Jun 10
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- Image by panduh via Flickr
You will be happiest with a garden that is designed well for maximum impact. The flowers will be better placed, chosen and planted. Learn how to design a flower garden that you can enjoy in your own backyard. Bring in the butterflies and birds, take cut flowers inside and have three season interest with a well thought out and planned garden.
Begin by noting which zone you live in and where you get the most sun and shade in the yard. If you choose to plant perennials that are not hardy to your zone, you can expect to treat them as annuals. Pay attention to the sun in your yard. Record areas that enjoy full sun and spots that are shaded for the better part of the day. If you have the bed turned over already, take special care to note the light conditions there.
It’s best to start by knowing what you are looking for from your garden. Is there a reason for planting this space, such as a desire to watch the birds fly around the blossoms or to grow fresh herbs for your recipes? Do you feel most comfortable in the jumble of an English garden or the ordered appearance of a Japanese style flower bed? Do you need space between each flower to truly appreciate them or are you happiest when nature takes its course? Know ahead of time what you want out of the space to make sure you design it well.
Design a flower garden with the plant growth habit and mature size in mind. Often gardeners will dig out a new bed and be tempted to stuff the entire space with perennials, just to get that full look right away. They will regret that next season though, when the flowers have no space to grow and choke each other out. Instead, plant the perennials with their required spacing and tuck annuals into any blank spots for immediate color. You’ll have a good show and the perennials will have plenty of room to grow into their own next season.
A general rule is to plant the tall flowers at the back of borders or the middle of island beds. Then move down from that point to the shortest flowers at the front. This is not a hard and fast rule though. Planting short, early bloomers near the back will allow the tall, later bloomers to cover the finished flower and still give you plenty to admire for the season.
You can truly enjoy your garden when you have blooms for most of the year; April to October is ideal. Pick flowers for their bloom time and plant them near flowers they can follow or lead. Section off your bed into bloom periods and make sure you have all season interest. Start with bulbs like tulips and daffodils, followed by summer perennials like daisies and bee balm. Finish the season strong with fall bulbs and chrysanthemums.
Bring in the hummingbirds with trumpet shaped blooms like the annual petunia. Butterflies love flat, open faced blossoms such as Echinacea and daisies. Research which flowers grow well in your area and attract different wildlife, then enjoy the beautiful visitors when they fly in.
With some attention, careful choices and research you will have a flower bed of your dreams. Now that you know how to design a flower garden, go out and get growing.
Before starting your garden design you may want to check out the gardening tips at Here you will find help on flowers to use and how to on gardening.
categories: Flower Garden,Flower Design,Garden Design,Flower Garden Design,Planning a Garden design,Choosing Flowers for the Garden,Gardening,Flower Gardening,How to Start a Flower Garden,Flowers for a Shade Garden,landscaping
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Garden Design (1-year auto-renewal)Garden Design is a lifestyle magazine designed for the upscale, design-conscious reader who is passionate about gardening and landscape design. Regular columns cover unusual plants, art and ornaments, tools and maintenance, landscape and lighting, water gardens, sunrooms, and outdoor furniture. The magazine also contains photo layouts of spectacular gardens, how-to articles, design resources, a buyer's guide, gardening tips, and information about events and garden shows.

