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How should I plant flowers in my planter box?

I have a 8X13 concrete planter box in front of my home. I have never planted flowers before so I have no idea what to do in order to create a nice looking flower garden. What are some flowers that look good together and how should I plant them? I want to do a bunch of bright colorful flowers. I need a design and also need to know how far apart I should plant each flower. If any can come up with some ideas, please let me know. I'm not sure what kind of dirt is there but I can replace it with potting soil. I live in southeast Texas, so I think that's hardiness zones 8 and 9. I'm not sure when the ground warms or freezes. I am fairly new to the area and I just recently bought my first home. The sun probably starts shining on the box about midday and continues until it sets. I originally thought that I wanted perennials but then I saw alot of pretty annuals and I think I like the idea of being able to change the look each year. I just want some pretty flowers or maybe some that attract butterflys, but just pretty is fine. I'm not really worried about being able to change them rapidly. I can have tall flowers and I kinda like the idea of having some that drape over the side. I'd like to have some that are fairly low maintenance becuase I have very little experience with flowers.

Public Comments

1. The best advice I have first starts with some questions: 1) What kind of dirt is in the planter box and how is it amended. 2) Where are you? What area? what growth zone? what micro-climate? 3) When does the ground warm in your area & when does the first freeze? 4) When does the sun shine on this box, when does it stop shining? 5) Are you going to want perennials or annuals? 6) Are you going to want just pretty flowers? bee & butterfly attracting flowers? edible flowers mixed with herbs? 7) Are you going to want to be able to change out the flowers rapidly as they age and loose theirs blooms? 8) Are you going to be able to have tall flowers there or would shorter flowers work better? Do you want plants that will drape over the edges to soften the look of the box? All these questions will help you plan your flower bed. Personally I prefer a mix of herbs and edible flowers. I feel that a bed should have multiple uses, not be just a pretty only. Choose taller flower for the back of the box, shorter for the front. Choose a complimentary color palate for your home and your area. Plant some of the annual flowers in the dirt in their nursery containers so that you can pull them and replace them easily. Study the growth pattern of your plants...and plant them as appropriate for how tall and how much they will spread. Plan to use colored mulch around the bottoms of the plants to protect the soil and to allow the soil to hold the water longer, plus to make the flower bed prettier. Ask questions of your local gardening clubs and your local nursery. I do.