Summer Flowers for the Garden with photos.

Summer flowers for your garden.

If you are looking for a way to add colour to your garden for the summer months -

• summer bedding plants are a quick inexpensive answer
• summer flowering perennials will last for more than one year
• plants suitable for growing in containers can add an instant splash of colour close to the house.

Tips for buying summer plants for your garden:

• When buying plants for the garden select your supplier with care.
• Buy your summer flowering plants from a place where the plants have been properly raised and cared for.
• If you are buying your plants on-line then order from a reliable company that has experience of delivering plants direct to gardeners.

When you are buying plants for the garden.

• If you are selecting the plants for yourself from a shop or garden centre/plant nursery then take the time to examine the plants.
• Check the plants carefully for signs of good or bad health.

Some varieties of the following plants flower in different shades and heights . it is best to check the name and shade of colour as they will vary in the different varieties. Check also the suitability for the soil type, position - relating to sun and shade preferences and that they are safe to palnt in your garden if you have children or animals playing in it,

Aquiliega ( do not use these in a garden that children play in or visit.)

Cape daisy.

Carnations.

Clematis ( a climbing plant).

Foxgloves (do not use these in a garden that children play in or visit.)

Hollyhocks.

Roses.

Phlox.

Pinks.

Lavender.

Lupins.

Snapdragons.

Thrift.

Thyme.

Poppies.

What are the signs to look for in plants?

Look for any problems in the plants and do not buy if they show signs of these -

• Pests you do not want to import unwanted guests into your garden, on your new plants.
• Diseases. - any sign of ill health in the plants - discoloured leaves, wilting leaves, powdery residues such as mildew.
• Excessively root bound. Most plants will push a few tiny roots out through the base of the pot given time. However if the plant is truly root-bound it will probably have suffered from a lack of moisture as the compost will have dried out quicker once the roots 'over-filled the growing space. It will also need more attention when planting up and until it gets established than a plant that is not root bound.
• Leggy- tall skinny plants have suffered from a lack of light. If they have been stored at the back of a display they will have stretched for the available light and although taller then plants which have a good light source this thin lanky growth is not as healthy as the more sturdy plants.

This article contains my own words and photographs which are copyright and may not be used without my permission.