This is my first full year with the new garden, and I thought I’d set myself up for success by starting seeds in March for some flowers. But it’s now June and my Marigolds, Nasturtiums, Poached Eggs, Allysum, Violas, Geraniums, and others still haven’t bloomed. Some are still really small.
I also planted bulbs last autumn, but only one tulip came up in April and nothing else has shown. The only things that looked nice this year were the cherry and apple blossoms, but those are gone now, and the garden looks bare again. At least the Borage is about to bloom.
What are your tips for having an attractive display from March to October
Not many of my plants are looking good yet. I find it usually takes at least a season for things to get established.
My everlasting sweetpea was planted out in April and only just started to show growth today.
Shrubs like forsythia and magnolia are great for spring flowering. Verbena and photinia are evergreen, and red dogwood gives color in winter.
I often take notes on what didn’t work and avoid those plants, no matter how much I like them. My lupins and foxtail lilies didn’t survive, so I won’t try them again. Some plants just don’t do well in certain gardens.
@Ren
Lupins can be tough as seedlings; they don’t like root disturbance, and sometimes even good-sized plants just die off. If you like lupins, I’d suggest either buying mature plants from the garden center or sowing seeds around June or July to see what takes. I managed to get six plants after trying 3-4 times over two years. Once they get established, they require very little care and look beautiful.
Check what plants thrive in nearby gardens. Consider the amount of sun, soil type, drainage, etc., before buying or propagating plants.
Tulip bulbs often get eaten by squirrels, but daffodils don’t. You can also find some scented daffodils, which are lovely.
One tip I heard is to visit a garden center each month and buy whatever perennial is in bloom, ideally in odd numbers to plant in drifts. After a year, you’ll have something blooming every month.
If you have a favorite plant, figure out where it will thrive in your yard and put it there.
Every garden should have a clematis and some herbs in pots.
Some plants bloom all summer, such as Olivia Austin roses, hardy geraniums, and perennial wallflower Bowles Mauve.
Don’t forget that plants need water even after they’re planted in the ground. They take a season to establish.
I’ve noticed that the bigger and more in-bloom annual geraniums you buy, the better, since they grow slowly once planted. I know that might be a controversial opinion!
Take your time. I suggest planting for one season at a time. For example, spend a few months focusing on autumn, and when autumn arrives, plan for winter and spring. Eventually, you’ll have something for each season, and as plants grow and shift, you can fill in gaps as needed.
This is my third summer in a new garden (I’m a bit laid back about it).
Year one, everything grew quickly.
I didn’t manage it well.
Year two started looking better.
Had another mess.
Year three (now), how did everything manage to flower together like this?
Just keep experimenting…
Join local online gardening groups. Local gardeners often share or give away plants that are thriving. This year has been particularly cold and wet, which has made it harder for plants to grow.
Visit a garden center once a month throughout the year. That way, you’ll have something interesting in its season for every month of the year.
When buying any plant, especially flowers, check Gardeners World to see how many months they bloom. I aim for plants that bloom for three months to maximize color and effort. I take similar care when selecting trees or other plants, considering how many months they are bare and if they have nice autumn leaves or bright berries.
I’m trying to implement these ideas slowly. I think it’s a multi-year project.
