Garden A DIY Oasis

BY ALYSON LEVIG

Homes are expressions of those who dwell in them — right down to knick-knack accent pieces. Flower gardens can accomplish the same result outside, yet designing one may not come naturally like finding the perfect indoor color scheme. Thus, knowing a few gardening basics can help develop a green thumb, while local garden centers provide supplies for planting perfect blooming, aromatic accents.

What plants and colors should I choose?

With many cultivars and colors out there, choosing the best flowers for a garden to complement a home can be overwhelming. Generally, low-maintenance plants are the way to go, especially for beginners. Some varieties include astilbe, coneflowers, geraniums, hostas, salvia and sedum.

“My favorite low-maintenance perennial is the astilbe plant,” Nikki Holst, director of Retail and Customer Experience at Copper Creek said. “Long-lasting colors, they stay in a bunch without spreading, deer rarely eat them and they are pretty when cut and in a vase.”

“Black and blue salvia is also a stunning low-maintenance annual,” Holst added. “Hummingbirds love it, neon blue colors, and it can handle the heat.”

Additionally, a plant’s location may not seem important, but is one of the primary drivers of how plants appear. Shade plants may survive in the sun when watered correctly, but it will stunt their growth. Likewise, sun-loving plants can survive in shady areas, but they’ll be leggy and may not support themselves. Thus, be sure to choose plants for your garden’s condition.

When contemplating flower colors, imagine the color wheel. Opposite colors on the wheel, such as green and red, complement each other. With multiple colors, choose ones near each other such as red, yellow and orange; or pick three across from one another like red, blue and yellow. In most scenarios, green and white are interchangeable and go with anything.

Picking plants in a greenhouse

Now it’s time to buy the plants for the garden. No one wants to nurse purchased plants back to health or immediately fight off a disease. Selecting healthy plants from the start will help ensure your garden’s longevity.

“Be sure to check a plant’s leaves for pests and their edges for dryness. You’d want to choose a plant with developing buds and new leaf growth,” Holst said. “Another thing is to look at the plant’s base where it meets the soil and check for any mold or weak spots in the stem.” ones in the front. This arrangement enables all plants to be seen from multiple directions.

With plants, simple is better than flashy, especially for birds and bees. Bigger blooms with extensive petals are lovely, but provide little food for insects. If possible, opt for a native variety, to ensure you’re providing food for everyone.

Spacing is another key aspect because plants require a specific-sized area to grow appropriately. Thus, learn how large your plants will grow and plant accordingly. It’s also helpful to lay out your design because switches are easier and you can visualize the result.

While waiting for the plants to mature, it’s best to protect the soil and plants with wood mulch. This layer of protection keeps plant roots cool during the summer heat, helps smother up-and-coming weeds and prevents soil disease — just be sure to provide room between the mulch and a plant’s stem. Rock mulch is an option, yet water isn’t retained as easily. Plus, rocks reflect the sun’s rays and heat, making plants more thirsty than usual.

Constructing your home’s flower garden

You’ve chosen your garden’s location, removed the sod, exposed the soil and bought the plants. Now what? Well, think odd! Gardeners almost always recommend growing plants in odd numbers as this arrangement is more aesthetically pleasing.

“Think about the odd numbers on dice,” Holst said. “And arrange your plants in the ground or your focal flowers in a vase that way.”

Height is another characteristic to keep in mind. Similar to taking a family picture, place tall plants in the back with shorter

Finally, weed, water and watch. Mulch only stops weeds to a certain point; thus, regularly weed while your plants grow. As they do, they’ll eventually out-compete most weeds. Watering is an obvious necessity, just be sure not to over or under-water. Watching and enjoying your garden mature is the peaceful part.

“Your own ‘do it yourself’ garden is so satisfying. From start to finish you make all the choices, do the work, and in the end, have results that can surprise you.” Holst said. “And let’s not forget the joy of getting your hands in the dirt to enjoy beautiful views of wildflowers in gorgeous colors.”

In the end, maybe you’ll include a bird bath that accents your house trim, a decorative seasonal flag, or even a unique, bold tree or rock in the center — whatever you decide, be sure it expresses your personality, just like your home.