Flower Gardening
Blooming your garden!
Flowers are a great way to add pops of colour and visual interest to your garden. Whether you prefer bright bold hues or soft pastel shades, there are plenty of flowers to choose from that will complement your existing landscaping and create a cohesive look. There are also numerous types of flowers to choose from, such as perennials, annuals, bulbs and shrubs, each with unique characteristics and growing requirements. Here you can find out all you need to know to plant, grow and maintain beautiful flowers in your garden or flower pots. Scroll down to access our handy Flower Fact Sheets designed to help you understand perennial flowers, creating beautiful flower pots or flower borders in your garden, growing flower seeds and selecting indoor flower plants. Read 8 Flower plants for all year round blooms in Australia for more information. Refer to 8 Flower Plants For All Year Round Blooms in Australia for more information.
Tips for creating a flower garden
When considering adding flowers to your garden think about these 4 things to determine the best flower options for your space
1. The amount of sunlight your space receives through the day.
The conditions of your garden need to be considered to ensure the flowers you choose will thrive with the amount of sunlight and other weather conditions they may be exposed to. Different flower varieties require different sunlight requirements so this can drive your choices.
2. The colour scheme you prefer
Think about the context of your garden and the colours surrounding the garden. For example, the exterior colour and finish of your house, shed or other buildings that surround the garden. Choose colour combinations that look appealing together and within the context of the surrounding buildings.
3. Size and shape of your garden
For smaller gardens, its important to think about the volume, size and shape of the flowers you choose. Particularly in smaller spaces where layering is a great way to provide interest and texture but not overcrowding the garden which can have an overall look of being overgrown. Flower Pots also provide texture and versatility to smaller spaces as they can be moved around.
4. Timing for blooms
Prior to finalising your flower choices, consider when each of the flower plants will bloom. If you are looking to achieve an all year round colour burst in your garden you may choose perennials or look at a combination of flower plants that will collectively produce blooms across all seasons.
See our blog post 8 flower plants for all year round blooms in Australia for inspiration.
The benefits of flowers are more than visual
We all understand the beauty that flowers can bring visually and with their natural perfumes to our gardens, homes and work spaces. Flowers, however, have a number of other benefits including assisting to reduce stress and anxiety by reducing the stress inducing hormone cortisol. Introducing flowers into our daily environment can also improve mood and help reduce symptoms of depression. Some flowers also offer health benefits when used in tea and cooking. The camomile flower has been long known for its calming properties to promote relaxation and both camomile and lavender flowers have been used for centuries to promote a restful night sleep Lavender is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Flowers also play an important biodiversity role in the ecosystems of our gardens by providing feed and habitat for bees and butterfly pollinators. Pollinating is important for the health and longevity of garden ecosystems helping plants to reproduce and produce fruits, vegetables and seeds.
Flower Pots
There are specific things to consider when growing flowers in pots versus in your garden. The most important consideration is the pot you choose. Pots need to be large enough to allow the flower plants roots to grow but not so large that it will be too heavy and difficult to move. It is also important to use a high-quality potting mix that drains well and is high in nutrients for the plant. Potting mix is specifically formulated to cater to these two key requirements however they can vary greatly in quality. As the soil in pots can dry out more easily than the soil in a grounded garden bed, its important to consider the frequency of watering and whether the pot will be in a location where it will be naturally watered or need manual watering. The location for your pot should also cater for the natural requirements of the flower plant; whether it enjoys full sun or a shaded position.