Gardening is one of the best activities we can do outdoors; as we connect with nature, fill our lungs with fresh air and get a little light exercise. At any age gardening is enjoyable, but as we get older it is a great way to keep active and an excellent way for our ageing body to stay flexible and reduce stress levels.
The weather is getting warmer and to celebrate we’ve brought together our top eight flowers that we think you should be growing in your garden this summer.
It’s Good to be Outside
Gardening is a great way to enhance physical and mental well-being through a sustained and active interest. Like many other health and fitness activities, gardening is full of benefits to our bodies and mind:
- Increases levels of physical activity improving mobility and flexibility.
- Encourages the use of all motor skills.
- Reduces stress levels.
- Promotes spiritual health and relaxation.
- Encourages outdoor exposure and therefore increases vitamin D levels.
- Stimulates a natural connection to mother nature.
- Can provide home-grown produce.
Remember to keep your skin protected with sun cream whilst your out in the garden this summer. Also, remember that dehydration in hot weather can be avoided by regularly drinking cool drinks such as water or fruit juice and avoiding hot caffeinated drinks like tea or coffee. See our guide to staying safe this summer.
Top 8 Flowers to Plant this Summer
With access to growing so many beautiful flowers, it is hard to decide on just which ones to add to your garden in order to turn it into something out of a Van Gogh masterpiece. We have put together a list of the eight best flowers to grow in your garden this Summer to help you to turn your back yard into a Garden World special.
1. Masterwort
Originally from central, eastern and southern parts of Europe, the Masterwort is part of the Apiaceae family and grows to about 30-60 cm. They have aromatic roots, palmate leaves and attractive and unusual flowers that come in a wide variety of colours. The plant needs moist soil and need to be watered frequently, whilst making sure to fertilise once or twice a year to get the best growth.
2. Lavender
Lavender is an easy-to-grow, evergreen shrub which produces beautifully fragrant flowers. It is best planted between April and May, as the soil begins to warm up, but thrives in the hot summer sun in a chalky or alkaline soil. Lavender can grow up to a metre high and is fairly drought-tolerant, so it doesn’t need too much maintenance and is suitable for coastal planting and gravel gardens.
3. Daisy
Daisies are very simple flowers that are among the most stunning with a touch of sophistication. Daisies are a symbol of innocence and purity due to its rosette of white petals. They are grown from seeds and are easy to grow directly planted into your flower bed. They shouldn’t be planted in an area that is exposed to a lot of direct sunlight, a shaded area is best and watered regularly.
Daisies stand up to four inches and the flower is composed of white petals, sometimes they can be pink or a rose colour, and a yellow centre. They are a great addition to your garden helping to turn it into a vibrant impression of a country meadow.
4. Daffodil
They are known as The Herald of Spring because of their ‘cups’ called a corona in the flower that is similar to the look of a trumpet. A bright vibrant yellow flower, daffodils are planted in Autumn as they need several months to develop roots and are among the earliest to bloom in Spring. Daffodils were brought to Britain by the Romans, who thought they had healing powers, and are now a prominent sight across Britain.
To grow daffodils, choose a well-drained, sunny area of your garden with slightly acidic soil for best growth and water often as they need plenty of water.
5. Rose
The national flower of England and the symbol of love! The rose is an irresistible addition to any garden, adding elegance and class. One of the most popular garden plants, roses come in many beautiful colours with scented blooms and can live for a long time if looked after correctly. They can grow up to nine metres tall and can be planted as late as the end of Spring. Roses are a versatile plant as they can be grown in almost any soil and because there are so many varieties of this elegant beauty you can have different additions spotted around your garden.
Make sure your roses have plenty of sunshine, are planted in a location where there is minimal competition from other plants and avoid spots in your garden that are windy. The rose is a cornerstone of significance in the fundamental meaning of England so be sure to have these stunning flowers blossoming in your garden this summer.
6. Sweet Pea
Do you want a garden filled with a fragrant bloom? The sweet pea is for you! Easily the most popular summer flower with its amazing colours and identifying scent, the sweet pea will transform any garden. This climbing plant can grow up to two metres tall and is easy to grow from seed as this will give you a wider range and scent rather than buying the plant from a garden centre.
Sweet peas need fertile, well-drained soil and lots of sunlight with plenty of water, especially during dry periods.
7. Love in a Mist
From the family known as Nigella (like the famous television gourmet personality), Love in a Mist is a fantastic flower to have in your garden and can fill in those gaps within your flower border. It is traditionally an old cottage garden flower, but over time its popularity has soared due to its sky-blue colouring. They are upright, growing up to 30 cm tall and the blooms can live up to eight weeks – invigorating your garden with a sea of blue.
They need well-drained soil that is slightly alkaline and can grow in sandy, chalky or loam soil types. They need exposure to full sunlight but minimal maintenance as they generally don’t bring problems with pests and diseases.
8. Sunflowers
We have saved our favourite summer flower for last because what flower looks more like summer than a sunflower? Unknown to many, Sunflowers are especially well known for their symmetry based on Fibonacci numbers and the Golden angle and Vincent Van Gogh famous ‘Sunflowers’ from 1888 is one of his most iconic pieces.
Not only are sunflowers known for their beauty and sun-like look, they are also an important source of food; Sunflower oil and sunflower seeds. Sunflowers are easy to grow in your garden, they need plenty of sun and can grow in any soil. Simply plant the seeds and watch as they tower into the sky.
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Editor’s Note: This article was updated on 10th June 2024 to reflect current information.
