The Best Way to Plant Flowers in an Outdoor Garden

Planting flowers is an easy way to add color, fragrance, and beauty to your outdoor space. Plus, gardening offers benefits like stress relief, and can be fun to do with the whole family. If you’ve never planted a garden before, you might be confused about where to start. After all, it’s best to establish your garden with the best possible care so you can enjoy your plants for years to come.

At Clarks Ace Hardware, we offer high-quality and affordable supplies that make starting a garden easy and exciting. We have a competent and knowledgeable team who can guide you in developing an outstanding outdoor flower garden. Before you visit us in-store, get a head start on your gardening project with help from these important steps:

Select the Right Place and the Right Plants

Choosing the best possible location is one of the key factors for the perfect flower garden. Some flowers require full sun, while others require partial or low sunlight to bloom. Flowers that require more sunlight should be planted in an uncovered place, while those that need partial light should be planted in a shaded area. It could also be helpful to consider the position of the sun, as some areas of your yard might be shaded only at certain times of the day.

Once you’ve chosen where you will plant your garden, you’ll want to evaluate the soil quality. The quality of your soil will be determined by several factors. However, as a rule of thumb, try squeezing a handful of soil from your designated garden location. If it sticks together at first but crumbles when you poke it, it’s considered loamy (which is good).

At our garden centers in Ellicott City and Columbia, we have a variety of soil conditioners that enhance the properties and quality of your garden soil.

Dig the Soil for Your Flower Bed

Next it’s time to dig the flower bed where your garden will be planted. Just how far down should you dig before planting your flowers? Anywhere from 6-12” should do the job. If you’re feeling unsure, go with 12” as this depth is a safe bet for most flowers. Ensure that the earth is loose and well-drained for proper root development.

It’s best to also add compost, which helps to improve the soil’s nutrients and structure.You can shop for compost starters and compost accelerator products from Clarks Ace Hardware.

Plant Your New Flowers

Although planting seeds in a garden is easy in itself, finicky weather and adverse soil conditions can kill the seed before it grows. We recommend choosing commercially grown plants, like those at our Columbia and Ellicott City garden centers, for a quicker start to your garden. When shopping for your plants, choose the fullest and healthiest plants for a better look.

Before you start planting your flowers, consider their eventual size. Some plants have a tag that says how tall and wide the flower might be when grown under the ideal conditions. Based on this information, try to plant the tallest and widest flowers in the back of your garden. On the other hand, plant shorter, ground covering flowers at the front to ensure the best view of all of your plants. 

Water Garden Generously and Add Mulch

Once you plant all of your flowers, it is best to water the entire bed daily for the first week. This will allow the roots to grow deep into the soil and prevent them from drying out. After the first week, it is safe to cut down your watering to a few times per week.

You can add a layer of mulch around your new flowers to reduce the evaporation rate and allow for less frequent watering. Mulch is an important addition as it prevents weeds and improves the soil structure as it decomposes.

Groom Your Flowers

You can add a layer of mulch around your new flowers to reduce the evaporation rate and allow for less frequent watering. Mulch is an important addition as it prevents weeds and improves the soil structure as it decomposes.

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