Flowers immediately enliven any garden with their vibrant colors & sweet aroma. When planted in the right combination, flowers can keep your garden looking bright & beautiful year round. Following are flower gardening tips to help you become a more effective & creative flower gardener:

  • Use complementary colors or tints & shades of one color.
  • Plant large groups of contrasting flowers next to each to create a dramatic effect.
  • Plant shrubs & individual ornamental grasses in groups of odd numbers to balance out the visual aspects of your flower garden.
  • Avoid overwhelming a small space with a large number of plant species. Select a few varieties so your flower garden does not look cluttered.
  • Consider plants with colorful flowers that will also produce tasty fruits like cherry & other fruit trees to serve as a great addition to your flower garden.
  • Keep your flower garden properly maintained by pruning your trees & shrubs, deadheading flowers, & cutting back old, frayed growth.
  • Plant in designated areas for ease of mowing your lawn.
  • Choose flowers according to the area you select to begin your flower garden. For instance, make certain the flowers you purchase will do well in full sun or in the shade.
  • Add romance to your landscape by growing climbing or vine-type flowers near a trellis or garden arbor.
  • Exercise precaution when planting flowers under a tree so you do not dig up any roots. Dig a small, separate hole for each plant.
  • Keep in mind the mature size of young trees & shrubs you plant, otherwise it will be easy to plant them too close together.
  • Avoid placing new structures or plants where they may damage existing landscape features.
  • Plant in curves, not straight lines or perfect circles, for better visual balance.
  • Add mulch to your finished flower garden to help retain moisture. The deteriorating mulch will add organic matter to your soil.
  • Save water by using drip irrigation systems to water individual plants.
  • Water when it is not windy.
  • Water early morning or late afternoon to avoid evaporation.
  • Introduce lady bugs, praying mantis, & Trichogramma wasps (non-stinging) to your garden for natural pest control.
  • Try plants that attract birds & bats, which will eat up insect pest species in your garden, instead of applying chemicals to eradicate insects from your garden.

Use these flower gardening tips to create new flower gardens or enliven existing flower gardens.

Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com – http://www.myguidesusa.com, you will find valuable tips & resources for handling life’s major events. Right. Whether you are planning a wedding, purchasing your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you will find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com. Find lawn & garden tips & resources at http://www.myguidesusa.com/lawnandgarden