It’s nearly June, and spring flowers are coming to the end of their time. This is the month where all your hard work in the early spring could come undone, but do not fret for we are here to help. Here is our list of the top 5 summer blooms that aren’t fussy, can handle the weather and will keep your garden looking spectacular until well into autumn.

Aster

Aster flowers, in their many variations love full to partial sun exposure. This makes them excellent flowers to add to your summer garden. These stunning perennials were named by the Geeks for their star like bloom. They can be planted from early to late spring and have been known to last right through till first frost, meaning you can keep your garden blooming for longer. One of the reasons we love this little plant is that it is so easy to cultivate. Many Asters are drought resistant making them hard for even the most forgetful of gardeners to kill. They can even survive and thrive on one inch of rain water a week, not that this will be a problem for us in the UK, with our average rainfall these flowers practically look after themselves.

TIP: Add Mulch as a top layer that to keep soil cool and help prevent weeds.

Aster

Verbena

These flowers like a healthy dose of 8-10 hours of sunlight a day, so not only can they handle the heat but they flourish in it. Similar to the Aster, the Verbena can live off of one inch of water a week, making them one of the sturdier and more resilient buds of the flowering world. Verbena need to be trimmed regularly to encourage them to bloom into late summer. A simple deheading before the season turns will do.

TIP: Adding a handful of fertilizer to soil surrounding Verbena will encourage growth and keep your plants happy, although do remember that they are not heavy eaters so don’t overdo it.

Verbena

Dahlia

No garden is complete without some form of Dahlia; they come in a range of exquisite colours and will flower right through until November. These flowers prefer full to partial sun they enjoy hot climates and warm soil. They will thrive better if planted in late spring in a location sheltered from the wind. Although Dahlias are not fussy plants they will need some T.L.C after heavy rain fall, a simple check of the open blooms to make sure they have emptied of all remaining water will suffice. Hearty and resilient flowers, they can be cut back and left in the ground over winter.

TIP: Don’t be too hasty to water your bulbs when first planted; wait until they start to sprout as this will eliminate any chance of the bulb rotting.

Dellia

Lavender Chaytoriae

Native to the Mediterranean region this Lavender loves full sun but can survive almost anywhere in your garden even shaded areas. As the leaves are evergreen it is well suited to being used as low-lying hedging and can give garden structure throughout the year. This particular lavender blooms later than most, starting in July and leaving in September. Although it is a relatively short bloom the, plant itself will create interest within the garden throughout the rest of the year.

TIP: Prune the flowers no later than the end of August to encourage re-growth.

Lavender_Chaytoriae

Penstemon Heterophyllus

This beautiful little flower is a striking addition to any perennial border or container. They bloom wonderful blue and purple colours around mid-summer. Penstemon start to die down at the end of the growing season but rest assured that new growth will re-appear from spring onwards. They enjoy full sun but prefer to stay sheltered from the wind.

TIP: Prune any winter damaged stems at the start of spring to encourage new growth

Penstemon_Heterophyllus

Sally primroseSally works in the Marketing team here at Primrose.

She spends most of her spare time looking into the latest developments in social media. Sally loves travel and wants to step foot in every continent in the world. When not travelling the Globe or working, she likes to relax with a bit of DIY.

She is a novice gardener and doesn’t claim to be an expert, anything she learns she will happily pass on.

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