Flowers are important in a garden. Though that begs the question of what are some good flowering plants for a beginner gardener? Flowers help set the foundation of getting pollinating insects in your yard and beautify the space.
Studies have shown that gardening can be beneficial to our health. Being outside for extended periods of time, for example, can help alleviate depression and anxiety symptoms, and of course, you’re soaking up some of that delicious vitamin D.
So, starting a garden can be just the thing if you’re suffering from depression and anxiety. Flowers in the yard can be rewarding and if you are going to grow your own food in the future they are good for bringing in the pollinators.
But where do you start? What do you need? What should you prepare? And, most importantly, which plants are good for starting out with? Because some plants are just too finicky for those young green thumbs.
There are numerous other wonderful plants you can start out with, and some of them are downright gorgeous. But before you run off to buy those wonderful plants, you first need to know what you’re picking, and how to prepare your garden.
What to keep in mind when picking your plants
Although this list offers a few excellent plants to put in your garden you can easily find other plants to start out with by keeping a few key factors in mind:
• Pick plants that will suit your climate
The most important thing is to pick plants that will survive in your garden, your plant might be tough, but if it can’t survive the fierce winters or hot summers, it’s really not going to help much.
All plants have a hardiness zone code, which will help you figure out if it will be suited to your garden. The hardiness zone scale has 13 zones, and the higher they are the higher temperatures they can withstand. So a plant with a 3 hardiness will be able to withstand minimum temperatures between −40 °F (−40 °C) and −35 °F (−37.2 °C) and a plant with an 8 hardiness will be able to withstand minimum temperatures between 0 °F (−17.8 °C) and 5 °F (−15 °C)
• Pick hardy plants
Hardy plants are simply plants that don’t require much care, can adjust to a difficult environment, and don’t mind sudden changes in climate. They won’t wilt and go into shock the second something is off, which makes them much easier to keep alive.
Orchids, African violets, and many rose species are flowers that will give you a lot of trouble. Ask your local nursery for some information; those guys know their plants well and will be able to steer you in the direction of those tough-yet-beautiful plants for your garden.
• Pick something you like
And finally, no matter how tough it is or how well suited to the climate it might be, if you’re not going to like it, then don’t buy it. Pick something you actually like, and if it can’t survive the outdoors, then why not bring it inside? Although you can certainly start a wonderful garden outside with wonderful plants, having a beautiful houseplant in your home is also beneficial for your mental well-being, and it can spruce up that dull living room as well!
Three things to get ready before you plant
• Soil
Your soil is where your plants will get most of their nutrients. If the soil is too acidic your plants won’t get the nutrients they need, and if it’s too dense, their roots won’t be able to breathe.
So, before planting anything, making sure your soil is correct for your plants. There are a few steps you’ll have to follow. Determine the soil type (loam, clay, silt, and sand soils), check the pH levels (optimum pH range 5.5 to 7.0), and add in some organic matter (rotten leaves, manure, or compost).
You can adjust the soil easily by loosening it with a spade, adding in some compost, or adding aluminum sulfate.
• Water
Make sure you have a watering system in place. Whether this is with a hose or a sprinkler system, you need to be able to get water to your plants with little hassle. This means either installing a watering system, or if you’re starting small even a big watering can will certainly work in a pinch, but it might get exhausting after a while. But, if you’re going bigger, install that hose–it will save you a lot of time.
• Sun
Check how much sun each of your plants will need and make sure they get the minimum of it each day. Some plants can sit in the sun for the whole day and others will slowly begin to wilt. Plan out your garden carefully before you plant.
Five best plants for beginners
Arum Lillies
Zones: 8 – 10
Pruning: No
Sun: Full or partially shaded (depending on the climate)
Soil: Neutral
Pure white and perfectly gorgeous, the Arum lily is a popular and hardy plant perfect for any gardener. Although they prefer warmer climates, the Arum species is quite well-known for being difficult to kill. They like having wet feet, so keep the soil moist – it’s a bit more work than the other plants on the list, but they are so gorgeous it’s worth the effort. What makes them even better is a single bush can sprout a lot of flowers, and you can easily pick a few for the kitchen vase.
Petunias
Zones: 9 – 11
Pruning: Yes
Sun: Full
Soil: Neutral
Petunias are bright, beautiful little flowers that bloom from early spring straight through to the frost! They are easy to care for with very few needs, apart from a little pruning as it gets closer to the frost – a simple snip of some of the more wayward stems. They prefer to be planted in soil that drains well, and only need to be watered around once a week. Be sure to water well, otherwise, you’ll end up with shallow roots.
Marigold
Zones: 3-11
Pruning: No
Sun: Full sun or part sun (depending on the climate)
Soil: Neutral
There are around 50 species of marigold to choose from, and each is as beautiful as the last. Copper, yellow and golden colors bloom and burst from these little bushes, and they bloom from spring straight through to fall – and they attract butterflies! Quite popular amongst gardeners, the marigold is also very hardy and can survive just about anything within reason. They also have very few needs in the line of care, and can be left to their own devices. When watering, just be sure to let the soil dry before watering again.
Easy to care for, and beautiful, they are a perfect addition to any garden.
Hydrangea
Zones: 3-9
Pruning: Yes
Sun: Morning sun, afternoon shade
Soil: Acidic to neutral
The hydrangea is probably hands-down one of the most forgiving and versatile flowering plants you can find. They can survive in most soil types, don’t mind changing weather conditions, and all they really need is some water and a shady spot in the afternoon to keep them happy. They come in a few colors, from bright pink to dark purple to red or blue, and if you’re willing to change the pH levels in your garden, your hydrangeas can actually change colors! They have extremely low maintenance, but they do require some pruning. Each species is a little different, so make sure you check how to prune them so that you’re ready when they need it.
Knockout Rose
Zones: 3-9
Pruning: Yes
Sun: Morning sun, afternoon shade
Soil: Acidic to neutral
Everyone wants a rose in their garden, but the trouble with roses is they are usually high maintenance and can die for an array of reasons. The Knockout rose has none of these problems, and is quite beautiful to boot! They grow in a more traditional rose-bush style, and although their average height is around 4 feet, they can easily clock in at around 8 feet, which is why they do need some pruning.
Conclusion
In the end, the best way to ensure you get the best plant for your garden is through research. Every plant is different, has different needs, and will react differently to its environment.
So just make sure before you bring in that beautiful rose bush that you’ve done the research leg-work and that your garden is ready for it. Otherwise, your beautiful rosebush will have perished before you even had a chance to see it bloom.
