Many times we buy plants on impulse and then discover that there is nowhere in the garden that really suits them. Before you buy plants, carefully examine your garden to see how much sun and shade it gets, whether the soil is well-drained or waterlogged, and whether it looks sheltered or windswept.
You will then be equipped to go and purchase the best plants for your situation; shade-loving plants for sheltered areas, sun-loving plants for hot places, drought-resistant plants for parched areas that can be sunny or shaded, and bog plants for poorly drained parts.
But wait! Test your soil first, to determine your soil’s pH level and what kind of nutrients you need to add, if any. Is the soil acid or alkaline?
Most plants prefer slightly acidic soils, but there are some that must have alkaline soils to grow. You can alter the pH level of the soil, but it’s much easier to just plant for the soil you have.
Now you are ready to plant. Well almost. Will you plant in groups or individually? If you buy ‘one of everything’, your garden can look quite patchy. Group plantings are organized, harmonious and you can vary the color according to your interest.
Before planting, place your chosen plants around the garden bed in their pots to see how they will look. Rearrange them until you are satisfied.
Grouping plants in sets of three or five usually looks better than planting in groups of even numbers. Make sure you have an interesting combination of plant colors and textures. Tall plants should go towards the back or towards the center if your garden will be viewed equally from all sides.
Try to keep your plants away from trees. Tree roots are fiercely competitive and will steal all the nutrients and moisture meant for your flowers.
The correct color scheme is one way to maintain harmony in your garden. Imagine the color of the flowers when they are in bloom. Some colors may clash with others, but they can still be planted next to each other if they have a different blooming season.
Foliage color is also important. Many flowering plants have silver, gray, or purple foliage that is as attractive as the flower. This means that they remain attractive long after the flowering season and therefore have added value.
butterfly gardening
What is butterfly gardening? Simply put, butterfly gardening is the art of growing flowers and plants that will attract these colorful and delicate creatures to your garden.
Delight your family and visitors with beautiful butterflies, but be sure to create a safe habitat for them. If you have cats, reconsider your plans, because it would be a shame to lure these charming insects to their death.
The layout of your butterfly garden is a matter of personal preference. Typical points to consider are the size of your garden and the types of flowers and plants you want to grow. Choose a garden style that appeals to you, but make sure it also contains plants and flowers that attract the butterflies you want to attract.
It is important to find out which plants and flowers will attract which species of butterfly. who live in your area. This information can be found at the local library.
To create the kind of environment that appeals to them, you’ll also need some form of water. A birdbath will look attractive and will keep butterflies off the ground, away from stray cats or mischievous puppies. A shallow dish on a post or hung from a tree will work just as well.
When planting your butterfly garden, be careful how you coordinate the colors you choose for your flower beds. Although butterflies don’t care about your choice of color, you don’t want your garden to be a hodgepodge of unrelated colors and textures.
Butterflies are attracted to flowers that have nectar instead of pollen, such as honeysuckle, milkweed, summer lilac, valerian, daisies, purple echinacea, yellow sage, daylilies, and lavender.
Some people find it helpful to draw and color a layout of their butterfly garden plan to see what the finished product might look like. Keep in mind that warm colors like red and orange are bright and eye-catching.
These colors have a greater impact against a deep green background. Cool colors like blue and purple are calming and toned down and work best with a contrast of white to create the look of freshness and brightness.
