Soil improvement is easier if only annual flowers are used for the first year or two. Plant flowers according to site exposure. Garden flowers provide showy, colorful displays in a xeriscape Garden. Annuals and perennials can be integrated with shrub borders and groups of trees, or they may be planted in their own beds along fences, walls, walks and patios. Before selecting Garden flowers, check your soil.
Most flowers do poorly in heavy clay, due to lack of oxygen to their roots.
Sandy soils may have poor water-holding capacity and be low in available minerals. If either extreme is true in your yard, do not plant perennial flowers the first year or two . Improve the soil with sphagnum peat or compost, available in bales or bags at Garden centers. Plant only annuals so it will be easier to cultivate and incorporate additional organic matter in the fall, after the plants are killed by frost. Add more sphagnum or compost each year until the soil is easily worked and does not compact.