If you want to grow something outside but don’t know where to start, we’ve got 10 great ideas for low-maintenance gardens that require little effort beyond planting. They’re filled with plants that thrive in full sun, including perennials like hostas, daylilies, impatiens, peonies, petunias, and zinnias; annuals such as cosmos, dahlias, marigolds, nasturtiums, snapdragons, sweet peas, and zinnia; and vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, squash, and summer squashes. You’ll find inspiration for each plan here.
What are annuals and perennials?
Annuals are plants that live for one growing season and then die. Perennials are plants that live for more than two years. In addition, perennials can be divided into hardy and tender varieties. Annuals generally have a shorter life cycle and are easier to grow than perennials.
Perennial flowers are the most popular type of flower garden plant because they bloom year after year. They do not need replanting as often as annuals or bulbs. All of the perennial flowers listed below come from my personal collection, and I have grown them on purpose to show how easy it is to create an amazing flower bed using perennials.
Here are 10 Small Flower Garden Design Plans:
1. Water-Wise Garden
This garden is designed to help you save money on watering bills while still providing plenty of greenery throughout the season. It features drought-resistant plants that are easy to grow and require little maintenance.
The garden includes layers of different plant species, some of which tolerate hot temperatures and others that do better in cooler weather. A layer of sedum provides color in spring and early summer, and it helps prevent weeds from taking over. In fall, a layer of feather reed grass adds height and texture. Euphorbias bloom in late winter and into spring, adding colorful blooms. And finally, a layer of succulents provides additional interest later in the growing season.
2. Beautiful Heat-Tolerant Garden
The beauty of a well-designed landscape doesn’t stop during the hot months. In fact, it often becomes more beautiful because plants bloom longer and produce larger quantities of nectar and pollen. This is why we love our gardens during the dog days of summer—they’re just fun.
This garden design is perfect for those who want to enjoy the outdoors without spending hours tending to a large plot of land. It’s designed to look great throughout the season and won’t require much maintenance once planted.
3. Rose Small Garden
The best way to grow roses is to grow them yourself. There are six different types of roses in this small (5-by-11-foot) garden, with a ring of no-fuss lady’s mantle surrounding the garden. In addition, there are three varieties of shrubs and perennials. This is the most beautiful garden idea I have ever seen.
4. Tough-as-Nails Perennial Garden
Russian sage, lavender, catnip, and many other hardy perennials make up this garden that mixes well with annuals and shrubs. This garden is ideal for planting along a fence or wall where you want flowers to bloom throughout the season. You can plant it in full sun or partial shade.
The variety of heights makes this a great choice for flower beds against fences or walls. Use tall varieties like Russian sage, lavender, and catmint to grow taller than most perennials. Plant shorter varieties around the edges of the bed for a softer look.
You can use different colors of petunias, marigolds, zinnias, cosmos, snapdragons, and others to brighten the garden. Mix red, orange, and yellow together for a bold color scheme.
5. Heat-Loving Flower Garden
This heat-loving flower garden uses dahlias and lilies to provide bright bursts of color throughout the summer months. These flowers thrive in warm temperatures, so it doesn’t matter how much sunshine there is; they’ll still come up strong. This garden combines annuals and perennials, including daisies, petunias, zinnias, cosmos, marigolds, and impatiens.
The key to making this garden work well is planting the bulbs early enough to bloom during the hottest part of the day. If you wait too long, the flowers won’t open properly, and you might lose some of them to frost damage. You can start seeds indoors about six weeks before the average last spring frost date and transplant seedlings into the ground once they’ve germinated.
6. Front Yard Corner Garden
The design includes a variety of plants that thrive in full sun, such as cosmos, butterfly bush, penstemon, and bee balm. These hardy plants take well to regular watering and don’t require much maintenance once established. To keep weeds under control, plant the bed with a thick layer of mulch around the base of each plant. This helps prevent soil erosion and keeps roots cool. If you prefer, use a drip irrigation system to water the area evenly throughout the growing season.
