Garden designs that bloom year-round don’t happen by accident. It takes careful thought and planning for every inch of space you adorn with blooming plants to be just right, not overnight or within one season.
Begin with a plan when planting your garden to ensure its constant bloom. Depending on your goals and planting schedule, a diverse mix of flowering plants, such as annual or perennial varieties, should be chosen. Here are some valuable tips that will help you along in the process.
Dividing the Seasons
Spring, summer, fall, and winter are the traditional four seasons, but when it comes to perennial blooming flowers, I like to subdivide spring and summer seasons for maximum results. Early spring bloomers and late summer perennials often get overlooked when so many beautiful options exist!
Early spring marks the return of fall-planted bulbs. Hellebores and hepatica are excellent winter-early spring flowers to add to your garden, while forsythia and cherry blossom shrubs also bloom early.
Late spring is the garden’s peak season. That is when all of your perennial flowers, such as peonies, Irises, allium, and oriental poppies, bloom profusely – it is when this bloom explosion happens! Usually, you only need to plan a little if blooming occurs during this period; nature takes over completely!
Early summer marks the transition of your spring garden into its summer counterpart, usually without much disruption or change due to abundant flowers such as delphiniums, Shasta daisies, hydrangeas, and lavender blooming in gardens across the nation.
Late summer occurs as summer flowers decline and require careful consideration and planning. There are plenty of late summer options; just make sure they make it into your garden – some great examples include Joe Pye weed, ligularia, bugbane, and coneflowers!
Plan for Spring now in the Fall
Fall is an excellent time for planting spring gardens. Spring bulbs should be purchased and planted this season – this way, you’ll have some early-blooming perennials like crocus, snowdrops, and hyacinth that you can look forward to blooming early the following spring! So get these bulbs planted now to see them flourishing by early spring!
Select an Oak Barrel Planter.
Do Garden Planters inspire you? Oak Tubs, made of upcycled oak whiskey barrels, make stylish additions to any garden and are great ways to add character and personality. Perfect for housing an assortment of plants, flowers, and small trees in order to begin Spring garden preparations in style!
Make use of British weather and harvest rainwater!
Now is the time to take advantage of UK spring rainstorms by collecting rainwater. Not only can it benefit your garden later on, but its ideal pH levels and lack of harmful additives such as chlorine or fluoride (often found in tap water supplies) make rainwater an invaluable natural resource you should exploit!
When purchasing plants, be aware of the bloom time they show, but take it lightly.
Plant labels and information online can provide a general idea of when a plant will flower, but don’t be surprised if its bloom time varies significantly from your experience – as bloom times depend on several factors – most notably your climate!
Plant long blooming Perennials
Though perennials typically bloom for 2-3 weeks, there are always exceptions. Peonies, for instance, provide spectacular but short-lived displays. And then there are those perennials that last indefinitely and maintain structure and interest even after initial blooming is finished.
Develop and prepare the soil!
Now is the time to lay the final foundation of your garden with some thorough soil preparation. If you’re relocating existing soil or compost from elsewhere in your garden, remove any weeds or pest plants that could compromise harvest health before redistribution takes place.
To increase oxygen levels and limit any compaction of your base that might impede growth, we advise loosening and rotating your soil for improved airflow. This will create an ideal environment where plants can flourish.
Finally, take into consideration organic fertilizers. Your soil may need a boost of nutrients after being home to plants for some time; compost or fertilizer applications could do wonders in rejuvenating it – particularly young tomato plants could use an injection of calcium to prevent blossom end rot and encourage fruitful growth.