Check Out Your Space
Take a look at the space you want to design and be realistic. If you have a shady area, creating a colorful flower garden will be challenging. Shady gardens usually have large foliage plants with annuals tucked in for color. Sunny locations are ideal for a flower garden.
A common mistake is wanting to create a garden in bare spots that are bare for a reason. For instance, steep hillsides and under trees are difficult areas for plants to survive. Therefore, it’s crucial to save yourself frustration and energy by planting where you will have success.”
Set Goals
Think about what you want from your garden. Do you like tinkering in the garden or do you prefer to sit on the patio and sip wine? If sitting and sipping are your thing, hire someone to pull the weeds. Perhaps your partner will do the work? One way or another, a garden needs to be maintained to look its best. After all, you don’t create something you can’t handle.
Start With A Vision
Take pictures of gardens that appeal to you in your area. For example, I love gardens in Charleston S.C., but realistically, many of those flowers will not survive our harsh winters. Additionally, get a feel for colors and flowers you like and don’t like. Moreover, keep a budget in mind and consider the maintenance aspect. After all, there’s no sense in having a $10,000 vision with a $100 budget.
Sketch Out Some Ideas
Keep it simple and don’t worry about an elaborate design drawn to scale. Putting your vision to paper helps you from getting overwhelmed.
Pick Your Plants Wisely
Do a bit of research on what grows well in your area. Additionally, choose plants based on bloom times, colors, and textures. Remember that just because a big box store sells it does not mean it will do well here. Don’t forget to think about groundcovers, ornamental grasses, herbs, and shrubs.
Another common mistake is buying a plant because it is pretty and blooming but you are not sure where it will go or if it will do well. While experimenting is fun, we hate for you to waste your money.
Plan Your Layout
We place the plants where we want them before planting. This is the fun part. Generally, we plant in groups of odd numbers. We vary the heights, colors, and textures and then repeat so the garden flows and has rhythm. If your budget allows, annuals are a great way to add instant color and pop. Finally, a garden should have something blooming from spring to fall to keep it interesting.
Be Patient and Flexible
Gardening is an ongoing process. If it was a one-and-done thing, we would not be in business. The best approach to gardening and garden design is to be patient, enjoy the process, and know that plants will die and you will need to add more plants every year.
Moreover, the last common mistake is thinking your garden will look like the one you saw in the magazine. After all, a beautiful garden takes time, energy, love, patience, flexibility, and money. Gardening is challenging!
Blossom Better 