This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
Sometimes all it takes is a few shovels and the addition of plants to spruce up a soulless corner around the house. A little free time on the schedule? We roll up our sleeves and embellish our space by making a flower bed.
1. Planning and preparation
Before robbing a garden center, it is best to plan the space you want to develop. Determine the dimensions of the future flower bed according to your wishes and, if necessary, mark out the chosen space with ropes as a reminder. The shape and size of the flower bed is a matter of personal choice, but shapes that make mowing difficult should be avoided. The grass present at the chosen location will have to be removed to make room for the bare ground.
If the composition of the soil is not known, it may be wise to carry out an analysis of it to know the corrective measures to be applied (fertilizer, compost, lime, etc.) in order to obtain a successful planting. A hand-drawn sketch can also be useful to make the most of the space provided and to seek gardening advice.
Then comes the choice of plants. It is important to take into consideration the duration of sunshine in the place where the plantations will be carried out. A flower bed in the sun will not have the same plants as in the shade. For an interesting layout during the four seasons, it is strongly suggested to incorporate, in addition to perennials and shrubs, conifers and grasses. These plants retain a beautiful appearance in winter and are very decorative.
In addition to plants, ornaments such as statues, stones or structures can be integrated to give style, movement and originality to the flower bed. Since the plants will not be in bloom all the time, it is necessary to favor different flowering times to always have a point of interest in the flower bed. It is also a good idea to plan plants that will attract pollinators and birds.
2. Realization
Before planting them, the plants must be placed in the intended place. It is easier to visualize the desired effect if the spacing required for each of the plants has been respected. We can thus check if the final result will please us. There is still time to change small details and refine the plan!
Once you find the look pleasant, you can dig the planting pits. They are usually a little larger than the container. Then, the planting fertilizer will be placed at the bottom of the pit and mixed with the potting soil. The plants are then planted and the soil lightly packed around the roots to prevent subsidence during the first watering.
The laying of the mulch and the arrangement of the ornaments are the finishing touches. Be careful not to stick the mulch too much to the base of the plant. Keep in mind that the development will not be mature in the first year. Plants must be allowed time to expand and reach their final size.
3. Maintenance
To ensure that the newly landscaped flower bed will age well, it must be maintained regularly. Some essential gestures are to be expected in spring, summer and autumn.
• The weeks following planting will be crucial for the survival of the seedlings. Since the plants have few roots, they are less self-sufficient than those that have been planted for several years; it is therefore necessary to regularly check the watering. Always remember that watering is a hit or miss basis.
• Even when mulch is used to reduce the presence of unwanted weeds in the flower bed, they can still find their way into bare areas or between plants. To prevent them from harming the establishment of your plants and that this place becomes a jungle, it is better to pull them out quickly.
• Plants should be inspected regularly for the presence of insects and diseases. If in doubt as to what may be causing the damage, it is wise to take a sample of leaves or branches to take to the garden center and thus obtain advice more easily.
• In autumn, certain plants may be pruned, tied up and/or protected. However, this step should not be done too soon.
• The following spring, the mulch around the plants can be moved to allow the application of fertilizer and compost. It must be returned later. Perennials can be pruned early: before new stems start to grow.