How to Design a Flower Garden

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.

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 day lilies 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 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 flower. 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.

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 of the 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 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 specie 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.

Resources

Flower Garden Design Basics from Cornell University.

Flower Garden Designs - Three Season Color from Old Farmer's Almanac.