Designing Summer Flower Beds

Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes

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Designing an annual flower garden and seeing it develop before your eyes can be rewarding. It takes time, knowledge and experience to prepare a good plan. The planning stage too often is overlooked by the impatient gardener, and the result is a haphazard collection of plant materials.

The eye needs a sense of order. Too many variations in sizes, shapes, colors and textures create confusion. Remember that the most spectacular gardens all begin with a carefully thought-out design that has strong lines and structure.

Five Steps in Garden Design

Step #1 - Determine the point(s) of viewing.

Step #2 - Consider existing conditions.

Step #3 - Decide on style-either informal or formal.

Step #4 - Choose the type of display.

Step #5 - Select plants.

Informal Vs Formal If your yard has an irregular shape, or if you are lucky enough to have existing trees or plants that you want to incorporate into the overall plan, you may want to choose an informal garden style. These gardens have a predominance of curved, flowing lines and are typically asymmetrical.

If your yard and/or home have a more formal shape or style, choose a more formal garden style. Incorporate straight lines and symmetrical patterns into your overall design.

Beds or Borders Does your landscape or design lend itself to beds, borders, or both?

Beds are usually surrounded (like an island) by an open expanse, usually a grass lawn. They can usually be viewed from all sides and so offer great possibilities in the design and arrangement of plants. Because they are accessible from all sides, they provide easy access for maintenance. They tend to allow more sunlight and better air circulation.

Borders are areas that border an expanse or walkway, such as the outside of a lawn, or along sidewalks, driveways, or walking paths. The back of the border is usually straight, and the front edge can be either straight or curved. Borders can help to soften lines and allow more open spaces. For wide borders that are against a building or fence, you may want to leave about a 30-inch walkway behind it for accessibility to care for the plants and to provide better air circulation. You can put tall plants in the back to hide the walkway.

Edgings As a finishing element, consider the type of edging you want to use. Edgings help in both the appearance and the maintenance of your garden. They can set apart a bed or border from whatever it is immediately against, they create nice, clean lines for a finished appearance, and are great for discouraging grass and weeds from invading the garden.

Install your edging when you first prepare the bed or border. Some ideas for edgings you can use are bare earth, plastic, steel, aluminum, brick, tiles, wood, and stone. You can even create edgings made of living plants.

Most edgings can be readily purchased, and many can be bent easily to fit various shapes. The depth of edging you need depends of the type of garden. Edging six inches deep will keep out most weeds and grasses, but edgings 6 – 8 inches deep can be even more effective. For shrubs and hedges with deep roots, you may need edgings up to 2 or more feet deep.

For more information on designing a landscape including flowerbeds, please log on to the Thanksgiving Point website at www.thanksgivingpoint.com

FLOWER BED DESIGN-Wonderful flower gardens don’t just happen. They are created by careful gardeners. Learn how to plan and plant flowerbeds that are aesthetically pleasing and that will bloom from early spring through autumn. Instructor: Larry Sagers Cost: $40.00 Thursday, May 8,15,22 and 29 from 6:00-8:00 PM Tuesday, September 9,16,23 and 30 from 2:00-4:00 PM or 6:00-8:00 PM

ADVANCED LANDSCAPE DESIGN-This course builds upon our Basic Landscape Design course. After completing your basic design, come learn how to incorporate advanced design and labor –saving maintenance features into your landscape. The course focuses on using plants to solve problems in the landscape, as well as hardscape items such as arbors, walkways, ponds and other water features. Instructor: Larry Sagers and Paul Quist Cost:$ 40.00 Tuesday, May 6,13,20 and 27 from 2:00-4:00 PM

SELECTING PLANTS FOR UTAH LANDSCAPE- When choosing plants to include in your landscape, it is important to understand what will grow here in Utah. This class covers trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials suited for the Wasatch Front. Instructors: Paul Quist and Gretchen Campbell Cost:$30.00 (if you register for Basic Landscape Design and Selecting Plants for Utah Landscape, the cost is only $60 for both classes). Wednesday, May 7,14 and 21 from 2:00- 4:00 PM or 6:00-8:00 PM Wednesday, July 2, 9 and 16 from 10:00 AM- Noon Wednesday, August 12, 20 and 27 from 6:00-8:00 PM

BASIC LANDSCAPE DESIGN- Whether you’re designing a first-time landscape or remodeling an existing landscape. Learn the steps for creating a look that you will enjoy. The class will cover creating focal points, entryways, how to frame your house or preserve a view and waterwise landscaping. Master Gardeners from Utah State University Extension Service will help review your landscape plans in a personal consultation. Instructors: Larry Sagers and Paul Quist Cost: $40.00 (includes Designing Your Landscape booklet and CD). Saturday, May 10 and 17 from 9:00 AM- Noon Thursday, June 5,12,19 and 26 from 2:00-4:00 PM or 6:00-8:00 PM Tuesday August 5,12,19 and 26 from 2:00-4:00 PM or 6:00-8:00 PM

PASSION FOR PERENNIALS- If you love perennial garden or the cottage garden look, then you will love this class. We will go in depth into perennial plants, how to select them according to there water requirements, shade or sun needs and care. Instructors: Larry Sagers and Gretchen Campbell Cost: $40.00 (includes a CD) Tuesday, June 3, 10, 17 and 24 from 1:00-3:00 PM