How to start a flowerbed?

Question

I have no experience planting anything, but now have a nice small yard and would like to learn. I have a flowerbed area,but have no idea when or how to begin.I live in New Orleans area and I doubt we'll have any more cold weather. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Tools and Supplies required: Spade, Sickle(One small and one large), planter, Box-cutter knife, rubber hammer, a pair of rubber-gloves, weed-stop fabric, fabric nails, fine top-soil, miracle gro mixture for flower beds, wood/metal edging & mulch etc.

Preparation of the flower bed: First of all, you need to take all the weeds and grass out with the help of a small sickle from the flower bed, then add some fine top-soil and flower compost(miracle-grow mixture for flowers). Mix everything well with the existing soil. You will require a weed-stop fabric to cover the flower bed. After you put the weed-stop fabric, make cuts on the fabric in + shape about 10" apart(The space will depend upon the flowers that you'll choose). The edgers should be put on the border of your flower-beds. Make sure that you put them all around the flower-bed. You might like to dig about 6" deep with a showel while putting them. I would suggest using double edgers. You can dig the metal ones about 4" to 6" into the ground and place the better looking ones on the top.

I would suggest to go with low-mantainace flowers, which do well in hot and humid weather and grow all year long. Be very careful about the irrigation part. Some plants require less sunshine/water and some require more sunshine/water. You can plant the ones that require more sunshine in the sunny areas of your back-yard and the ones that require shade, in the shaded areas of your backyard.

All the best for your new project.

Answer 2

Great advice on the plantings, Bubba! Something to consider, though is what you are planting this new garden in... the soil! I always recommend conditioning the soil in the bed area. Adding organic matter to the bed is almost always going to help the plants look better and resist stress and disease better.

For most garden beds, the addition of compost is a good idea, but in this circumstance, you might want to look into adding potting soil (like miracle gro or schultz) to the soil. It contains organics, but also has some nutrients in it. This will help start biological activity in the soil and your plants will LOVE it! Let the soil rise up above the grade of your grass a little (raised beds). This keeps a better moisture balance in the garden soil and it shows off your plants.. win-win!

I also (particularly for novice gardeners) Recommend adding some controlled release fertilizer, like Osmocote when you plant. You can buy it in garden centers and even at Wal-mart, Lowe's or Home Depot. It can be bought in small plastic jars and should be all you need of the summer for a small bed. Sprinkle a spoonful (spoon comes in the jar) around each new plant. It dissolves slowly and keeps your plants fed for you all summer.

After planting.. MULCH! add a layer of mulch 3" thick to help retain moisture, suppress weed growth and to have a much nicer, finished look in your garden.

Good Gardening!

Answer 3

the first thing you must do is get good soil in your garden. If you have an area that has weeds you can lay down about 8 sheets thick of newspaper over the area and then put your good top soil over the newspaper. the newspaper gradually decomposes and helps to turn into compost. your weeds will be killed as they were kept from sunlight that helps them to grow.
You can then decide where you want your flowers beds etc. you can use peat moss as an additive to your soil as it keeps the moisture in.
Plant your tall flowers at the back and smaller ones in front, you can make a circular bed so that you can get access to it from all sides. If you do this, then plant your tall flowers in the middle.
Keep new plantings well watered if you have no rainfall, and water in the morning if you can.
Buy a few perennials for your garden as they will grow bigger every year, but as they do not flower all the season, buy annuals to put in amongst them to create color all summer long.

Answer 4

First, determine if the area is a sunny, shady, or semi-shady location. When you have determined this, go to the local nursery and look for flowers to use in that situation. Plant taller flowers in the back and shorter ones to the front. Pay attention to differences in foliage and texture so that you will have a variety. Use color sparingly. Usually 3 colors work well. After planting, mulch around plants so they will retain their moisture better. Keep watered well all summer. If something doesn't work well or doesn't look as good as you like, make a note of it and change it next year. You can also intersperse herbs in with you flowers to give a different look and supply you with fresh herbs. Good luck and enjoy your flowers.

Answer 5

Try this site: iBtraveling.com and then scroll down on the left hand side and click on "Free Plant Tips". I just got a newsletter from this guy who talked about flower beds. You can surf his site and if you sign up for his newsletter, you'll learn lots and he won't even spam you too. Wish you the best there in New Orleans.

Answer 6

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/design/projects/borders_flowerbed.shtml


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