DIY-Tip and Ideas for Creating FREE Flower Gardens

OK, now that I have your attention, you have to be wondering how to create a FREE flower garden, when I just said go shopping. After all shopping usually requires spending money.

But is doesn't cost you a cent to go shopping in your own yard ! This is a simple DIY project that just keeps giving back year after year.

To create a free flower garden, all you have to do is take starter plants from your existing flowers. Or start your garden from saved seeds. Or do a combination of both methods.

Here is an example. Let's say you have the perfect opportunity to make a new flower garden in a location where a tree has been removed. You may have a big bare spot in your yard where the tree had shaded the area and grass did not grow.

Or maybe you have a great location that is need of some excitement, to make it more interesting. These are ideal locations and circumstances for creating your own Free garden.

This is what I did to create my first Free garden a few years ago.

I had a large pine tree removed, (by a professional tree service) the tree was huge and was to close to the house, and another large tree in the front yard.

When the tree was removed, I had a round circle in the yard that did not have any grass in it. Now, I could have sown grass seed in the location, but what fun is that?

The tree was removed in July. By July the garden centers are no longer filled with beautiful flowers, everything has been picked through and looks bad. So, I had to come up with a quick solution to the new bare spot in the front yard.

I cleaned the area up, removed debris from the tree and planted the area with seeds from annuals for that first year. I chose tall mixed zinnias and mixed marigolds. These were seeds that had been saved from the garden the year before.

The new flowers came up quickly with frequent watering and before long I had a beautiful FREE flower garden. But, of course with the first frost the garden was gone. And there was the bare spot in the front yard again.

The following spring I worked on the garden as quickly as I could. This time of being able to look at the space gave me the time to come up with some creative ideas.

The area was to simple as just a round annual garden to be in such a prime location in the front yard. It needed to be something really special.

So, it was designed with stone borders, with a living wall on the back, so vine could trail through from one area to the next. And the center was shape like a kidney, with a half circle in the front and a half circle in the back. The center is longer than the outer circles with adds interest to the design. There are stepping stones placed on either end to allow large potted hibiscus to be placed in the garden each year.

The entire flower garden was made up of plants from other gardens in the yard. 20 different plants were planted in the space, and 19 of them thrived. Not to bad, for a free garden's first year. The area has a log in the front and a statue, these items along with with lots of perennials give the garden interest even in the winter time.

It is important to consider how your landscape will look during winter too. So keep your winter landscape in mind as you design your gardens. You want to have something in the garden that shows up during the dorman season. I also still add annual flowers to the front and back for long lasting color all summer. The photo above shows how it looked last year with yellow marigolds planted at the front. I change the annual flowers each year to keep it interesting.

This year I am sharing flowers from this FREE garden with friends so they can add to their own flower gardens.

Since that first free garden, there have been many other free gardens added to the landscape of the yard. And each spring and fall provides the opportunity to divide plants and share them or start new gardens.

If a flower gets to thick, dividing is it good for it. It makes it grow better, and flower more. So, go ahead and divide them as needed for their own good.And you will save lots on money as you grow and expand your flower gardens.

Your gardens will look better and your wallet will be fatter for your effort, too.

Watch the helpful video below to learn exactly how to divide perennials.

Share your comments in the comment area below the video. Happy Gardening!