Among first-time gardeners, considering which flowers will be the most successful often depends on three things: the location, the weather, and the season. While spring is the optimal season for a beautiful garden with lots of bright colors and wonderful smells, there are also many flower choices that prefer the cooler temperatures of autumn and winter; however, there are also just as many flowers that cannot maintain healthy growth during the hottest days of the summer.
In many parts of the country, droughts are being recorded on a regular basis - even with record floods being reported in some states at the same time. In these rain-starved areas, gardeners are wise to steer away from flowers that need abundant amounts of watering, and chose from hearty plants and heat-tolerant annuals, which can be just the thing for summertime gardens. Also for gardeners located in drought-laden states, or for people who experience lawn or garden watering restrictions, it's important to note that during summer heat as little as an inch of water per week will allow roots to remain deep in the ground, versus without enough water when roots stay near the surface, subjecting them to the mercy of the blistering sun.
Plants and flowers that can survive and/or thrive with less water are often called drought-tolerant and can be seen in the colorful landscapes of the Mediterranean, parts of Asia and Africa, and in the western states of the U.S. These types of plants include smaller trees and shrubs, which should be planted in well-drained soil, as well as herbs, which serve double duty as fragrant ingredients for many recipes. By taking advantage of their lowered water requirements, the frustration of constant maintenance is decreased, and replaced by an attractive landscape that maintains itself through the hottest months. A secondary advantage is that when summer is over, your landscape choices may be ready to die in the cooler months - just when your fall and winter blooms take over for them.
Among the wide variety of sun- or shade-loving blooms, a gardener has many to choose from; however, there are some annuals which are more difficult than others to maintain. Constant education, along with regular pruning, weeding, and limited watering, will usually be enough to have neighbors asking what your secret is to having success in the summer - and perhaps over a glass of lemonade you might be persuaded to tell them.
Margaret Fleegal owns Twinbrook Floral Design. You can visit our website at: http://www.twinbrookfloraldesign.com.
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