Planning a Flower Garden: Steps to Success
Designing a flower border is like decorating a room—start with the big things and the little decisions will become easier. A little bit of planning at the beginning will set the stage for a dazzling flower show.
Start with the Essentials
Know Your Growing Zone
The US Department of Agriculture divides the country into multiple zones based on average minimum annual temperatures, a critical factor for plant survival. Choosing plants in your growing zone takes the guesswork out of whether specific varieties will flourish. When nature meets the needs of a plant, they'll thrive with minimum maintenance and maximum health. Find your growing zone here.
Note Light Conditions
Plants must be grown where they will receive the sun or shade required for health and vigor. Observe light patterns for growing areas being considered. Whatever sun and shade levels you find, plant choices abound for starting a flower garden!
Check the Soil
It's advisable to test the soil for nutrient levels. Results help determine what amendments, such as fertilizer or lime, should be added. Test kits can be purchased through nurseries and other gardening outlets. Local agricultural offices will test soil samples you mail them and provide personalized recommendations for balancing the soil.
Creating an Outline
With the basics taken care of, decide on the final layout of your new flower bed. Using a garden hose to “draw” the outline of the border can be helpful—rearrange to your heart’s content until you’re pleased with the final shape. Next, create a sketch roughly to scale making sure to include any existing plants that are going to stay put. You may want to make several copies of this initial sketch before you begin to add plants to your outline—there will be much trial and error. Work in pencil!
Choose Your Varieties
Let creativity take the reins! Delve into gardening books, magazines, catalogs and websites for ideas on designs and plants. Here a couple key considerations as you make your selections, and if you need help, our Plant Finder will assist you with detailed searches by the attributes below (and many more!).
Bloom Time
Create a continuous flow of spring flowers by selecting plants with varying bloom times through the season. Want to plan for multi-season color? It’s helpful to choose fall-blooming plants first, then add summer flowering options, and finally spring bloomers. Designing you garden “backwards” by bloom time will give you an increasing number of choices as you move from season to season.
Color
When choosing plants, consider color combinations of plants that bloom at the same time. View photos of winning color combinations in this article using color in flower gardens. And don't forget about foilage! Unique leaf color, variegation and texture add visual interest too.
Height
Arrange the garden by plant height. The guiding principle for border gardens is to place tallest plants in the back and shortest in front. Use mature height information noted in plant profiles.
Finalize Your Border Design
Once you've narrowed down your list of plants, take your initial rough sketch and begin filling in varieties. Begin with tall varieties, working backwards from late to early bloomers (tall fall, tall summer, tall spring). Repeat with medium and short heights. Draw shapes for each plant roughly to scale, corresponding to the recommended plant spacing (for a variety with spacing listed as “Plant 3' apart”, draw a 3' circle). For an example of a finished layout, check out one of our pre-planned gardens, which come with detailed planting layouts.
Start Small and Grow Well
As you plan your garden, enjoy the process of discovery and don't worry about making mistakes! It's easier to be successful first with a small garden that then expands over time, rather than being immediately challenged with a large one. Gardening is all about the journey and learning along the way.
