Flower gardening is both the easiest and the most
exasperating part of managing a garden. We drool over catalog pictures, zoom
through gorgeous website photos, and visit botanical gardens to fantasize about
growing our own floral creations. But, depending on what you choose to plant in
the soil and climate that you have you'll either have a very easy job of
growing flowers or not. Are you willing to match your environment to the plants
that are best suited for it? Read on for some ideas in managing your own flower
gardening adventure.
How to Design a Flower Garden
A beautiful flower garden design includes a place to relax
and enjoy it. Image from Flower-Gardening-
You have some free space in your yard and want to make it
look attractive. You can hire landscapers at a cost, or you can simply do it
yourself. But what flowers should you plant? Which are most appropriate for
your climate? Are there any that are more high maintenance than others? How
much sun do the plants need and does my garden get enough of it? These are all
questions to consider when designing a flower garden.
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Landscape Ideas for the front yard are endless. Even without
flowers, the right stones, mulch, and even solar lighting can spruce up the
curb appeal of your home. But plants that bloom for most of the season can add
that extra touch of color to your home.
It may be best to first try taking a walk through your
neighborhood to decipher which plants and landscapes you like best. Chances are
if your neighbors can make the plants grow, you can too. Consider the direction
the garden is facing as well, and whether your home will be blocking the sun
during different parts of the day.
Be sure to also consider the seasons. Tulips and daffodils
are a pleasure to see in the spring but their shelf lives are short. Combining
flowers that bloom at different times throughout the year ensures color in your
garden year-round. Bulbs that bloom in the spring can yield to hibiscus plants
and long-lasting daylilies in the summer. Hearty fall flowers like the aster
and chrysanthemum continue to add color to your garden as the threat of frost
appears.
Consider perennials as well. Perennials are plants that grow
year after year, without having to replant. Perennial flower garden designs are
typically based on the color and height of the plants. Designing a perennial flower
garden with the tallest plants in front will block the view of the shorter ones
behind it, so plan carefully.
If your main purpose for maintaining a flower garden is to
cut flowers for arrangement inside your home, consider setting aside an area
for this purpose. Something as simple as a lilac bush can add seasonal appeal
and fragrance to your home. A cut flower garden can suit a variety of flowering
plants. Cut flower garden designs typically include long-stemmed perennials,
but colorful annual flowers are most useful because cutting them only produces
more flowers.
One very popular flower is the daisy. They add variety to
bouquets and are many peoples' favorite flowers. Be sure to add foliage plants
to your cut flower garden, as flowering kale and cabbage can add variety and
texture to your bouquets.
Do not let the idea of designing a flower garden intimidate
you. Simply figure out what plants you like the most, plant and care for
accordingly, and enjoy their natural beauty year-round.
cottage style flower garden
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A cottage-style flower garden uses a variety of colors and
textures. But, it all seems like it occurred naturally. Image from FCPS.edu.
The best part about garden layout plans is that you have to
be creative and you need innovative ideas for placing and choosing the types of
flowers you like in your garden. Still, it's a good idea to do some homework
before you actually purchase the flowers and other materials.
In fact, nowadays most people don't really have large
garden plots for separate flower beds, so they practice the concept of 'mixed
border' in which small-sized flowering shrubs and trees are together in the
same bed with perennials to give off natural beauty.
As far as the color arrangement is concerned, it depends
completely on your choice and creativity. Typically yellow and orange flowers
go together but you can also add a touch of burgundy and purple in it. If you are
preparing your garden for the summer, add a lot of bright colors.
Go for flowers that have a combination of pink and white or
purple and white in their petals. You can also mix and match small rows of
these flowers to make the garden look lively and welcoming.
Some people like their flowers to grow in a bunch; in such a
case, you can go for different shades of the same color. For example, the color
yellow has a variety of shades depending on the species of the flower. You can
make small round beds of flowers for each color in the center of your garden
and can fence it with a bright green shrub.
Make sure that no weeds grow in your flower beds and that
you fertilize the beds on a regular basis. It is not necessary to water the
beds regularly since some of the flower types do not require a lot of water.
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