Easiest Plants to Grow In Your Garden

Today, I’m sharing gardening tips on the easiest plants to grow in your garden.   Growing a flower garden is probably among the most satisfying activities you can do.  But, it can also be a very unpredictable experience too.  For example, you may get amazing results one year and pests and disease catastrophe the next. Also, you’ll quickly learn that some growing conditions are easier to deal with than others.  But, in most cases it comes down to choosing the right plants.

Whatever the challenge, there are always ways to solve these problems.  Experienced gardeners understand this, but it might get tough or frustrating for beginner gardeners. The key is to plant healthy plants that are native to your area.

 

Benefits of Native Plants

  • Already acclimated to your area
  • Requires less watering
  • No fertilizer needed
  • Not invasive
  • Better for pollinators

 

 

easy to grow plants

 

 

 

Easiest Plants to Grow Plants:

 

Butterfly Bush

 

The butterfly bush attracts butterflies and pollinators such as hummingbirds and honeybees. However, this bush can become is quite large plant growing up to 8 feet high and 5 feet wide if not contained.  It has strong, woody stalks, and in colder zones it dies back each winter.

However, a little pruning in early spring will have your plants looking good as new. Your bushes should be pruned each spring down to 8 to 12 inches to boost its growth. You can also find dwarf varieties which are more convenient for smaller gardens. The plants come in a number of colors such as yellow, pink, purple, red and white, and love full sun exposure with a medium amount of moisture.

 

 

easy to grow plants

 

 

Lavender

 

Lavender comes in many varieties and is quite a short-lived perennial.  But, if you’re looking to add a fragrant element to your garden, this plant is the perfect addition. The color varies from light blue and purple to pale blue and white.  Its perfumed quality make it an attractive addition to any garden. Lavender can also be used in cooking as well as the dried, which is also more potent in smell and flavor. The plant grows to about 20 inches and blooms in late spring/early summer.  It enjoys full sun. Having shallow roots, lavender declines in wetter conditions so it needs less moisture and well-drained soil.

 

Daisies – Yarrow, Aster, and Tickseed

 

The daisy family is quite large, offering a great range of plants to choose from. Starting with yarrow, this plant is quite sturdy with lacy leaves and a wide variety of colors. It’s easy to grow in any well-drained soil, loves the sun, and tends to spread heartily, crowding other plants.

You can find it in pastel colors but also in deep red, rust, white and yellow. It grows up to 4 feet and blooms throughout summer and into fall. Prune it following the blooming period and make sure to remove the dead stalks when the season is over.

Aster is another daisy family member that is a late-season bloomer with a color variety ranging from white, blue and lavender. This will bring pops of color to your garden after most other perennials have finished their bloom. Bear in mind that it needs well-drained soil with medium moisture and slightly acidic conditions. It’s a self-sow plant that grows up to 4 feet in height requiring its root groups to be divided every few years.

Similar to most members of the perennial daisy family, tickseed or coreopsis is a durable choice that’s quite easy to grow. It reaches 3 feet in height and blooms much longer than other perennials, over the whole summer into late fall. You can divide the plants into several smaller ones every couple of years. They react well to pruning or shearing by producing new flower buds. These come in varieties of yellow, pink, red, orange, or a combination of the two. They also love the sun and dry to medium moisture.

 

Cineraria

 

Cineraria is a warm-weather perennial that prefers shade and is typically grown as an annual. It is a clustering plant that grows up to 12 inches in height. It’s frequently planted in containers and produces beautiful purple, white, or blue daisy-like flowers that combine perfectly with ferns.

This plant reseeds itself, and it can grow in surprisingly shallow, but cool and well-drained soil. It does require moderate moisture as constant wetness causes the roots to rot. On the other hand, underwatering will hinder its bloom as well.

 

Daylily

 

The daylily is one of the oldest and best groups of ornamental perennials.  It has countless varieties available. Its upright flower stems grow from 2 to 5 feet producing trumpet-like flowers.  Unfortunately, many blooms only last for one day. Colors range from red, purple, orange, white, and yellow to bi-color combinations. It’s very well-suited for beginner gardeners as they are very resistant to common insects and diseases.

Most daylily types bloom for several weeks during summer.  However, some repeat their blooming cycle giving your garden lively colors throughout all summer. So, daylilies spread in clumps and should be divided every three years.  Overcrowding hinders flowering. Daylilies require sunny to partially sunny conditions with medium wet, well-drained soil.

 

 

easy to grow plants

 

 

 

Oriental Lily

 

The Oriental lilies are a great transitory flower.  They bloom in early summer after the Asiatic lilies have blossomed and before most other lily varieties have begun. Oriental Lilies are planted as bulbs, and gradually spread. Lilies love rich to medium moisture, well-drained, and slightly acidic soil.

They can grow from 1 to 8 feet in height with a wide range of blooming colors such as red, orange, pink yellow, and white. Lilies are quite fragrant and if you remove withered flowers, you’ll boost additional blooming.

 

 These Plants Are Also Colorful

 

Gardening can be an excellent way to express your creativity. Furthermore, it’s a great benefit to your health and wellbeing.  Additionally, achieving a lust, beautiful and lovely smelling ideal garden can be incredibly rewarding. Allow yourself to explore different ideas and layouts, mixing different plants and flowers to create a garden that will be fragrant and colorful throughout spring, summer and fall.

