With a little planning, flower beds can be beautiful and easy to maintain. Follow these simple flower bed tips to give your garden a kick start this spring!
The first and most important tip is to know which plants you want to plant in the bed. Learn about plant zones and growing conditions to determine the best plants for your yard.
Selecting the Right Plants
Choosing the right plants for your flower bed is critical to its success. This includes selecting a color scheme, grouping flowers by bloom time and planting them in layers to create depth and visual interest.
Perennials, for example, appear year after year to bring a splash of color to your garden. Unlike annuals, perennials don’t need a lot of attention and will stay looking beautiful in your yard for years.
If you’re creating a flower bed in a sunny location, consider long-living full-sun perennials. On the other hand, if you live in a dry climate, select drought-tolerant plants.
Another easy-to-grow annual is marigolds, which not only ward off nematodes but also attract beneficial insects like bees and birds. They grow easily in full sun and reseed, so you can enjoy a continuous supply of fresh blooms. These low-maintenance flowers are a great addition to raised beds and will make your garden look stunning for months on end.
Choosing the Right Location
Flower beds are a great way to add color and visual interest to your yard. But before you start planting, it’s important to choose the right location for your flower bed.
Most flowering plants prefer full sun exposure and a spot with well-draining soil. However, a shady area will still support a garden if you choose appropriate shade-loving species.
It’s also important to consider other factors such as whether the bed is in a high-traffic area or in the far corner of your yard where you may not pay it much attention.
In addition to your chosen location, the size and shape of the flower bed should be carefully considered. You’ll want the space to be as wide as possible, but not so wide that the flowerbed becomes too crowded or dense.
Mulching
Mulching is a great way to save water, prevent weeds and improve the soil around your flowers. It also gives your garden a neat appearance.
The best type of mulch for your flower bed is natural, organic material such as wood chippings, leaf mould, hay and well-rotted manure. Some mulches can be a bit too thick and inhibit bulbs from growing or herbaceous plants from rooting well, so gently use a rake to thin it out.
Avoid laying too much colored wood mulch as it can stain walkways and concrete during rain or overwatering. Instead, spread it during dry weather conditions for at least 24 to 48 hours.
Watering
A beautiful flower bed is a wonderful focal point for a garden. But like any other landscape feature, it requires routine maintenance. Weeding, pruning, fertilizing and watering are just a few of the tasks that keep your flower beds in top condition.
When planting your new flower bed, make sure to give it a good start by preparing the soil properly. This will make it easier for the roots to absorb water and keep the plant from drying out too quickly.
One of the best things that you can do for your soil is to add organic material such as compost. This is beneficial to both sand and clay soils, and will increase the health of the soil over time.
You can also water your flower bed at the right times to help it stay moist and prevent evaporation. The key is to water early in the morning when the sun is lower in the sky, and late at night when the temperature drops. This will ensure your flowers get the water they need, and help you conserve precious resources.