How to make a flower bed?
Question:I want to have a garden in front of my house, I need to know what kind of flowers to buy that last all year long??
Answers:
First start with the soil. You have to dig up whatever is there and loosen the soil. You should also amend it with manure, peat moss, etc. Easiest is to rent a roto-tiller, till it up, add a few bags off the stuff mentioned above and till again.
Now, flowers. First, determine how much light you have. If it's sunny, really sunny, as in almost all day, then get plants for full sun. If it's sunny a few hours a day, get plants for part sun, if it gets less than a couple hours of bright sun a day, get plants for shade.
You have to decide if you want perennials or annuals. Perennials come back every year but often don't have flowers all season although many varieties have attractive vegetation (leaves). Annuals you have to replant every year but they do flower most of the summer. You have to decide which style you want, or maybe mix a bit but most gardens emphasize one or the other.
Once you've answered the questions above, get a book or go to a garden center and look at plant labels to select varieties that are attractive to you. Read the labels for light requirements, height when full grown, and plant spacing. Put tall plant in back and short plants in front. Try to get colors that look good together. Plant plants at recommend spacing . If you get perennials, best to spread them out a bit more as the tend to spread and fill in after two or three years.
It's probably not worth trying to start anything from seed, especially now that we're into summer sun, seedlings will just get fried. Buy small plants in "flats" or sets of four to six seedlings and maybe a few larger plants in quart to gallon sized pots.
Once everything is planted, you can improve the look of the garden by putting some bark mulch between the plants and it will help keep weeds down.
It wouldn't hurt to get a book, either a general book or one for the type of garden you want. The "Taylor" series is good.
Rhododendron
try planting some bulbs, most of them come back every year. Go to lowes or home depot and look at the flowers, most of them have a tag that tells you everything you need to know. or try one of these:
Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan)
USDA Zones: 3 - 9 - Bloom Span: 3 Months
Rudbeckia are at home everywhere and many are native to various parts of North America. They prefers well-drained, somewhat lean soil and full sun. Deadheading will prolong bloom and cut Rudbeckia flowers will last a long time in water. With their flat landing pad petals, they are attractive to butterflies and the seeds will be eaten by the birds during the winter. Relatively long lived, Rudbeckias can be easily multiplied by division.
GOOD CHOICES: Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm"
Scabiosa (Pin Cushion Flower)
USDA Zones 3 - 9 - Bloom Span: 3+ Months
Scabiosa is a unique looking plants with a low growing rosette of narrow leaves and a profusion of gangly stems topped by pincushion flowers. They are relatively easily grown in average soil and full sun. Deadheading is a must for long bloom and general appearance. Divide plants every 3-4 years. You can also root the secondary stems you will see coming from the base of the plants.
GOOD CHOICES: Scabiosa caucasica 'Butterfly Blue', S. c. 'Pink Mist'
Sedum (Stonecrop)
USDA Zones 3- 9 - Bloom Span: 2-3 Months
The taller sedums are unparalleled garden performers. Sedum 'Autumn Joy' is a near perfect plants, looking good for 4 seasons. Sedum flower buds are attractive long before they are fully in bloom and long after they have gone to seed, so there is no need to deadhead. They thrive in well-drained soil and full sun. If your plants tend to flop, they can be sheared back in early summer to form a bushier, sturdier plant. Sedums can go years without division, but can be propagated by stem cutting. Once the plant begins to thin out in the center, division is necessary.
GOOD CHOICES: Sedum 'Autumn Joy', S. 'Bertram Anderson', S. Madrona, S. 'Brilliant'
Tradescantia (Spiderwort)
USDA zones 4 - 9 - Bloom Span: 3-4 Months
Tradescantia doesn't get much respect, probably because they can become a bit aggressive. However, they will readily bloom in partial shade and can be easily controlled by pulling young plants or by crowding them in with other plants. They have somewhat grassy like leaves with clusters of 3-peteled flower heads. Each flower lasts only one day, but there are so many buds the bloom period is quite long. They prefer cool, moist soil and full sun, but will accept partial shade in exchange for the cool soil.
GOOD CHOICES: Tradescantia ''Carmine Glow', T. 'Snowcap'
Veronica spicata (Spike Speedwell)
USDA Zones 3 - 9 - Bloom Span: 3-4 Months
Veronicas start blooming in the spring and keep going through frost. The genus includes a broad range of plants, but V. spicata is most popular in gardens. The low growing dense foliage gives rise to narrow flowers spikes in blues, reds, pinks, whites and purples. Deadheading will keep them going all summer long. Drought tolerant, Veronica likes a well-drained soil.
GOOD CHOICES: Veronica 'Sunny Border Blue'
amanda said it right and thats what i would do.
thank to amanda i think i will try that my self
she should get the ten points
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