 

Add a few of my suggested easy to grow plants and flowers to your backyard.  You will be enjoying beautiful flowers, butterflies and bouquets of lilies in no time.  

How to Germinate Seeds for Your Garden

Today, I’m sharing gardening tips on how to germinate seeds for your garden.  Getting a jump start on your garden is a great thing, especially if you have a short growing season like me.  So, I’m sharing this valuable information with you today. 

So, starting my seeds early takes away the winter blues for me.  It gets me excited about the upcoming gardening season, and all of the delicious vegetables and beautiful flowers I will be nurturing.

Furthermore, if you want a successful growing season you must prepare.  Preparation starts long before you step into your garden.  So, investing a little time and energy to perform certain tasks will go a long way in making your gardening season a success.  Your first step is germinating your seeds. Lets go.

 

 

seed starting tips

 

 

How to Germinate Seeds for Your Garden:

 

Clean and Sterilize Containers – Sterilizing your seed starting containers before planting your seeds is imperative. If you’re using containers other than peat pots, wash them in hot, soapy water.  Rinse well, and take it a step further.  Soak them in bleach water or spray with a peroxide and water solution.  Wipe well and allow to air dry.

 

Use Seed Starter Mix  – There are a many seed starter mixtures on the market, so choose wisely.  There’s Jiffy, Black Gold, Miracle Gro  or make your own.

 

Generate Heat for Seedlings Seedlings don’t need light to germinate, but they do need heat.  I highly recommend using heat mats.  I have two mats that I use to help germinate my seeds, and I love them.  You can also set your plants on top of your refrigerator if you need additional space.

 

 

 


 

 

Use a Gro-Light System – You will need light to keep your seedlings from getting leggy.  Using a lighting system will help your plants to establish strong, healthy roots.  I have two of the 4 foot grow lights.  Seedlings need at least 12  – 14 hours of light per day and a rest period of 6  – 8 hours, without light.  You can set a timer to regulate your lights.  Furthermore, the lights must be kept close to the plants so they can become established and healthy.

 

 

 


 

 

Mark Your Seedlings – Be sure to use planter markers so you will know what you planted.

 

Cover Seed Starter Pots – Cover your pots with saran wrap to help keep moisture in while your seeds are germinating.  You can remove the saran wrap one the seed germinates.  I simply place a piece of saran wrap over the pot and secure it with a light rubber band.  When I see green, I remove the saran wrap.  You want to see droplets on the plastic.  That’s a sign that your pot contains the right moisture amount.  If you don’t see a mist, gently spray the top of your pot.  Once your seed germinate, remove them the heating mat and get them under the grow lights.

 

 

 

 

 

seed starting tips

 

 

 

Pot Up When Needed  – I use peat pots or pots from the nursery to start my seeds indoors.  Sometimes plastic cups.  If my plants outgrow the pots, I will transplant them to a bigger pot.  You can use a 16 ounce cups or bigger pots for this step if you have them in smaller pots.

 

Hardening Off Plants – Seedlings that are started indoors must be acclimated to outdoor temperatures.  See my post how to harden off your seedlings.

 

 

 

How to Start a Home Garden

Are you dreaming of starting a home garden? Check out my tips on how to start a home garden.  I started home gardening about 10 years ago.  Since that time, I have obtained my Master Gardeners certification and reached out to beginner gardeners.  We all have to start somewhere in our gardening journey, and learning how to start a home garden is step 1.

Gardening can be therapeutic, and the benefits of growing fresh vegetables and beautiful flowers rewarding.  Unfortunately, many gardeners don’t know where to start.  I’m going to take the guess work out of that problem for you today.

 

how to start a home garden

 

How to Start a Home Garden:

Location, Location, Location – Deciding on a location is your most important decision.  Many issues that you encounter as a gardener can be rectified.  However, if you put your garden in the wrong location it will take work to relocate it.  So, think twice about where you want to put it before you begin.  I love looking out my window and seeing my garden.  Being able to watch it grow and become filled with fresh vegetables and beautiful flowers is so rewarding.  My grandchildren love looking out the window and looking at the sunflowers when they visit.  They love being greeted with a big smile each morning.

Sunshine  – The location you choose should receive at least 6 hours of sunshine.  More is even better.

Water – When you choose a spot for your garden, make sure you are able to water it from a rain barrel or water faucet.

Good Soil – If possible choose a location with good soil.  If the 3 elements above are met, you can amend the soil so your garden will be productive.  Do a soil test once you choose your site and send it to your local Extension , so you will know what your soil needs.

 

 

how to start a home garden

 

Know your Growing Zone – It’s imperative that you know your growing zone.  It will determine how long your growing season will be.  For example, I garden in Zone 6b.  As a result, I have approximately 6 months of spring and summer gardening.

Garden Method –  Decide how you want to garden. Will you be row gardening, using raised bed, containers or vertical gardening?

Frost Dates – Knowing your frost dates is important.  Frost dates determine when you can garden without fear of your plants being killed, and they let you know when you should prepare to close your garden before the first fall frost hits.

Mulch – Use straw and/or leaves around your vegetable plants.  I’ve used both on my garden paths as well as newspaper too.

 

Finally, I hope you found my how to start a home garden tips beneficial, and you will be enjoying your new garden this summer.  Gardening will give you an exhilaration rush.  You will proudly dig in dirt to produce tasty vegetables for your family and produce beautiful flowers.