| A flower garden will bring you endless enjoyment. | | | | research in seed catalogs or online. When you find a |
| Not only is it a feast for the eyes, but it can fill your | | | | flower that you like, search for the answers to the |
| yard with fragrance and butterflies. Your friends will | | | | questions below to determine if this particular flower |
| admire you, and you will love to relax at home while | | | | will work in your garden. If not, move on! You will |
| you relish your creation. | | | | find another that you like just as well, if not better. |
| But if you create your garden haphazardly, you'll be | | | | Choosing Your Plants |
| very disappointed. For example, if you plant the lush, | | | | Before you begin buying plants, you need to |
| tall flowers on the edges of a flower bed, they will | | | | determine how much you can spend on your garden. |
| hide the shorter ones within. If you plant a bulb in a | | | | Work out a budget so that you don't over-spend. |
| shaded area when it needs lots of sun, it will most | | | | Then, consider the following questions for each |
| likely die. | | | | flower: |
| So, a successful flower garden requires planning, but | | | | 1. How much does it cost, and will it fit into your |
| don't worry, that's part of the fun. The planning | | | | budget? 2. Does it grow in your zone? 3. What kind |
| stage gives you the opportunity to bring out your | | | | of soil does it need? 4. How much sun does it |
| inner artist and problem solver. | | | | require? 5. Can it withstand wind? 6. Is it hardy, or |
| The Basic Design Elements | | | | does it require special care? If so, do you have the |
| Your design doesn't have to be intricate. A basic | | | | time to provide this special care? 7. How tall does it |
| layout is all you need to determine what you will plant | | | | grow, and will you be able to accommodate its |
| in each flower bed. In doing so, you will make | | | | height? 8. How long does it take to achieve a |
| decisions about the color and height of each flower, | | | | flowering plant? 9. Is it an annual or a perennial, and |
| so that you choose not just the color palette of | | | | when does it flower? |
| your garden, but the vertical and horizontal | | | | Take a look at photos of flower gardens to get |
| dimensions as well. | | | | ideas, and think about how many flowers you want. |
| First, look at each area of your yard to determine | | | | You may decide to frame a particular flower with |
| the amount of sun and wind it tends to receive. In | | | | greenery or separate two types of flowers with a |
| the areas of most sun, you will choose flowers that | | | | non-flowering plant. This is what florists do when |
| love the sun, leaving flowers that prefer shade to | | | | they arrange flowers in a vase or basket. They |
| the other areas of the yard. | | | | surround the blossoms with greenery almost like the |
| The type of soil you have is another consideration. | | | | matting of a picture on the wall. |
| You will probably need to get it tested in order to | | | | Don't forget flowering trees and shrubs. These add |
| know what plants will work for you or whether you | | | | special interest in your yard, as they give you |
| need to add other elements to the soil in order to | | | | different vertical heights and horizontal widths. Bear in |
| grow your preferred flowers. | | | | mind that they tend to take longer to achieve the |
| You can start by making a simple drawing of your | | | | flowering stage, but it may well be worth the wait. A |
| yard and where you would like to plant your flowers. | | | | flower garden is not created in one year's time. This |
| Again, note the amount of sun and wind each area | | | | is a long process that you will always be tending, so |
| receives, and the size of each area. Next, you might | | | | you need to enjoy the process as much as the |
| make a list of your favorite colors and favorite | | | | result. |
| flowers. If you know little about flowers, do some | | | | |