Are you gardening this summer? - How to choose plants for your garden

Are you gardening this summer? Here are the 6 key factors to note when planning an outdoor garden, or simply buying a few plants for an indoor environment.

1. How long will the flower bloom factor

When planting plants people usually look for flowers that are in their bloom, yet some plant species may begin to loose their flower petals quickly and then you are left with with a tiny green bush for the rest of the summer.  What to do? You can still get the flowers or plants you want.  It is best to choose a few species of plants with different blooming time.  This will leave your garden filled with flowers throughout the summer.

For example; Agapanthus, African Lily is a May flower, it is long lasting and has large, beautiful flowers; Campanula, Canterbury Bells –Are large bell shaped flowers that bloom in June; Phlox blooms in July and is a very popular garden flower, Carnation flowers bloom in August, they are big flowers and known to be long lasting.

2. Direct sunlight vs. shade factor

For plants sunlight is an important factor.  You don't want your direct sun plants to be placed in shade and shade plants to be under direct sunlight. How to solve this problem? For instance, plant your direct sunlight plants right where your lawn has the most sun.  Where there is shade, or less sunlight throughout the day, plant your shade plants.  Even when buying a plant for an indoor environment it is imperative to know where you would place it, near the window sill or more inside a room.

Direct Sun Plants: Aster, Clematis, Anemone - Pretty , Lady Emily, Bellflowers, Buttonbush - Magical Moonlight, Butterfly bush, Coneflower, Columbine - Origami Red & White, Sun Flower, Yarrow, Shasta Daisy and more. 

Shade Plants:  Astilbe, Amethyst flower- Browallia hybrids, Begonia, Coleus -Solenostemon Scutellarioides, Copper Plant -Acalypha Wilkesiana, Creeping Jenny - Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’, Fancy-leafed caladium -Caladium bicolor, Flowering Maple, Garden Hydrangea, Impatiens.

3. The space for the plants factor

Some plants have longer roots than others, thus, it will affect the amount of ground space it will require.  Similarly, it is important to note a general space in your front or back yard.  This will allow you to picture how to space out your plants and avoid overcrowded or on contrary sporadic looking garden.

For example, when planting plant bulbs, Bulbous Iris should be planted 4 inches apart, Chionodoxa - 3 inches apart,  Tulip - 6 inches apart, and Lily - 6 inches apart.  There is also a difference between how deep their roots should be.  Bulbous Iris and Chionodoxa should have 3 inches depth, Tulip should have 4 inches, and Lily should have 7 inches available land in depth.  There is also a difference if you are planting a full grown plant, a bulb or just seeds. When choosing a plant for an indoor environment, choose a plant based on where you are planning to place it.

 

4. How often should a plant be watered factor

Some plants require more water than other plants.  The best suggestion is to read the label on the plant before buying it and follow its instructions. Sometimes we may assume that the more water and more often

watering will be the best for our plants, but that may not always be the case.

The frequency of watering outdoor plants depends on the soil composition.  If the soil collects moisture for a long period of time, you may need to water plants less often.  If the soil lets the water evaporate quickly throughout the day, a daily watering of plants is required.  Pay attention if it was rainy during the day or during the night in order to reduce the over-watering effect.

When watering houseplants, it is important to read the plant label about the watering frequency.  Aside from the label, the environment at home may be much different than outdoors.  For instance, if the air is too dry, then you may need to water the plant a little more often.  On the contrary if the air is moist, then you may have to reduce the frequency of watering your plant.  You can use the ground in your pot as an indicator, if the ground is too dry it is time to water your plant.  If the ground is too wet, that means you should water your plant less often.  Similarly observe the leaves, check if they look dry or change colour, otherwise, you are watering your plant just the right amount.

5. Night watering versus day watering factor

During the summer, it is best to water the plants during the daybreak or before the dawn. As the temperature will drops, less water will evaporate and more water will penetrate into the ground and thus reach plants' roots. Watering the lawn and your garden during the day time may seem as a good alternative and it is if the temperature is favorable.  If it is too hot outside, the water droplets will heat up and evaporate or literally heat up the plant to a plant unfriendly temperature. Or you may need to use more water for the plants than during any other time.  Night time may look more favorable, because many of us are at home to water the plants in the first place. The water will not evaporate that quickly and the plants will get enough water.  On the other hand, the water may become stagnant which in turn may cause breeding ground for plant disease.

6. Colours factor

If you want everyone to notice your garden or simply be proud of your garden, picking the right colours for your garden is the key.  The easiest way out is to choose the rainbow range of colours and if not, then a range of the same shade colours. You can also choose cool colours, warm colours, complement colours, adjacent colours, neutral colours or electric. What are cool colours? Cool colours lack red and yellow colours, thus cool colours are usually shades of blue and green.  Warm colours are red, orange and yellow. Complementing colours are usually the opposites of one another, for example red and green, blue and orange, and purple with yellow.  Adjacent colours is an excerpt from rainbow colours, for example red and orange, orange and yellow, yellow and green and so forth. Neutral colours don't attract much attention, for example white, black or brown flowers, or even green will mold with background.  Electric is opposite of neutral, thus attracting attention - any plant with bright red, blue, yellow are electric colours.

Sometimes, you can play with plants' colours by choosing tall flowers and short flowers that creates an elaborate colouration and a nice illusion in your garden.

If you choose indoor flowers, anything that would complement the room colours or on the contrary make the plant stand out in the room would be ideal.

If you don't want flowers this summer, then green is the key. There is a vast variety of simple green plants that will make your garden look authentic and esthetically pleasing.

Happy Gardening!