It can be hard to keep the garden colourful all year, with plants flowering and blooming at different times of the year. With many gardeners wanting spring colour after a long winter, this means August gardens can lack a little lustre. Luckily, the gardening experts at Garden Buildings Direct have shared some low-maintenance plants which offer year-round colour.
They said: “Although it may seem like a big ask for many, offering more foliage and flowers into your outdoor spaces requires little effort and yields high rewards, and it is all down to the flowers you choose to plant. This is why we wanted to share our favourite low-maintenance plants and flowers, loved by novice and experienced gardeners alike to brighten up gardens.”
1. Peonies
According to the pros, these gorgeous flowers offer large blooms and “year-round beauty” in gardens. They are slug-resistant and great for beginner gardeners, and can be planted next to crops to keep them pest-free.
2. Winter aconites
The gardening experts said these are loved by pollinating insects and are “super easy to care for”. They can be recognised by their cup-shaped yellow flowers, which can serve as a statement flower in the garden.
3. Cyclamen
These flowers are in bloom when not much else is in the garden, particularly in the spring and winter. The garden pros said: “This resilient plant is a must-have for winter and can be planted in pots to make it super simple for gardening beginners.
“Some cyclamen varieties must be planted indoors, so make sure to go for hederifolium or cocum varieties for sprucing up outdoor pots.”
According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), cyclamens can be planted with other early-flowering plants such as winter aconites, primroses, or snowdrops.
4. Iris reticulata
This variety of iris is one of the first to flower in winter and is ideal for planting in containers or borders, according to the gardening experts.
They said planting them in winter will ensure a “big display” of blooms all spring long, as long as they are provided with the correct conditions. This includes well-draining soil as well as part-shade.