Landscaping with Bedding Plants

Have you ever noticed how just about any landscaping scheme has some kind of bedding plants included into it? The main reason for this is that, at least in the United States, landscaping with bedding plants is a very traditional method of decorating your yard. Just because it is a traditional method for landscaping, doesn't mean that everyone will automatically know how to do it the correct way. That's where these guidelines come into play. Simply follow these guidelines, and you will soon understand the basics of landscaping with bedding plants.

• Location. The location of your plant beds will directly affect the landscaping you do. Take into consideration the amount of sunlight, position in the yard, and how close it is to the house, as well as any other feature that you may have in your landscape as well. Different plants will have different requirements, so be sure to choose a location that will be beneficial to as many plants as possible. This way you will have as wide of a selection of plants as possible to choose from.
• Size of beds. When landscaping with bedding plants, you need to be very careful about the size of the beds. You do not want to make them too large, or too small. Try a few different sizes of beds before you begin preparing the beds for planting; do this by using some stakes and twine. The final bed size should be in direct proportion to your yard and home. Think of it this way, the bedding plants are supposed to accent your home and yard, rather than dominate them.
• Preparation of the beds. The locations for your plant beds are usually going to need extensive preparation prior to planting. Some examples of this is tilling or spading the ground a few weeks prior to planting, as well as introducing organic matter (such as fertilizer or compost) to the freshly tilled soil. This will increase the nutrition content of the soil, while also increasing the soil's capacity for holding water. When mixing the organic matter into the soil, be sure that it has been completely and thoroughly mixed together.
• Types of plants. Regardless of whether you choose perennial or annual bedding plants, one of your overarching concerns should be color. How will the colors of the bedding plants interact with the rest of the garden and your home? Before choosing your plants, come up with a cohesive color scheme that will incorporate all the plants, your home, and the texture of your garden as well.
• Begin planting. The best time to begin landscaping with bedding plants is going to be in the early spring. Make sure that all danger of frost has passed before you actually begin to place the plants. One way to get your plants as ready as possible, prior to planting them outside, is to actually begin growing them inside before transplanting them. This will enable the plants to be as healthy and hearty as possible, and get them through the troublesome early days of planting.