Other Elements to Consider

When selecting a garden spot, you also need to keep in mind that
afternoon sun is hotter and drier than the morning sun. Therefore,

the time of day when the sun hits your garden spot will have an
impact on how often it will need to be watered and how damaging
the sun can potentially be. Furthermore, most flowers turn to face
the sun. Therefore, your garden sitting outside your west window
may not be viewable during the afternoon when the flowers face
away from you.
In addition to the amount and type of sun the area receives, you also
need to consider wind. Certain areas can create wind tunnels, which
can be damaging to your plants. The less wind an area receives, the
better it will be for your garden. You should also consider foot
traffic. After all, you don’t want to grow a beautiful garden in a spot
where it will be frequently trampled on by people or by animals.
n Choosing a Spot that Looks Good
Of course, you also need to work at selecting a spot for your garden
that looks good. The middle of your yard may receive the perfect
amount of sunlight for your garden – but it might not look so good
to grow a vegetable garden there! Therefore, another consideration
when choosing a location is the aesthetic appeal.
Consider the Purpose
There are many factors to consider when choosing a spot for your
garden that looks good. First, you need to determine the overall
purpose of your garden. If you are planting flowers to landscape the
home and to give it a trimmed and well-kept look, you might actually
have several small garden areas in your yard. For example, you might
put trim around the bottom of large trees and plant flowers there.
You might also plant flowers around the outside perimeter of your
home or along your driveway in order to create a neat and tidy
appearance.
Use What You Already Have
If, on the other hand, you are looking to add a little flair to your yard
that goes beyond looking neat and tidy, you will need to select a spot
that will look attractive and that does not look out of place.
Consider the lay out of your land and the natural curves it already
possesses and create a garden that works within that lay out rather
than against it.

I have planted several gardens in my yard. Each has its own unique
character and the locations I chose were for different reasons. For
example, the first garden I planted was in a shade garden. I chose
this spot because there was a natural cove about ten feet wide that
was already there from the previous owners. On one side, a small
grove of pine trees was already in place. On the other side, some
wild bushes and trees had been allowed to grow.
We decided to place a small shed in the back end of this cove
because the trees provided excellent wind protection. Then, I lined
either side of the cove and planted shade loving flowers. The result
is a beautiful mixture of wild flowers and bushes growing behind my
well-trimmed display of flowers. I took an area that was already a
part of my land and turned it into my own secret garden.
Cover Up Problem Areas
Another element to consider when deciding where to plant your
garden is if there are certain areas that need cleaning up or that need
to be disguised. With a little imagination and work, you can take an
eyesore and change it in to a work of beauty.
The second garden I planted was in response to a problem with our
land. It seems that the previous owner used to burn his garbage in
the back yard rather than have it picked up and disposed of properly.
We tried several times to clean this area, but the burned garbage
seemed to reach endlessly beneath the ground. This made mowing
difficult and it was a concern for us because we have children.
I decided to take this dangerous eyesore and turn it into a family
area. I placed brick trim all the way around the area that was
affected by the garbage pile and planted flowers inside. Much of the
garbage had deteriorated enough that I still had dirt to plant the
flowers in without needing to remove all of the garbage. In addition,
I selected flowers that I knew would be able to withstand growing
conditions that were less than perfect – such as Daylilies and Irises.
I also built a small brick patio in the center of this garden. On this
patio, I placed a swinging bench chair that faces toward the
playground area we created for our children. Now, I can sit and
watch them as they play while enjoying the beautiful surroundings of
my garden.

Make it Suit Your Overall Look
My largest flower garden is growing right next to my patio. Our
home had a nice patio already in place when we moved in, but it had
a rusty and unattractive fence running around its perimeter. In
addition, there was no landscaping near the patio and the grass was
in poor shape. In fact, there were several stones in the grassy area
near the patio that lead us to believe it was once used as a driveway.
We removed the rusty fence, which helped open up the patio and
make it far more attractive. Then, we created a large garden that
runs along the entire front of the patio. Within the garden, we have
built a brick pathway as well as two garden ponds complete with
waterfalls, water plants, and koi. Now, the patio serves as a great
spot where we can sit and enjoy the beauty of the garden while
listening to the trickling fall of water.
Keep the same considerations in mind when selecting a spot for your
garden. What will the purpose of the garden be? Is it purely for
enjoyment or will it also be helping you deal with a problem with
your land? Who will enjoy your garden? How will you and others
enjoy the garden? How does the garden fit within your current
landscape and the lay out of your home? How does the garden take
advantage of the natural beauty your land already possesses?
n Laying Out the Outline
After you have decided where you will place your garden, you need
to plan out the outline. Do you want your garden to be in a circular
shape? A rectangle? Perhaps you want to create some natural
looking curves as the outline for your garden.
A good idea is to draw the outline on a piece of paper first in order
to get an idea of how you would like the garden to look. Then, use
an extension cord or a hose to form the design in just the way you
want it. The nice thing about using an extension cord or a hose is
that you can easily change the layout if you don’t like the way it
looks. I have also used white spray paint and sprayed the grass to
form the outline. This provides you with a guide when digging out
the garden bed.