Best Tips to Start a Flower Garden
Looking to start a flower garden but not sure where to begin? From choosing the right location to selecting the perfect plants, our expert tips will help you create a stunning and thriving flower garden that you can enjoy all year round.
A flower garden can be a great addition to the home and a great addiction once you get started.
Flowers are beautiful, colorful, smell nice, are useful, beneficial and so rewarding. Friends, family and neighbors will enjoy and maybe even be inspired by your gardens.
Flower gardens are beautiful and great additions to any home but they require a lot of work to begin and maintain. Some people plan before they garden, but most don't. Some people just jump into it and neither way is wrong. But for both you need to be prepared for the upkeep to make it useful for years to come.
Whether you jump in or make a plan there are some things you will need to get started.
You will need the proper tools
The proper tools and equipment will make it not only possible, but more enjoyable and productive. If you do not have the proper tools starting the flower garden will be more time-consuming, difficult and not enjoyable.
Gardening tools can be bought from a local hardware store, nursery or you can have delivered to your doorstep. I linked my favorites below to be shipped directly from Amazon.
Durability is important because no one wants to be in the middle of gardening and the tools break. Also be sure to have an accessible place to store your tools.
I keep the larger ones in one place in my small barn making it easy to just wheel out. Then on the back of my cart I have a box with all the tools I use on a daily basis making it easy to grab and do what I need to. I have a friend who set up a little weatherproof box in her garden with the tools to make it super easy.
Tools that will be needed for beginners to start planting flowers:
Watering tools: Garden hose and watering can
A comfortable pair of gloves that fit you well
Good soil is the most important part of starting your garden
The soil must be nourished, moist yet well-drained. It is worth starting with a home soil test. Then make adjustments as needed.
The soil shouldn't be too moist or too dry. Once your soil is well balanced or if starting new choosing the correct soil, then it is time to plant.
But, you need to know that different plants require different soil and different sunlight. Too much sunlight can dry the soil out and kill the flower, so it is best to read the instructions on the plant when they are purchased because each plant has sun and shade requirements. I promise once you get started you will be building sun, shade, part sun and more gardens.
When picking the plants to buy remember the following tips:
View sun and shade requirements
View the size and how far it will spread
View the blooming instructions to know what to expect
Look for healthy roots
Avoid yellow leaves
See Also: Colorful Garden Ideas | Beginners Guide to Planting Flowers | 10 Ways to Design a Colorful Garden | 10 Things to Think About When Starting A Garden
For beginners, annuals and perennials are better to mix, to begin with.
This will give you a balance of what will stay for next year and those you will need to replace. These plants should be grown in a wide area because a bigger area will allow you to add as you want.
When learning I like to start with four-inch pots as then cost less. If they do not survive, there is note as much lost, and there won't be a big difference.
Annuals require the basic amount of water, sunlight, shade and in general less care. While perennials will require a little more care and tending to for their overwintering.
Gardens are not hard to maintain and take care of it you plant the right flowers. If the yard is exposed to little sunlight, astilbe, hosta, cranesbill, bleeding heart, foxgloves, columbine, and heuchera are the best plants to grow.
Overall, flowers need a fair amount of sunlight, but some require more than others. Don't be freaked about the earth's worms in the soil while digging. The insects will help promote the growth of the flowers and make the soil richer.
Using mulch with perennials can give an organized look to the flowers.
Mulch can cut down the wedding that will be required later on and maintain the moisture for the soil that will be used. A 2 to 3-inch layer should be used to prevent rotting. After having the mulch and soil down, the plant should be placed in a location of fair temperature to prepare for watering.
To make sure the plant is not overwatered, watering can be used instead of a hose. If the hose has a different watering setting, such as sprinkle, it can be used. A lot of gardeners may only have a normal hose, so they place their index finger on the nozzle to distribute the water fairly. Fertilizer will promote plant growth, but if too much is used, it will give the plant disease.
Once the perennials have bloomed and grown, they should be removed from the pot and pinched.
Pinching the plant will promote growth and strength. When rain and wind come about, the flowers will be safe even if they are small because they have been pinched. Following all these instructions should ensure a beautiful flower garden for the neighbors and guests to view for the warm seasons.
This is a lot of information but the basics to get you started and have a fun and successful flower garden.