Plant And Design A Flower Garden For Your Backyard

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.

Now is the time to decide what you want from your garden. Are you looking for a cozy, cheerful cottage garden or a balanced, peaceful Japanese garden? Do you want plenty of space between your flowers or will a crowded look be what you need? Is there a specific purpose to your flower bed, such as an herb garden for the kitchen or a way to attract birds and wildlife to your yard? Putting the goal of your garden at the forefront of your thoughts will allow you to make better choices and have a more satisfactory design.

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.

Normally you will plant taller flowers at the back of border beds and in the center of island beds. As you go towards the edge of the garden, the flowers will get shorter until ground covers and border plants surround the outside. This rule can be altered by placing early spring flowers along the back or in the middle as a burst of April color. Then when the later blooming plants grow in, the decaying foliage will be covered and your summer garden will be in full swing.

Most gardeners aim for a three season show, with something blooming from April to October and even into November if possible. Choose your plantings with bloom time in mind and group flowers that will follow each other together. Spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils are covered well by daisies, perennial geraniums and other summer bloomers. Then aim for those late fall bulbs or colder weather bloomers, such as the obedient plant or English asters.

To attract wildlife, especially birds and butterflies, look for bright colored blooms with open faces (butterflies love these) or long trumpet shapes (hummingbirds hang out around these). Flowering herbs, lupines and the butterfly bush will also bring the winged beauties into your yard. Fit these flowers into your design while considering the other options and you will have welcome visitors to admire your choices.

To plant the flower bed you've always wanted, be sure you take the time to properly design a flower garden. You won't be disappointed with the results.