How to Plant a Flower Garden in Texas
- 1). Observe the conditions for your garden. Most flowers require 6 to 8 hours of sunlight to produce large, healthy blossoms. A garden beneath a tree will call for flowers that prefer partial sun or partial shade, depending on the size and type of tree.
- 2). Dig grass and weeds out of your garden area. Remove large rocks and debris and make sure the ground is free of root systems.
- 3). Use a shovel or hoe to turn the soil over. Add native topsoil to the soil and mix it well. This will raise the level of your flower bed to be level of slightly higher than your lawn to encourage good drainage.
- 4). Test the soil with a soil testing kit to check its pH level and consistency.
- 5). Add organic fertilizer to balance a lack of phosphorous, potassium or nitrogen. Garden compost adds body and oxygen to clay soil, and helps the sandy soil in west Texas retain more nutrients and water.
- 6). Mix compost and fertilizer into the soil. Rake the surface of the garden so it is smooth and looks level.
- 7). Buy plants and bulbs suited for your area and the conditions of your garden's location. Read the plant descriptions and choose a combination of flowers that have the same soil, water and nutrient needs. Visualize the garden as you choose plants and look for an eclectic mix of colors and textures that will complement each other. Flowers that grow well in Texas include the bearded iris, verbena, bluebonnet, daffodils, amaryllis and salvias.
- 8). Arrange plants and bulbs on top of the soil. Sketch a flower garden design on paper or play with the arrangement with aesthetics and logistics in mind. The largest plants need to go in the back so they won't block sunlight from small plants. You can tuck small plants between larger ones for variation.
- 9). Plant the bulbs and seeds according to the spacing and depth guidelines on the plants' instructions.
- 10
Pat soil around flower stems and cover the garden with a 1-inch layer of mulch to prevent weeds and preserve moisture. - 11
Refer to the flowers' instructions before watering the garden. Note that new gardens require regular attention to water levels while root systems establish themselves in the soil.
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