Sunny Flower Bed Planning

Soil

• Flowers that grow well in sunshine have established growing preferences. They prefer soils that drain well because it keeps their roots aerated, and they grow well in soils that have 3 to 6 inches of organic material worked into the earth. Composted soil or blends of aged manure and peat work well. Add low-nitrogen fertilizer to the garden spot. Horticulturists at Cornell University suggest a pound of 5-10-5 or 5-10-10 fertilizer for each 50-square-foot area. Work the fertilizer into the top 4 to 6 inches of soil. Check your site after a heavy rain, and build up any areas where pooling occurs.

Include Flowering Shrubs

• Shrubs are valuable to sun gardens because they provide habitats for the many nectar-feeding butterflies, bees and birds that visit. Shrubs provide cooling places for wildlife during the heat of the day, and places of shelter during wind and rain. Many gardeners visit nurseries and garden centers when spring-flowering shrubs are at their best, and overlook the ones that bloom in late summer. Hydrangea has a variety of colors and bloom sizes that are spectacular in late summer. Hibiscus and buttonbush don’t require much care and last for years. Caryopteris (Caryopteris x clandonensis) produces blue flowers in summer and tan fruit in winter.

Accent Plants

• Accent plants are strategically placed to draw the eye to appealing shapes and colors. The GreatPlants Program, a collaborative effort involving the Nebraska Nursery and Landscape Association and the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, names plants of the year based on reliability, hardiness and ornamental value. The 2011 award winner for flowering cultivars is the Hibiscus "Pink Cloud," selected for its large flowers that bloom from July to September. Previous winners include the Dwarf Blue Indigo (Baptisia minor), a border plant that stays deep blue all season long, and the Gateway Eupatorium, known for its ability to attract butterflies.

Don't Forget Grass!

• All gardens need varying textures and shapes of grass, including clumps, mounds and upright forms. Ornamental grasses add textures, shapes and interesting flowers. Most grasses need at least 6 hours of sunshine per day to perform their best. Some ornamentals, such as pampas grass, flower in large, feathery plumes that can be used in fresh or dried arrangements. Hairgrass produces hundreds of tiny flowers that give the appearance of a purple cloud in an autumn garden. Most grasses display fall color. They sway in the breeze, giving the garden rustling sounds and graceful movement.