Planning a Flower Garden

Melinda’s Garden Moments is heard Mon.-Fri. at 7:45 and 10:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on 97.9 WHAV.

Melinda’s Garden Moments is heard Mon.-Fri. at 7:45 and 10:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on 97.9 WHAV.

Put old garden catalogues to work as you plan your flower gardens this year.

Cut out pictures of the plants you would like to grow. Note their mature size, bloom time and make sure they’ll thrive in the garden location. Now start arranging them. Keep taller varieties behind shorter ones. See how the colors work together.

Now look at bloom times.  Make sure you have color in the garden throughout the growing season.  Most annuals, these are planted yearly, provide season long color. Perennials, plants that are supposed to come back each year, have a more limited bloom time. And don’t be afraid to mix the two.  I often include tall ageratum, classic zinnias, annual salvia and other annuals in my perennial gardens. These blend well with perennials and fill in space between plants as my perennials become established. Plus, they provide instant and season long color.

A bit more information:  Try moving the pictures around until you feel you have a design you like.  It is much easier to move pictures of plants than once they are in the soil. Double check your design after you have the plants. Set them on the soil in the garden, in accordance with your plan.  Make needed adjustments, then plant.

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