Introduction

Spring is just around the corner, and this is a great time to think about getting into the garden.

Forget the weather

So you’ve got a cold frame, or maybe you’re lucky enough to have a greenhouse. Either way, you can get started on your spring garden as soon as the snow thaws. If you’re new to gardening and don’t want to invest in either of these options, it’s still possible to get started growing right now! You just need containers—not only will they hold your soil and plants securely, but they also make instant mini gardens wherever you put them (and believe me, some people are obsessed with these things).

You could even try planting directly into the ground if there isn’t any frost yet!

Even if it’s been raining for days with no end in sight—you can still plant! Just wait until things dry up a bit before heading out there with those bare hands of yours; waterlogged roots won’t grow very well at all.

Try new plants

You don’t have to be afraid of experimenting. The great thing about gardening is that it’s not a competition, so don’t worry if your plants don’t seem as successful as someone else’s. You can try something new and see how it goes, or change things up by moving your plants around in the garden or switching up their soil conditions.

Look for unusual plants that might give your garden some character! Try out some succulents like aloe vera or cacti like saguaro, manzanita, prickly pear and cholla (if you’re lucky enough to live in an area where these grow). Or pick up some unusual annuals such as portulaca “carpet bugle” (small pink flowers) or lobelia cardinalis “cardinal flower”. These are easy to grow because they’re drought tolerant—so much so that they’ll survive even if you forget about them!

Go for colour

Colour is an important factor to consider when choosing plants. You want your garden to be attractive and vibrant, but you also want it to benefit wildlife. Making sure that there is plenty of colour in your garden will attract pollinators and other insects that help the environment by eating pests like aphids or bringing nutrients back into the soil.

There are some colours that attract certain insects more than others:

• Blue flowers attract bees and butterflies
• Yellow attracts hoverflies and syrphid flies (which eat aphids)
• Red attracts hoverflies as well as wasps, ants and beetles

Think about your space

When it comes to buying flowers and plants, there are a few things you should ask yourself:

• Do I have the space available?
• Do I have time available to care for my new plants?
• How much money can I spend on this garden project?
• Am I willing to put in extra effort into making sure everything grows well and thrives in my garden?

Keep it simple

If you’re new to planting, don’t stress about buying every flower and shrub that catches your eye. You can get a burst of colour with fewer plants and it will be just as effective as having a lot of them. It’s also important to consider when your blooming plants will bloom—if they start at different times, it might look like your garden is all over the place!

If you only have space for one or two plants, make sure they’re complementary, meaning that they’ll look good together and have similar growing conditions (e.g., sun versus shade).

Be curious about what bedding plant is new or unusual. Visit your local garden centre to find out.

If you’re new to gardening, don’t be afraid to ask for advice! It’s important to remember that there are many different types of people who work in garden centres. Not all of them are experts and you may find that some members of staff know more than others.

The best way to go about this is by talking with the person at the till or information desk in your local garden centre. They’ll be able to help you identify plants that are right for your area and give advice on what will grow well in your garden. And even if they don’t have all the answers, they’ll probably have ideas about what does well locally so ask them too!

Conclusion

We hope this blog has given you some ideas on what kind of beds to create in your garden. And if you’re looking for some inspiration on how to get started with your own bedding plants, we would love to help! Come and visit us at our nursery where there are plenty of beautiful choices ready for purchase.