Every gardener wants their garden to look as pretty and colourful as ever for as long as possible, especially going into the summer season and beyond. But it doesn’t get much better than by adding a certain flower to your arrangement.
Whether you’re hoping to reap the rewards of a fruitful spring, or if there’s a last-second hurry and they need to be planted now, it takes little to no effort for it to erupt into a flurry of phenomenal colours.
Those natural delights are the wonderful Geraniums. These easy-to-grow perennials will help provide remarkable, pollinator-friendly blooms throughout the summer and even into the autumn months—plus there’s so many different varities and colours available.
They can come in reds, pinks, whites and even some purples and blues. While many can feature two-toned flowers, known as bi-colours, which combine different shades of red, pink and white for the most unique and striking appearance.
Geraniums is also the common name for the species Pelargonium. Despite this, geraniums (pelargoniums) and cransbills (geraniums) are different species, and have different growing requirements so it’s important to understand which of the two you want to add to your assortment.
The flower, which is native to South Africa and a fantastic pollinator for the likes of bees and hoverflies, has a growing process that is relatively stress-free and quick. So make sure you follow every step and tip by the letter to make sure your garden is bright and beautiful.
Hardy geraniums must be grown in moist but well-drained soil in sun or shade. They can be great self-seeders too so you may notice them appear in tiny cracks in paving – just remember to cut back after flowering to encourage a second flush of blooms. They can also be bought potted or as bare-root plants. If the latter just make sure you pot them up as soon as possible before planting them out a few weeks later.
When it comes to caring for the flower, they need very little of it. They are not a target of wildlife like rabbits, plus slugs and snails typically prefer other plants. Just be careful of the larvae of geranium sawfly, which look like grey caterpillars, around 12mm long, that love to munch holes in the leaves which can leave an often unsightly look. They are mostly active in May and September, so make sure to keep an eye out for those pests!
According to Gardeners World, here are the best types of Geraniums to plant:
Other popular flowers that are ‘easy’ to plant and bloom throughout the summer months are Erigeron, Abutilons, Campanulas, Iberis sempervirens, Potentilla, Sweet peas, Perennial wallflowers, Fremontodendron, Verbena bonariensis, Salvia microphylla, Coreopsis, Penstemons, and Nepeta x faassenii.