Expert Flower Gardening Tips, Guides, and Inspiring Ideas to Elevate Your Garden
Although flower gardening didn't become common in North America until the 19th century, flower gardens are now a key component in modern architecture and landscape design. Extremely sophisticated flower garden designs can be found in many businesses, but flower gardening for the home is also very popular, and easy.
With a little bit of planning, home flower gardening can be an simple way to add a vibrant look to many areas surrounding your home. Flowers can be picked for specific colors, bloom times, and other characteristics that will make your flower garden a unique feature that enhances the landscape. Both annual, needing to be replanted each year, and perennial, reappearing every year, flower gardens can be planted depending on climate and specific needs.
You'll be surprised at how easy it is -- learn more about how to get started flower gardening by reading the following articles.
Flower gardening is a beautiful hobby, and it's not just for professionals. Beginners need to understand the very basics of this endeavor to be on their way.
Flower garden design
Flower garden design incorporates a number of features that combine function and appearance to make your flower garden look its best, while also providing easier ways to maintain everything. Taking proper care during the early planning stages of your flower garden, when the design is so important, will make your garden an enjoyable experience by limiting the amount of time needed to care for it.
The first step in flower garden design is to build your garden around a central point. Your flower garden could be built around your house, a gate, a tree, or even a fence as long as it will provide the space required. The best flower gardens include a central point that immediately catches the eye. Larger gardens can have more than one focal point but try to stick to one in smaller flower gardens.
Flower garden designs often operate around a color scheme or various related color schemes as well. Some plans use different shades of the same color, while other designs call for multiple, complementing colors that are eye-catching.
Flower garden design tips
- Make the flower beds as wide as you possibly can. Many first time gardeners make the mistake not making the flowers beds wide enough which limits the opportunities to plant flowering trees, shrubs, or other plants which can be layered. Ideally, flower beds should be at least 5 or 6 feet wide.
- Make sure to establish lines and curves that set sections of the garden apart from other areas of the garden. This provides for unity and definition throughout the entire flower garden and will make it more appealing to the eye. Avoid snaking or inconsistent lines and try to stick to smooth curves or straight lines.
- Planting in groups is an effective part of flower garden design for both functional and aesthetic reasons. Groupings by color provide unity while grouping by plant needs can make maintenance much easier. Flower gardens that contain just one or two groupings tend to look jumbled and many experts recommend planting in groups of three or more. In addition, repeating various plants or colors adds texture and unity and is another feature of flower garden design.
- Think of the plants that will go in your flower garden as plants that will be used for edging (in front of the garden), filling (in the middle), and background. Taller flowers should generally be planted towards the back but can occasionally be left to grow near the middle or front too.
- Spacing your flowers an appropriate distance apart is an important part of flower garden design. Improperly spaced plants will compete for nutrients or allows more vigorous plants to overrun others. Flowers should be planted as far away as their eventual spread will allow.
- Balance and unity are important features in flower garden design and shouldn't be neglected. Try to create symmetry by using the same plants on the sides of walkways, paths, or gates. To create more unity throughout your flower garden, plant in groups of three and blend complementing colors.
Keep in mind that the design of your flower garden will need to be maintained as plants grow or die. Flower garden design is never actually finished and is more of an on-going project that will need to be kept up over the years. As long as you start with a good design and keep an eye on your flower garden, you'll notice when more color is needed or new plants should be added.
Flower care guide
Although many people think flower gardening can end up taking all of your spare time, most flower gardens fail because they just don't get enough attention. Along with regular watering, flower gardens should be watched to make sure that they are getting everything they need. By just walking through your flower garden every couple of days and enjoying it, you'll notice if pests have moved in or leaves are wilting due to lack of nutrients.
Feeding your plants
When caring for your flower garden you'll want to make sure the soil continues to contain the nutrients flowers need and that they receive proper watering. Adding compost or humus to the surrounding soil is one of the best things you can do for you flower garden. Compost will add additional nutrients to the soil and also helps protect them from insects and diseases. Fertilizer can also be used to add nutrients to the soil and increase flowering time. If your flowers start to appear lackluster or as if they aren't getting the nutrients they need, add a little fertilizer or compost to the soil.
Flower gardening is also dependent on timely, and ongoing, watering. In some cases natural rainfall will produce all the water need but, in most cases, supplemental watering will also be needed. Flowers and plants vary on water requirements but, in general, most require about 1 inch of water each week. When watering your flower garden, make sure to deeply soak the soil and allow it dry between waterings that occur once or twice a week. The best time to water is morning or early afternoon when the flowers are most responsive.
Controlling weeds and pests
Learning how to control or eliminate weeds and pests can be one of the most difficult things to learn for novice gardeners. Weeds are very invasive and hardy so they can eliminate desirable plants while a pest infestation can destroy the entire flower garden. Your flower garden will be much more successful if the amount of weeds and insects are kept to a minimum, particularly during the growing season.
Weeds
Weeds can best be controlled by making sure they are eliminated before you plant. After tilling, break up the clods of dirt so small pieces of weed stems don't resprout. During the growing season, weeding should be done as needed or an herbicide can be used to eliminate undesirable weeds as well.
For more long-term control of weeds, mulch or plastic sheeting can be used around the plants in your flower garden. This prevents weeds from sprouting by eliminating the light their seeds need to germinate. If a weed does poke through, just pull it out.
Pests
Garden pests and insects come in all shapes and sizes and can provide a host of problems if not controlled. Pesticide is an option that can control nearly any pest problem but, if chemical use isn't desired, there are also other options for controlling pests that don't involve the use of pesticides or other chemicals.
