5 gardening tips for making a beautiful flower garden

Got some great ideas for landscaping your yard, but lack the green thumb to pull it off? Here are some gardening tips to help get you started for results you'll be proud to show off and your neighbours will envy!

To get your garden looking right, you’ll need the right equipment. That includes:

For working the soil a...

• Spade for light soil and a pitchfork for stony or clay soil
• Hoe to weed the garden
• Garden claw to aerate the soil
• Rake to level the soil

For planting in the soil a...

• Dibble for making holes for seeds or seedlings
• Trowel for scraping or digging
• Bulb planter (non-essential)

For maintaining the garden a...

• Pruner
• Watering can and hose
• Pair of work gloves
• Wheelbarrow

A garden with a south or south-west exposure has a better chance of thriving; it will get adequate sunlight and protection from chilly winds. If your property doesn’t allow for that, talk to the gardening experts at your garden centre or nursery.

• They can suggest shade-loving plants and give you other precious gardening tips for tricky areas.

For a successful garden, the soil has to be prepared properly. To do this, there are three steps to follow:

• First, turn the soil with the spade or pitchfork. This is the best time to fertilize the soil. Having the soil analyzed could be useful when it comes to choosing the best soil amendment. Depending on the quality of your soil, you might have to add any of the following nutrients: Manure or compost for soil that is more permeable. River sand or crushed limestone for soil that is more compact. Lime or crushed limestone for acidic soil.
• Then, aerate the soil with the claw. Aerating breaks up stubborn clumps in the soil. The clawing should be done both cross-wise and lengthwise.
• Finally, level the soil with the rake and remove any stones.

To choose plants that will thrive, you need to think of your garden and your home as a whole; they should share the same “personality” and their colours should be well-coordinated.

• Choose plants of various sizes and heights, but that share a complementary colour theme. The goal is to create a pleasing, balanced effect.

Believe it or not, the top tip for new gardeners is to ask for gardening tips!

• When you see a flower garden you admire, stop and chat with the owner.
• Visit gardening centres and talk to the experts who work there. They can advise you about purchasing plants that are easy to care for and look great.

Soon enough, you’ll be the one giving advice to new gardeners!