Planning out how to plant a flower garden on a slope is probably easier said than done. It may seem more complicated than the process of planting a garden in any other situation. However, a flower garden on a sloping surface can still be accomplished as long as certain things are kept in mind. These tips will help you learn how to plant a flower garden on a slope.
First, you must determine what type of gardening you will do. Will you be growing herbs and vegetables around the edge of your new garden? Will you be growing flowers alone on a border? How about an herbal garden to compliment your kitchen garden? There are many ways to develop a garden and have it look beautiful even when it’s not planted in the earth.
Decide whether you will be growing flowers for their beauty or as a food source. If you plant flowers for their beauty you will have to choose plants that will also survive in a frost-free environment. Frost-resistant plants are available for every type of flower garden.
Next, think carefully about the location of each plant. A mistake most people make is planting too close to their fence. Shrubs should be planted one foot deep, three feet apart. Roses and honeysuckle should be planted next to one another, approximately three feet apart. You don’t want to crowd the shrubs by planting them too close together, causing the roots of the shrubs to grow into the grassy areas of your garden.
If you want to plant a flower garden that also provides color, you may be interested in starting with irises, daffodils, or tulips. Iris plants can grow up to twelve feet tall and bloom with purple, blue, and red flowers. They come in a wide variety of colors, including white and pink. Daffodil and tulip plants are available in a wide variety of colors as well, ranging from pale yellow to deep green.
One important thing to keep in mind when choosing plants is what kind of soil you have in your yard. Different kinds of flowers will grow better in different types of soil. Earthworms and certain types of beetles need rich soil in order to flourish. You should test the soil for fertility once a year, before planting, and then adjust the fertilizer accordingly.
For shade, perennials such as hydrangeas, ground covers, and garden fountains work great. Garden fences, raised beds, and shrub borders provide additional shelter for many flowering plants. If you are looking for plants to accent your flowers, consider using landscape edging, mulching, and additional plants to create your signature look.
Irrigation is another option to consider, if you are not growing perennials. Annuals and biennials will get water throughout the growing season. However, during the winter, these plants will not bloom again until the spring. Ground covers such as evergreens, crocuses, and hollies will remain dormant all winter and then bloom again in the spring.
Choosing between bulbs and annuals is an important decision to make. Bulbs will provide color throughout the year, while annuals will grow much slower. Consider planting a combination of both the annuals and the bulbs in your flower bed, to provide a continuous source of blooms throughout the growing season.
In order to prepare the soil for planting, remove any grass, weeds, and other obstacles from the area. Use a light application of organic fertilizer, such as manure, with a small trowel. Fertilizer can be added several times over the summer to enrich the soil. Once the soil is properly prepared, use a soil strainer to collect and mix excess water from the surface of the soil. This will help reduce the amount of compacting that can occur due to wetting of the surface of the soil.
The next step in how to plant a flower garden on a slope is to prepare the flower garden itself. This step is fairly easy, as all you need to do is to follow the planting instructions in the cultural instructions booklet that came with your seeds or seed packet. Plant flowers in the spaces left behind by the plants that have been removed. For example, if a plant has roots down deep, it will likely need to be removed before it can grow to the top of the flower garden. Make sure that the roots are completely gone before you can begin working.
The final step is to fill in the remaining empty spaces in the old flower bed with the new soil. Most people choose to use perlite or forest mulch to achieve good color tones in their beds. Other people like to add a layer of river pea gravel to the bottom of their bed to create a beautiful border effect. Be creative when planning your new planting. The sky is the limit.