Flower Gardening Ideas

When you think 'garden', one of the first images to come to mind is usually that of 'flowers'. It's hard to imagine a garden without flowers, although gardens without flowers can and do exist. If you intend to plant a flower garden, it is essential to have a design plan and preferably a long-term planting plan as well. After all you don't want a garden that looks bereft after all the blooms are gone, do you? That is what will happen if you plant haphazardly. the person who knows exactly in which hole which plant is going to go in.

• How much amount of sun does the site get?
• Is the site over-exposed to windy conditions?
• Is it close to a road?
• Are there any buildings nearby?
• Are there any electricity/telephone poles or wires nearby?
• Are there any drain pipes?
• Is the site accessible to pets or wildlife?
• What kind of soil does the site have?
• What is the soil pH?
• Is there any natural water resource close by?
• What kind of water supply is available?
• Consider the shape of your garden - is it long and thin or rectangular?
• Does it have different levels?

Then consider what kind of garden you would like. If you don't have a clue, study different landscaping and flower garden designs. Visit botanical parks or other people's gardens to see how the flower gardening design plan there works or doesn't work. Look at garden magazines and garden websites for inspiration and visit local gardening centers and flower shows. Talk to other gardeners and ask for tips on flower gardening.

Take into consideration the house around which the garden is being planned. What is its architectural style? Your garden design should complement it, not clash. If you have a sprawling area around an old, traditional mansion, for example, you may consider a formal garden design with all the flower beds laid out in exact symmetrical order, or you could introduce a new asymmetrical concept with a wild profusion of flowers.

Here are some Flower Garden design ideas:

• Start with garden flower identification. Make a list of flowering plants you want in your garden. Note how tall the plants will eventually become and their overall spread. Referring to these notes, draw up your garden plan. You can plant in order of height, or put the tall plants in the middle.
• Plant in a straight line or in a sweeping curve. Straight lines and curves seem to give a more coherent look than zigzag lines. But, keep in mind, there can always be exceptions to this rule
• Plant in groups of twos, threes, fours, fives, sixes, sevens or more. This will give you a mass of blooms and you can get the 'riot of colors' effect.
• Plant groups of flowering plants of one color, but of different tints and tones.
• Plant according to adjacent color progression.
• Plant in a complementary color scheme.
• Plant flowering plants with harmonizing colors together.
• Plant in a complete, unbridled mix of colors.
• Intersperse single, stand alone plants between clumps of coordinating plants.
• Use an evergreen hedge as a backdrop for radiant blooms.
• Add a focal point like a statue, bird bath, a bench, or an arbor. If you have a large garden, you can add more than one focal point.