Spring & Summer Flowers!

I don't know about you but whenever I go to Home Depot, Lowes, or any other garden center/green house, I struggle to pick flowers because I want them all and they are all SO pretty! Last year was my first spring and summer in our new house and I received new urns and pots for my bridal shower gifts so I had a lot of areas to fill! Considering COVID happened ... there really wasn't much to do than decorate the house, dig out new garden beds, and get flowers! Therefore I definitely narrowed it down to a few certain types of flowers and bushes that work best in my yard & pots/urns.

A few things to take into consideration when picking out and purchasing flowers or bushes:

1. Perennial or Annual? - Perennial's come back year to year but annuals do not. Make sure you figure out the exact space you want to fill and if you want annuals or perennials in these spots.

2. The color of your house - you want to choose flowers that are going to complement the color of your house. For example, warm colors work best with warm colors so yellows against creams. Beige and tan works well with reds, yellows, light pinks, and greens. There are so many different colored flowers out there and every flower is beautiful in it's own way but there are definitely some you should and shouldn't buy depending on the color of your house.

3. Plant size - on each plant there is a little tag that is stuck in the pot or a sticker with information about the plant. Make sure the plant is going to fit in the spot you plan to put it and if it grows, it will still fit. All plants grow to various sizes and shapes (some wide, some tall, etc.) so definitely something to think about before making your purchase.

4. Amount of shade - there are certain plants that thrive in only shade and NEED shade, some who need part shade and part sun and then some that need pure sun. This information will be on the tag attached to the plant or flowers and it is extremely important to read that in depth.

5. Climate - most flowers need it to be a certain degree outside in order to flourish and grow. Therefore timing of when you buy them and the climate is important to think about prior to purchasing.

6. Maintenance - plants need to be taken care of. Between how much water they need, sunlight, shade, flower food, etc. you have to decide if you are prepared to spend the time required to keep your gardens and pots in order. Some plants require pruning, some require shaping them so they do not take over your garden and some just require to be watered every day especially in a hot climate.

Now to the fun stuff! Some of the top flowers and plants I found work well in my yard and pots are...

Azaleas - These are one of my absolute favorites! These plants do well in full sun or part shade - four hours of sun is enough for them to flourish. They bloom in the spring with beautiful flowers. Some azaleas do not make it through the winter though because they will freeze in weather below 25 degrees. Therefore depending on the azalea, they are neither a perennial or an annual. They are more so shrubs with wood branches that last year to year but when they do bloom they are beautiful!

Japanese Weeping Maple - This needs to be watered regularly especially after transplanting it. This will help with growing the roots quicker and keep the tree healthy. Organic mulch can also do wonders for this plant! I love the delicate leaves on this tree but definitely should be placed somewhere where it will not be effected by too much wind.

Dwarf Alberta Spruce - These love sun! Pure sun is best for these shrubs and they are such a beautiful mix of green colors. They can tolerate some shade though and will get to be about 10-13 feet tall. This is one of those shrubs you will want to keep in control and shape. Be sure to provide this plant with water and use fertilizer around the base once a year to help with growth.

Dipladenia's - FAVORITE FLOWERS! These are such full plants and have vine stems that grown down and hang. The color of the flowers are so vibrant and they have three different colors (from what I have seen) white, pink and red. This year I chose to do more red and white because I love how it looks with the colors of my house. These plants need to be fertilized every 3-4 weeks during growing season and definitely watered during the warmer months. They are super hearty though and can last all the way through the fall season! I use these in my hanging planters, pots, and window boxes during the summer!

Coleus - these are another favorite of mine! There are so many different colors and styles of this plant and it is so hard to choose just one or even a few! I always want them all. Coleus is very easy to take care of. just need to keep the soil moist and water frequently especially if they are in pots which mine always are. You can also give them some plant fertilizer to help with growth during the spring and summer.

New Guinea Impatiens - These do require a good amount of shade which is why these work perfectly in my front yard in the ground. We don't get much sun so these tend to flourish in our front garden bed. They provide such bright and beautiful colors and their leaves also are full of browns, greens, pinks, etc. Only thing with this plant is they require a lot of watering. They need to be watered almost every day especially in the summer with the hot weather. These definitely require a lot more attention than most but they are beautiful!

Hostas - These are perennials as they come back ever year. Their foliage is gorgeous and they really do not require much care. These plants are super hearty and they can last in almost any type of soil and flourish for years. Once they start to bloom in the spring, fertilize them a bit with some plant food, a little bit of water and you should be good to go! Watering them here and there throughout the summer months also helps with their growth and bright green colors.

These are just a few of my favorites that I wanted to share with you especially since I just posted the picture of my hanging plants! I received a lot of questions on what plants I added into the planters and how to take care of them.

I hope this helps with making your next decision on which plants to purchase! Happy flower shopping!!