Designing a Flower Garden: Types, Furniture, Plant Selection, and Maintenance Basics

Garden Types

• Vegetable/Kitchen Garden: Edibles, often mixed with herbs and flowers.
• Flower Garden: Ornamental blooms for display.
• Rock/Alpine Garden: Stones with small, creeping native plants.

Garden Furniture

Durable, weather-resistant pieces—chairs, tables, benches, swings, sheds—enhance relaxation. Match materials to style (wood, metal, synthetic).

Plant Selection

• Perennials: Return yearly (e.g., lavender, peony, hosta).
• Annuals: One-season color (e.g., marigold, petunia).
• Climbers: Vines for vertical interest.
• Trees/Shrubs: Olives, maples, lilacs for structure and hedges.

Avoid toxic species if children/pets are present.

Maintenance

• Regular pruning, weeding, mowing.
• Irrigation as needed.
• Soil testing and amendment every few years.