How to Start a Perennial Flower Garden

Starting your own garden is a rewarding task, just knowing the proper way to prepare it. These expert tips will not only help you prepare nutrient rich soil for your garden, but it also helps when selecting your very first plants. So, let's get started.

How to Prepare Soil

Determine the location you would like to showcase your thriving garden, use a shovel to turn the grass over. Once the sod is turned over, go through the sod pieces to separate the dirt from the grass, leaving only the dirt. Save the grass pieces for organic compost.

Next, you want to dig about 12" to 18" down into the dirt. Place dirt to the side. Continue digging down the length of your garden. Once you have removed the dirt, mix a good amount of the mixture into the hole. It will help provide a nutrient-rich base for your garden as well as keep the ground from sinking.

Now, dump the fresh dirt on top of the composted dirt. Use a fork thoroughly to mix the dirt together. The dirt should be moist and crumbly to the touch. If it is too hard or clumps like clay, mix it with sand to soften it up. If it is too dry, mix peat moss into the dirt to moisten it up.

Selecting Your Plants

To begin your garden, you should first know the climate and the season of your plants, then select your plants accordingly. Begin, with easy growing plants such as shade or sun perennials; they bloom year after year and are easy to maintain. Start with the focal point of your garden or the place you want to draw the eye. For example, your focal point could be a fountain, bench, a pond or a vibrant perennial such as the Liatris or purple rain.

Now, balance your garden with the focal point being the heaviest. Perennials such as the hosta provide a beautiful background for your garden, while easy to grow plants such as the perennial geranium provide an excellent ground cover. Lastly, don't forget the border to separate your garden from the lawn or other elements. An easy-to-grow plant such as thyme provides a vivid, greenish-yellow border year round.

Remember, your garden is a living, thriving thing, so sustain it with care.