Flower arrangement

Marwaneldallal

Folks,

I feel like my flower beds a bit of a mess...

Are there any rules for how to arrange flowers on a bed so that its not all over the place...

Obelixx

No rules but some useful guidelines.  Before you start, prepare the soil by removing weeds, stones, rubble and then improve it with soil conditioners such as spent planting compost, well-rotted garden compost or well-rotted manure.  Make sure any plant supports such as trellis, obelisks etc are in place.

When it comes to planting, avoid dotting.   Most experts will advise planting in groups of 3, 5 or 7 because an odd number looks better than an even number so you would plant, say, 3 pelargoniums or 3 osteospermums of the same colour in a little group, paying attention to their eventual size so they grow to look like a clump and not 3 plants with bare soil between.

Next to that you'd do the same with another group but maybe contrast the size/shape/texture of the foliage and then either the same colour flower or a contrasting colour or a toning colour depending on your colour scheme.  Shades of one colour work best if the texture  and form are different.  

Marwaneldallal

Thanks...thats what the issue is theyre dotted around as opppsed to a more central line.

Obelixx

Don't go for a line either!   Unless you're doing a Victorian bedding or seaside resort esplanade planting scheme you need to make it look natural.

It might help to draw your bed to scale then draw triangles on it and group your plants in the triangles.  Then you can start elongating or fattening or bending your triangles for a more relaxed look.   

With experience you'll learn what works best for you and your plants in your garden conditions.   Remember also that less is more.  You'll get a more impressive effect from using fewer varieties in a small space than from trying to cram in as many kinds as possible.