Perfect Flowers for Summer Gardens
If like many green thumbed garden lovers you are eagerly awaiting summer and the prospect of getting outside, you’ll be looking forward to enjoying your summer garden. Sadly by mid summer when the real heat arrives, most flower gardens look past their best. So how can you keep your garden looking fresh and vibrant throughout the summer months? Simple, by planting flowers that thrive in the heat and last long into late summer.
Ideally you’ll want to choose your summer plants well in advance of the warm weather in order for them to begin growing in the garden. Planting your flowers during the spring will allow them to reach full bloom during the summer.
So what flowers should you be planting?
Annuals
As the name suggests, annuals will only last for one season and will need to be replace thereafter, for this reason they are relatively inexpensive to buy. Annual are a good choice for those who are unsure of their desired effect or those who like to experiment each year. There are many annuals that perform well during the hot summer months, including; marigolds, tithonia, salvia, cosmos and sunflowers. You can even try using less common flowers such as globe amaranth, coxcomb and snow in summer.
Perennials
Unlike annuals, perennials are slightly more expensive but much more robust and usually last between 3-5 years, regenerating each season. Perennials that thrive off the hot weather include; tradescantia, cranesbills and achillea. These flowers are all early bloomers and if cut back early enough you can expect to see them re-bloom later in the season. More examples of summer perennials include; daylilies, monarda, purple coneflower gaillardia and perovskia.
Flowering Shrubs
Flowering shrubs can be a pleasant addition to a colourful summer garden. Popular flowering shrubs include; butterfly bushes, rose of Sharon and repeat blooming roses.
Tropical Plants
Add a hint of the exotic to your summer garden with tropical plants which love to soak up the sun. Fantastic examples of tropical plants that perform during the summer include; hibiscuc, datura, dipladenia and brugmansia. Furthermore, if you like the results that you get from your tropical plants, you can always bring them indoors during the winter and enjoy them again next summer.
Take a trip to your local nursery and have a look around. Read the information on various flowers to learn about the period during which they usually bloom and how long they last. If you’re new to gardening and aren’t too sure what to buy, ask one of the garden centre workers, they’ll be more than happy to offer help and advice.