A beginner’s guide to starting a beautiful flower garden
There is something so feminine about growing flowers! I have just started to wake up my Dahlia tubers after a long winter and i can not wait for them to bloom 🌸
Last year my children and i started to volunteer at a local farm. One of the things that drew me to the farm was the community garden. This year we are renting a plot in the garden and we will be growing mostly flowers and some veggies, i think it is so important for kids to learn how to grow food from seed.
There is nothing better than pretty vases of fresh flowers all over the house. This is my favorite thing about summer. In the winter i rely on my orchids to bloom just to have some color in the house, but in the summer, my house is full of brightly colored flowers.
Last year on the farm there was an abundance of sunflowers, so we cut them every week and filled every vase we had, it was glorious!
This year we are growing cosmos, dahlias, sweet peas, white sunflowers, a variety of veggies, and strawberries. In fact, every windowsill i have right now has some kind of seeds growing in pots on them! This time of year is so full of joy.
There is magic in growing your own flowers. Not just for how they look, but for how they make you feel.
A flower garden isn’t just a collection of pretty plants, it is an extension of your energy and your creativity. Plus, nurturing something into full bloom, is so deeply feminine.
If you have been wanting to start a flower garden but you feel overwhelmed, this guide will help you.
Step one: Choose your garden style
This is important to think about before you start buying seeds.
I always like to go for a theme and try and buy flower seeds that look good together in arrangements. Also, if you are planning to grow fruits or vegetables, make sure that they are things your family like to eat. There is no point in growing 100 cucumbers if you don’t like them!
So decide what style garden you are going for first.
A few garden styles i love:
Cottage garden
Wildflower look
Minimal
Feminine garden with pretty colors
Flowers that you can use for teas like chamomile
Always look on the back of seed packets to know when to plant and if you can direct sow or start in pots indoors first. Choose seeds that seem easy to you.
Step two: Find the right spot
Most flowers need a lot of sunlight to thrive. Choose a spot that you know will get 6-8 hours of sunlight a day.
If you skip this, even the easiest flowers may not survive.
Take some time in your garden to observe the best spot to plant.
Step three: Start with easy flowers
You don’t need to overcomplicate things, especially if you are new to gardening. To be honest some of the easiest flowers to grow are some of prettiest and will make you look a pro right from the start!
Some easy flowers i love:
Zinnias - they grow quickly and are pretty
Cosmos - these grow like weeds (I have a guide to growing cosmos from seed here)
Marigolds - these help with pests and smell beautiful
Petunias - great option for containers
Sunflowers - the easiest to grow and need little maintenance
If you are feeling brave, try dahlias. These need a bit more attention but these are the most beautiful in my opinion. There are many stores selling dahlia tubers, but you can also start them from seed.
Step four: Prepare your soil
Healthy soil = healthy flowers.
Before you plant:
Loosen the soil
Mix in compost or nutrient rich soil
Remove weeds and rocks
If you are starting in pots first, there are so many good quality soils to choose from. Give your seeds the best start from day one.
The soil you grow your flowers in is the foundation of your gardens energy. When it is healthy, you are giving anything you plant the best chance.
Step five: Water consistently
One of the biggest beginner gardening mistakes is watering too much or not enough.
Learn about the watering preferences of each flower you plant.
A good rule:
Water deeply a few times a week instead of every day.
Water early in the morning or when the sun goes down. This will make sure that the plants are hydrated all day as the hot sun shines on them and they are getting all of the moisture.
Step six: Cut and deadhead
This may be surprising, but cutting your flowers actually helps them grow more. When we are regularly cutting the blooms, it sends a signal to the roots to grow more.
We also need to be removing dead blooms - this is called deadheading. This will also encourage new blooms as nourishment is not being sent to dead flowers anymore.
The more you cut your flowers, the more they give back.
Style them in pretty vases or create bouquets and gift them to your friends and family.
Step seven: Create rituals
Your garden is more than a project. It is beauty that was created by you, for you.
Create rituals around it to help you enjoy it as much as you can.
Have your morning coffee or tea with your flowers.
Evenings in the garden watching the sunset.
One day a week to prune, reset, and refresh the garden.
Your garden doesn’t need to be perfect. Some days you will feel like a green thumb Goddess and other days you will have no idea what you are doing. Take time to learn what works for you and create techniques that you can use year after year.
Gardening teaches us patience and to live in the present moment, it is so good for our souls 🌙