If pests appear in your flower garden, do some research and find out what acts as a natural deterrent and use it. For example, slugs can be repelled by simply rolling out a line of copper wire around the edge of your garden or infested area while ants will avoid any areas that contain mint. Natural deterrents for insects can often be as effective, and are certainly safer, than many pesticides.
Flower garden ideas
Whether to provide a bright display of multiple colors or a subtle background for the surrounding landscape, there are a variety of flower garden ideas that can help create just the right space for your home. Taking some care in choosing the plants and flowers that will produce the colors you want and at the times you want, will go a long way in producing your dream flower garden.
Choosing appropriate plants
Flower gardening works best when plants with similar needs are grouped together. Flowers should be grouped based on water, sun, and nutrient needs.
Flowers should also be grouped together based on how quickly they grow. Flowers that are very vigorous will overgrow others that aren't so they should be separated for best results.
Another good flower gardening idea is to group plants that propagate similarly together. That way if you have to dig up the bulbs for some, you won't disturb the roots of others.
Types of plants
Bulbs: These will usually require lifting every three years or so but can typically be established if the right conditions are present in the beginning. They are often more expensive than annuals as they will continue to grow year after year.
Annuals: These are easy to grow once established but are short lived, usually lasting for just one season. They provide a great deal of color quickly and can be replaced as soon as the complete flowering. Annuals are usually very inexpensive and can be purchased in packs of seeds or as seedlings.
Perennials: Perennials typically grow quickly and flower frequently. Many become dormant in the winter but re-sprout in the spring or as the weather warms. Some self seed while others can be lifted and divided during the cooler season.
Woody plants: Wood plants usually live a very long time and become larger. Correspondingly, they are typically more expensive to purchase and make take multiple years before the first flowers are produced. These are usually left in place permanently and for long periods of time. Rose bushes are an example of a woody plant.
Choosing flower colors
- Try not to pick bloom colors that will clash or distract from the other blooms that are in the flower garden. Some color combinations that are may look out of place in a flower garden, right next to each other, are blue and orange or mauve and yellow.
- Flower garden ideas are typically built off of one color scheme that runs throughout the flower garden. Shades of primary colors, using hot colors (yellows, oranges, and reds), or cold colors (pinks, whites, and blues) are all colors schemes that can be applied to your flower garden.
- The colors of your flowers should also fit in with your home and the surrounding landscape colors. For example, cold color blooms should be used near a house that is painted light blue while hot color flowers would be more appropriate for a house painted in a shade of yellow.
Whatever flower garden ideas you use, the most important rule is to make sure you choose something that you will enjoy and that will be pleasant for you to look at throughout the year. Your flower garden should be a reflection of your personality and accommodate your tastes and styles. Choose locations and colors based on plants that appeal to you, but be sure you understand how to care for them properly.
Flower gardening basics
Flower gardening basics are very simple but, to ensure a healthy and vibrant garden, shouldn't be neglected. By following just a few simple guidelines, your flower garden will become an eye-catching feature for your home that will thrive year after year. Having the right tools, choosing the right site, and picking the right plants are flower gardening basics that will make having your own flower garden fun and hassle-free.
Gardening tools
Having the right gardening tools can make the difference between success and failure in any home garden. Properly selecting your garden tools will cut down or altogether eliminate frustration and make your flower garden a more enjoyable experience to participate in every day. Here are some basic gardening tools that should be included when starting your garden:
- Pruning shears: These are essential for pruning roses, shrubs, or anything else that grows with a thick stalk and needs to be cut back.
- Shovels and spades: Having a good shovel or spade is an essential part to any garden. Make sure to pick one that has strong handles and fits well in your hands.
- Weeding tools: A simple paring knife can work well for weeding but specific tools are also sold for the same purpose.
- Rakes: A rake with stiff tines will help for removing rocks and leveling soil and a larger rake will be needed for cleaning up accumulated fall foliage.
- Watering tools: A simple water bucket or hose will work in most instances, but sprinklers, watering wands, and timers can also be purchased to make the job even easier.
Site location
Flower gardening basics also include selecting the right site for your flower garden. This factor can make the most difference in whether your flower garden will thrive or struggle and should be planned for in advance. Here are a number of variables to consider when selecting the location for your flower garden:
- Light conditions: The amount of sunlight an area sees is a primary factor with six hours of sun being appropriate for most types of plants, although plants can be found to grow in nearly any light conditions. In climates that have harsh summers, your flower garden may also need some shade to protect them from the constant heat.
- Soil quality: All soils can usually be improved with compost or fertilizer but try to select a site that already has good soil if possible. Avoid areas where water doesn't drain or that have rocky, shallow soil. Also, try to stay away from trees or other large shrubs as they will compete with your flower garden for nutrients and moisture.
- Area size: You'll also want to make sure you choose a location that has enough space to accommodate the number of plants you want. If a location doesn't have enough room, flowers will fight each other for nutrients, which will reduce bloom time and quantity.
Selecting the plants
Flower gardening basics wouldn't be complete without a few words about selecting the plants that will actually be in your flower garden. Whether you are planning an annual or perennial flower garden, choose plants that will thrive in the climate and soil conditions of your location. Plants can be selected for cold or warm environments and any number of other variables so make sure to do your research.
Plants can be purchased from nurseries or through the mail and both versions typically do quite well. For best results, make sure to buy flowers that haven't begun to bloom yet as they will adapt better after being transplanted.
Once the basics of flower gardening are in place and the plants are in the ground, it's time to make sure your flower garden receives the right attention and care so that it will thrive. Click here to read a short flower care guide that will make your gardening just a little bit easier…