You can go high-tech with soil testers or moisture meters, or you can do a quick and basic assessment of your soil by holding it in your hand. The foundation of a garden full of healthy blooms is healthy soil. Are there any especially hot and dry areas? That may be a good spot for evening primrose, a drought-tolerant and sun-loving beauty. Are there any low points where water pools or spots where the soil doesn’t quite dry out in the sun? Some plants, like lobelia, love a moist environment, while others, like bougainvillea, can develop root rot in wet soil. Watch what happens to the space when it rains or you irrigate.Take note of your observations and use them to inform decisions about what to plant and where. Thinking about how and from where you will view your garden will help you to picture the basic shapes and rhythms that will be most pleasing to the eye. For example, a front yard perennial garden that butts up against a house has a clear “back” and “front.” One-sided gardens like this look best with the tallest plants at the back and a steady grade down to shorter plants at the sides and front. The vantage point from which you and guests will see the garden will have a huge effect on how to structure it. But if the garden is beside your back deck, where you spend most evenings, you might opt for delicate textures and fragrant blooms, like those seen in English cottage gardens.Īlso consider the actual “big picture”- look at your garden site from every angle. What is the purpose of this garden? To attract attention with curb appeal, or to be a quiet backyard retreat? If the plot is in a drive-by area, you might choose big, low-maintenance plants with large flowers and vibrant colors, such as coneflowers, or a flowering shrub like spirea. Photo: Jahleen Turnbull-Sousa Think about the big picture.īefore you start picking out plants, consider some big-picture questions. Native plants generally are easier to grow and maintain than non-native species, plus they also support local biodiversity and provide a haven for pollinators. Many native plants boast vibrant, beautiful blooms that stay on display longer than their exotic counterparts. You might also want to research flowering plant species native to your area and include these in your garden plan. Even if a plant is sold in a garden center in your area, it might not be suited for your region. Pay attention to the hardiness zone number marked on a plant’s label. For example, you might love dahlias (who doesn’t?), but if you live in a USDA hardiness zone 7 or lower, they will likely not survive the winter, leaving a hole in your garden for you to fill in the spring (along with a hole in your wallet). By understanding your bioregion, you can choose plants for your backyard flower garden that will survive the seasons and come back to bloom each year, saving you money and helping you avoid disappointment. The first step to planning a successful perennial garden is identifying your USDA plant hardiness zone. RELATED: 15 Perennials to Plant in the Fall for Beautiful Spring Flowers Understand your plant hardiness zone. Don’t be daunted by thoughts of, “But I’m not a garden designer!” Designing a perennial flower bed really just means putting together a workable plan for an all-season garden that will thrive in your space and give you years of enjoyment. This takes a bit of planning, but even a beginner gardener can do it. The key to an ever-blooming perennial garden is planting bulbs, flowers, and flowering shrubs with varying bloom times and colors.
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