Choice of Plants for Your Garden
Choosing Plants for Your Garden
Many times we buy plants on impulse then find there is nowhere in the garden that really suits them. Carefully examine your garden before buying plants to see how much sun it gets, to see whether the soi is waterlogged or well drained. You’ll then be equipped to go and buy the best plants for your situation; shade-loving plants for the sheltered areas, sun-lovers for the warm spots, drought-resistant plants for the parched areas which may be either sunny or shaded, and swamp plants for the poorly-drained parts.
But hold on! Make sure to first test your soil in order to determine the pH level of your soil and if any, what kind of nutrients you need. Is the soil acid or alkaline? Most plants prefer soil that is slightly acidic, but there are some that must have alkaline soil to grow. You can alter the soil’s pH level, but it’s much easier to simply plant for the soil you have.
Now you are ready to plant. Well…. almost. Will you plant in groups or singly? If you buy ‘one of everything’ your garden may seem rather spotty. Group plantings are harmonious, organised and for interest, the colors can vary.
Place the plant you choose around the garden bed to see how they will look before planting them out. Rearrange them to your liking. For a better look, group the plants in sets of fives or threes and not in groups of even numbers. Make sure you have a good combination of textures and colors of plants. Tall plants should go to the back, or the centre if your garden will be viewed equally from all sides. Try to keep your plants away from trees. The roots of trees are fiercely competitive and will steal all the nutrients and moisture meant for your flowers.
The right color scheme is one way to maintain the harmony in your garden. Visualise the colors of flowers when they are blooming. Some colors may not go with others, but can still be planted side-by-side if they have a different blooming season. Foliage color is also important. Many flower plants have silver, grey or purplish foliage that is just as attractive as the flower. This signifies that they’re still in good standing well past the blooming season and therefore have value.
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