How to Plan an Outdoor Flower Garden

There are a few very important variables when picking your plants for the outdoor season. Different plant types have different water and light needs, so it’s very important to research before you buy! Because honestly, flowers are expensive and you don’t want to waste your money by having them all die right away. So here’s a few tips to consider:

1. When thinking about placement, know how much sunlight that spot is going to get throughout the day. The front of my house faces south, and the way the property & street are laid out with trees, it is in full sun all day. So I need to make sure the plants I pick out to plant there can handle that much sun. On my back deck, there is a serious lack of sun, so I have to find plants that do well in only morning light.
2. Try to group plants with similar watering needs together when designing your landscape. A plant that needs only a little water will die next to a plant that needs a whole lot, because there’s no way to prevent water seepage through the soil. Also be aware that plants in full sun will need to be watered more often than plants in partial shade.
3. If it’s above 75/80 degrees outside, water all your plants in the sun daily. And do it first thing in the morning when the least amount of water will evaporate out of the soil.
4. Mulch! Mulch mulch mulch mulch mulch! Lol. But for real, you want to spread about a 3 inch thick layer of dark colored mulch on all flower beds. Mulch helps soil absorb water and maintain a constant level of moisture. However, avoid placing too much mulch within 2 inches of the base of flowers & shrubs. Too much against plants can encourage disease and become a home to damaging pests.
5. Don’t be afraid to use Miracle Grow! Lol it really does work.
6. Lastly, remember there’s no rules! You can plant your flowers in groups, you can stagger them by color, you can do everything completely mis-matched, you can have potted flowers in between planted ones, you can hang plants from wherever you please! You do you and put your own creativity and taste in your home 😉🌼