May is by far the best month of the gardening Calendar, with the garden growing in leaps and bounds as we see that summer is approaching. If your garden is still in need of a facelift after the long, wet spring try adding some summer flowering plants to give a vibrant show of colour. These little stars of the plant world are a cost effective and easy way to spruce up your pots and borders, and with a little care and attention will reward you all summer long.
So what to buy? Here’s our top ten of the Summer flowers to help you decide.
Pansies & Violas
A true gardener’s favourite. Plant in Borders, containers, & hanging baskets. A Sun loving plant in a rainbow of colours, tolerant of cooler temperatures, remove old flowers for continuous blooms.
Petunias
A taller growing bushy plant filled with trumpets of bright flowers. Suitable for pots and borders, but use the trailing types ( Surfinias) for baskets. These love a moist but well drained soil in full sun.
Geraniums
These hardy little beauties will tolerate cooler temperatures and grow happily in partial shade where others would struggle, but do like a well drained Soil.
Lobelia
A quick growing filler , for pots and borders choose the bush types or for hanging baskets use trailing. Liking a fertile, moist soil they will perform in sun or partial shade.
Begonias
Come in 3 distinctive types, the Non-Stops, a larger pot plant with flamboyant blooms,
The Cascade a trailing form fantastic for baskets, and the smaller flowering semperflorens, perfect for borders.
Antirrhinums ( Snapdragons)
Tall architectural spikes of vibrant blooms, one of the easiest summer flowers to grow. Favouring well drained soils and adored by bees, these are perfect for borders.
Busy Lizzies
These long flowering plants are perfect for rapid ground cover and come in a range of pinks, reds, purple and white. Preferring moist but free draining soil they will enjoy sun and partial shade.
Marigolds
Cheerful bright blooms in oranges and yellows, are perfect for pots and flower beds. Keep these sun loving plants in free draining soil and protect from slugs. Removing dead flowers will prolong their show.
Fuchsias
Come in trailing types for baskets and bush types for pots and borders. They perform best in a moist fertile soil and a sheltered or partially shady spot. Look out for some of the larger multi petal varieties with showstopping heavy blooms.
Bacopa
A true staple for the perfect hanging basket. With an exceptionally long flowering period and rapid growth this is one that will not disappoint. Once only available in white, now comes in pale blue and pink shades.
Of course we have many ,many more for you to choose from at the garden centre so pop along to get your Yorkshire grown summer flowers to enjoy.
