A visually attractive and easy-to-maintain flower bed is rarely created by simply going to the garden center and buying the most beautiful perennials there. Instead, careful planning is required so that the overall result appears harmonious and no unsightly gaps form throughout the year.
How do you plan an attractive flower bed all year round?
To plan a flower bed that is attractive all year round, combine perennials of different heights and widths, annual and biennial flowers, bulbous flowers, shrubs, grasses, evergreen ground covers and decorative foliage plants. Pay attention to harmonious flower colors, growth heights and shapes as well as leaf sizes and colors.
Criteria for bed planning
Of course, most flowers bloom during the summer months, so you have the largest selection here. However, such a summer flower bed can quickly seem boring if the plants are not in bloom. This is why criteria such as the height and width as well as the flowering time of a plant are so important. Put different species together cleverly and you can enjoy a green and flowering bed all year round.
Mixed flower beds
This includes, for example, not only sowing one- or two-year-old summer flowers, but also putting together a colorful mix of perennials of different heights and widths, annual and two-year flowers, bulb flowers and also shrubs. The whole thing is rounded off by grasses, evergreen ground cover and foliage plants with broad, colored leaves. Such a bed offers an exciting sight at any time of the year and also changes its character depending on the season.
Attractive beds all year round
In spring, typical spring bloomers such as tulips, daffodils, squills or ranunculus compete for attention with - if there is enough space in the bed - small fruit trees, serviceberry or cornelian cherry. After these have faded, the summer flowers gradually open their calyxes, leaving behind a lushly blooming bed at the peak of the season. Towards the end of summer, this floral display is reduced, so that autumn bloomers, such as chrysanthemums, autumn aster and sedum, come to the fore along with foliage plants. In winter, the bed with typical winter bloomers such as winter aconite, winter jasmine and snowball in combination with evergreen plants provides a welcome splash of color in the dark season.
Harmonic arrangement
But the flowers and perennials are not only selected based on the flowering period. Important criteria for a harmonious arrangement are, for example,
- Flower colors: single-color, two- to three-color or variegated flower beds
- Growth heights and shapes: always combine different tall and wide growing plants with each other
- Leaf size and color: in addition to the flowers, you should not neglect the different leaf shapes
Tall-growing perennials such as delphiniums, peony or phlox always belong in the center of the bed and are more likely to be planted towards the back. They are flanked by medium-tall perennials such as cranesbill, which are intended to close gaps. These two species should have similar flowering times and should also harmonize with each other in terms of color. Do not plant individual specimens, but rather small groups of three to seven plants. Plant compact, long-flowering plants at the edge of the bed. Also combine different plant heights and widths: there should always be a bushy plant next to a slender perennial.
Tip
A small tree or shrub is often very attractive as the centerpiece of a round flower bed: small fruit or ornamental fruit trees are particularly suitable for this.
