sun annuals may do well even in dimmer spots.
Design a flower garden that has layers that add interest. For instance, offset focal flowers like roses and lilies with filler flowers like daisies and tulips for more color in your garden. Furthermore, planting perennials in the back and annuals in front will allow you to witness how your flowers progress while making maintenance simpler: cutting back perennials without disturbing delicate blooms is also easier!