To ensure success, choose plants suited to your climate zone. For example, plants native to warmer climates tend to flower earlier than those native to colder regions. Also, consider how much sunlight your yard receives; some plants do better in partial shade, while others perform best in full sun.
7. Cottage Garden
The Cottage Garden is a type of garden popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It featured shrubs, perennials, and annuals growing under glass or in pots. The cottage garden became a design trend after being adapted from English cottage gardens. These “cottage” gardens were typically located on the grounds of country homes where they could be used as an escape from the city. They are also often found surrounding small towns in rural areas.
8. Mixed Border Garden
A mixed border garden adds character and interest to any landscape. A border is a band or strip of land separating two areas. A mixed border has both perennial and annual plants. The mix should include:
- At least one flowering tree, shrub, or vine.
- Herbaceous plants such as hostas, sedums, and lawn grasses.
- Brightly colored annuals and colorful foliage plants like pansies, impatiens, salvia, goblinoids, verbena, and other flowering annuals.
9. No-Fail Annual Garden
Annual gardeners know it takes some planning to produce a showstopping display every season. But there are ways to make it easy and inexpensive. This no-fail plan features plants that bloom throughout the growing season and require little maintenance.
The key to success is choosing plants that complement each other rather than compete with one another. For example, you could use a bright red geranium next to a dark purple phlox. Or a yellow zinnia next to a pink cosmos. These complementary colors will work together to create a beautiful display.
To keep things simple, start with a single planting area. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself trying to fit too wide different varieties into a small space. Instead, choose plants that grow well together and are suited to your climate.
Next, select a central feature such as a trellis or arbor. A sturdy metal frame can support climbing vines while allowing air circulation around the base of the plant. Choose a variety that grows quickly and produces large blossoms.
Finally, fill in the rest of the bed with annual flowers. They’ll add color and texture without taking up much room.
10. Easy Slope Garden Plan
This simple design features a collection of brightly colored annuals and perennials planted together in a staggered pattern. This way, you don’t have to worry about one plant crowding out another, and you’ll enjoy a long season of color throughout the summer months. You’ll find plenty of space for edibles like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, herbs, and salad greens.
The key to success here is planting the plants close enough together that they’re still able to grow side-by-side without competing for nutrients or sunlight. If you want to add some height to the mix, consider adding a few tall shrubs like boxwood or rhododendrons.
How do you lay out flowers?
Border plants are generally arranged so that tall plants (2 to 3 feet tall) are located in the back, medium plants (10 to 2 to 3 feet tall) are located in the middle, and short plants (less than 10 inches tall) are located in front. To create a natural feel, group plants or arrange them in drifts. In addition, you can use small stones as a border or a base for your planters.
Watch More 20 Best Small Flower Garden Ideas
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is there a garden layout app?
Yes, there is. It is called Home Design 3D Outdoor & Garden. You can download this app from the Google Play store.
2. What kind of soil does my flower garden need?
Soil conditioner is recommended if you are not using organic material.
3. How often should I water my flower garden?
It depends on how hot it is outside. Water once a week during the summertime. During winter time, you may only need to water once a month.
4. Why does my flower garden look so sad?
You might be overwatering your flower garden. The best way to tell is by checking the soil. If the soil appears wet all the time, you probably aren’t watering enough. Also, check the drainage holes. If the hole is clogged, it means that the soil is saturated.
5. How do I take care of my flower garden after I buy it?
After buying the flower garden, you must prepare the soil before planting anything. Next, you must also decide what fertilizer you want to apply. Afterward, it would be best if you watered it regularly. Lastly, it would be best if you weed it.
Conclusion
Gardening can be a beautiful thing to own, but it demands a lot of maintenance. But the hassle can be decreased if you follow the above ideas. It will enhance your home’s beauty with a little effect. So, what are you waiting for? Start your little garden right now.
