Whether you want to have access to your own gorgeous flowers every day or just want a pleasant reason to get outside and tend to your plants, flower beds are a great option. While flower gardens take some work to start, they’re relatively low maintenance throughout the summer months. Here are a few tips for getting your garden started:
Choosing A Garden Location
In order for your garden to flourish, you have to plant in the proper location in your yard. Flowers require different amounts of sun, so check out your flowers’ preferences before you start any planting. If your yard gets sun all day, then make sure you pick out flowers that can tolerate that much sunlight. If your garden location is more shaded, there are plenty of plant options that will flourish in the shade. If you want to go the extra mile, plant some shade loving veggies and really give your green thumb a test. It’s also handy to plant your garden in a location your hose can reach to make watering easy during the hot summer days.
In order for your garden to flourish, you have to plant in the proper location in your yard. Flowers require different amounts of sun, so check out your flowers’ preferences before you start any planting. If your yard gets sun all day, then make sure you pick out flowers that can tolerate that much sunlight. If your garden location is more shaded, there are plenty of plant options that will flourish in the shade. If you want to go the extra mile, plant some shade loving veggies and really give your green thumb a test. It’s also handy to plant your garden in a location your hose can reach to make watering easy during the hot summer days.
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Prep Your Garden Soil
Be sure the soil in your future flower bed isn’t too sticky or sandy so your flower’s roots are able to absorb moisture and drain properly. To prepare the soil, add a couple inches of organic matter to the space you want to become your garden. Try some lawn clippings, compost or old leaves and till it into your soil. You want to make sure the soil is moist enough to form a ball in your first but falls apart if you drop it. Digging when the dirt is too dry or wet can ruin the structure, and it won’t be a good enough conductor of moisture to nourish your plant’s roots.
Be sure the soil in your future flower bed isn’t too sticky or sandy so your flower’s roots are able to absorb moisture and drain properly. To prepare the soil, add a couple inches of organic matter to the space you want to become your garden. Try some lawn clippings, compost or old leaves and till it into your soil. You want to make sure the soil is moist enough to form a ball in your first but falls apart if you drop it. Digging when the dirt is too dry or wet can ruin the structure, and it won’t be a good enough conductor of moisture to nourish your plant’s roots.
The Difference Between Perennials and Annuals
When shopping for flowers to plant, pay attention to whether they are perennials or annuals. Each type has its own benefits, but it’s best for a gardener to know what to expect from his or her plants. They each require different types of care as well.
When shopping for flowers to plant, pay attention to whether they are perennials or annuals. Each type has its own benefits, but it’s best for a gardener to know what to expect from his or her plants. They each require different types of care as well.
- Perennials: Perennials are best for people who don’t want to spend a whole lot of time tending to their flowers. Their root system stays alive through the off-season, and they grow back every year with little maintenance. However, perennials tend to have a much shorter bloom period than annuals do and may not even bloom the first year that you plant them because they’re getting established in the soil in the garden.
- Annuals: Annuals need a bit more care than perennials do. They may require you to water, fertilize and sheer them more frequently. However, they usually stay in bloom all summer, as true fruits of your labor. They also work very well in pots if you don’t have enough space to plant a full garden.
Use Plants or Seeds for Your Garden?
There’s no shame in planting flowers that have already grown! Not only does this allow you to bask in fully bloomed foliage all summer long, but it’s also less time-consuming than nursing plants from little seeds. However, if you want that sense of pride that comes along with seeing the entire cycle of a plant’s life, you can purchase seeds at your local farmer’s market or nursery. Just be sure to closely follow your seed’s instructions to ensure the flowers bloom successfully. If you’re planting your entire garden from scratch, never let your seedlings dry out. Water them every day, unless it rains.
There’s no shame in planting flowers that have already grown! Not only does this allow you to bask in fully bloomed foliage all summer long, but it’s also less time-consuming than nursing plants from little seeds. However, if you want that sense of pride that comes along with seeing the entire cycle of a plant’s life, you can purchase seeds at your local farmer’s market or nursery. Just be sure to closely follow your seed’s instructions to ensure the flowers bloom successfully. If you’re planting your entire garden from scratch, never let your seedlings dry out. Water them every day, unless it rains.
If maintaining a garden is too much or you just don’t have the space, check out Teleflora’s bestselling plants or zen succulents! You can easily create a low maintenance indoor garden to suffice your nature needs.
