What's the best way to start planting a flower garden?

I just bought my first house, and I have no idea where to begin in planting and designing a flower garden. If it helps I live in Virginia where it's a little warmer.

What's the best way to start planting a flower garden?
i found i come up with better ideas AFTER i finish a project. so start in the back of the house, by the time you get to the front, you'll be experienced and know what you like and don't like. choose low maintenance plants that come back every year (perennials or bulbs). choose durable materials like stone or brick, even treated wood will rot eventually and you'll be doing it all over again.
Reply:First take in an overall look of where you would like to see plants take into account your space and the time involved for its maintenance.Being you never gardened before you need to look into low maintenance plants would invest in all seasons bulbs so all year through you can have beauty.How much can you afford or how much do you really want to spend ? There is also a soil check to make sure what you invest in will grow good in your soil some plants do not do well if not grown in a soil with maybe too much lime .So you need to take that into consideration also.Maybe you want mulch or rocks .Is there anything planted now that you would like to keep?perennials are great they come back every year and bigger so take spacing into consideration too.The success of a outstanding garden is to place high plants to the back shorter ones in the front this will create a dramatic effect also look for color schemes pinks with purples look great together use your imagine look in magazines to get ideas look around your neighborhood too I could stay here all day with ideas I LOVE to garden and i love plants congratulations on your new home Hope i helped out a little bit . I am also from VA.In dollar tree they have annual seed packets 10 for a dollar you can also get boxes of wildflower seeds for a buck it has over one hundred seeds if you like wild flowers but in some boxes you will get seeds that come back .Start taking a study of where you want to start your garden so you can watch the sun or shade this will also help okay one more thing how is your drainage some plants will adapt and some wont Remember when you have some ideas draw a plan on paper so you can remember your ideas much luck to you again when you are finished and and your garden takes shape pat yourself on the back gardening also is a great stress relief
Reply:The soil is where it all begins. Do NOT plan your whole garden to begin with. Take your time. You will have a more magical and better growing garden if you make sure your soil is well drained, fertile (with plant based and not animal based waste is preferable if you're in Oakland, since many of our best choices are not compatible with posphorous fertilizers, which are all animal based). I recommend removing everything you do not want to keep. Prepare the soil--often in Oakland that means importing the soil--so that all plants have a nice 18" deep layer of prepared soil. When you get your trucked in or super deeply ammended soil prepared to a depth of 18" (if you amend, you'll need plant based compost--basic mix from Amer. Soil--sand, grit and gravel, all weed seed free) you must THEN cover it with a good 8" layer (minimum) with mulch (some sort of slow rotting mulch is best). This will protect your soil investment while you are taking your time to choose plant selections that are approprate for our climate (first) and for your tastes (second). All your plants should be able to survive without any irrigation after establishment. Plant your plants in the fall to take advantage of winter rains and short cloudy days (gentler on new plants). You're mulch layer may need to be replaced every 2-3 years. If you maintain a shallower layer of mulch, you will have to replace it more often or erosion will take your ammended soil away where you haven't planted with something that will hold the soil. Fortunately, appropriate plant choices number in the thousands here in the Bay Area. You have appropriate selections to choose from for year round bloom, season bloom, cutting flowers, screens, dear and gopher resistant, all colors of leaves, flowers and even bark! Many appropriate choices are not only drought thriving but also fire retardant. We're truly blessed here. Your appropriate plant selections can come from native selections, or selections now grown here originally from Chile, SW and S Australia, Argentina, Mediterranean areas, Middle East, North Africa, tropical cloud forests, wet/dry season tropical high elevation forests. The diversity of our options is breathtaking, in a good way.





Hope this helps. Simple bottom line: Start with the SOIL first...
Reply:Handygirl has some great ideas but also keep in mind the height of the plants.... taller ones in the background and shorter ones in the front. Remember to allow space for the plants to grow and spread! As well as whether the plants are better suited for sun or shade! Gardening is fun and very rewarding too! Just get the plants you like in the colors you like and have fun!!! I made a great water feature out of and old rusted out antique milk can placed sideways on a stack of stepping stones with the end of it over an old water trough. I planted some lantana in the background to hide the hose and some daises in the front to hide the trough! It gets raves on a daily basis! Just do whatever looks good to you... you are the one who has to look at it and you will enjoy it! Have fun!