Bring light to a dark garden

Bright coloured flowers such as blue and pink will make your dark garden a little bright. PHOTO BY EDGAR R BATTE

What you need to know:

While some people prefer a dark garden, it will seem boring if it is full of green plants. However, adding a few flowering plants will make an impact.

While it is easy to just order flowers such as roses from the florists around Kampala, it is more satisfying to have them freshly cut from your own garden. Here is how you can transform your dark garden into an attractive one using flowering plants.
According to Rose Nakiwala, a gardener at A and M Gardening Services, no matter the size of the garden you have, the time and amount of money you dedicate to it can help you design it creatively while revealing your personality as well.
“You must therefore have an idea of what you want your garden to look like. For instance, plan for the side-walks, utility poles, place an area of special focus and you may use the shrubs to block the passage of wind. While planting the flowers, ensure good spacing to avoid crowding the garden because it will look too congested,” she says.
You may also choose to have a variety of coloured flowers to add more life to the garden.

One may choose to have a butterfly garden, a bird garden, succulent, wild life or shade garden depending on what they decide to plant.
Choosing a shade garden may be a good idea but there are times when it becomes too bushy and dark without life. Nakiwala therefore advises that you opt for flowering plants to be able to correct this problem.
Roses have been the most famous flowers and the commonest in the world because of their variety of colours. Irrespective of the specie that you have chosen, you need a lot of water to maintain a rose flower.
The cannas also have a tropical origin and flourish well in sandy soils. They need enough sunlight to produce large bright flowers.

Arrangement
The arrangement of these plants matter a lot if you want to create an impact in your garden. She says; “Put in mind the seasonal changes of the sun and the shade and this helps you monitor the sun and shade patterns.
Some flowers are known to flower in the sunny season so you must arrange them in the direction of the sun to yield better results. With more flowering, you will be sure to attract more butterflies and birds thereby adding nature to your garden.”
You may also add stones and just like the side-walks will help you outline the shape of the garden.

Maintenance
Maintaining a garden maybe a lot of work and tiring especially because it is not a day’s job, you ought to continue looking after the garden to have the best results.
“It is therefore important to weed and prune the garden as frequently as possible to remove any withered leaves and flowers. Carefully inspect if there are any pests or diseases affecting your flowers and spray them as soon as possible,” she remarks.
Ensure that you provide the right soil for your flowers by using mulches of plant material, organic or chemical fertilizers to have the best results. Do not forget to water the flowers depending on the types you have chosen.

Make it work
You must therefore have an idea of what you want your garden to look like. For instance, plan for the side-walks, utility poles, place an area of special focus and you may use the shrubs to block the passage of wind. While planting the flowers, ensure good spacing to avoid crowding the garden because it will look too congested.