Gardeners should plant three flowers now for instant colour (stock photo) (Image: Getty)
Gardeners are being urged to get these three plants into their soil as soon as possible.
With May right around the corner, most keen gardeners will have already filled their flowerbeds and plant pots with flowers that have brought colour and drama to their garden over the spring.
But if you’ve got some gaps that need filling, or you’re about to swap out your spring flowers for some that will bloom throughout summer, then one gardening expert has shared three plants you should consider planting this weekend.
Adam Kirtland, a gardener who regularly shares tips and tricks on social media, said that the three plants are guaranteed to give your garden colour all summer long, and they can all be bought from garden centres as established plants, so you don’t have to worry about spending the time growing them from tiny seeds.
He said: “Right now is the perfect time to fill your garden with plants, and a trip to the garden centre is exactly what you need. I’ve got three must-have plants for under £5, £10, and £20.”
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1. Chrysanthemums
For his under £5 option, Adam said gardeners should consider chrysanthemums. Prices will vary depending on which garden centre you visit, where you live, and how big the plant you want to buy is, but many established chrysanthemums are priced at around £4.99 – making them a relatively cheap plant to buy for your garden.
The plant comes in a wide range of colours, and according to Adam, the plant will flower “right through tothe very first frost” – meaning you’ll have plenty of colour in your garden throughout summer and autumn if you plant them now.
He said: “This is a really simple plant to help you make a showstopping display. In fact, people were buying them even when I was filming.”
2. Senetti
If you can stretch to spending £10 on a plant, Adam recommends the senetti. He suggested planting it in a flower pot rather than directly in a bed, but said you can get “months of blooms” using this method.
What’s more, senetti actually “thrive under neglect”. Adam said the plants are “great for a lazy gardener”, as they don’t need much maintenance to continue growing. According to the RHS, they do need deadheading regularly to prolong flowering, but this is as simple as occasionally pulling off spent flower heads.
3. Geum
For those with a higher budget of £20 per plant, Adam said he “saved the best for last” and suggested gardeners invest in a Geum, a late spring flowering plant that resembles buttercups.
The gardener explained that these plants have a “very special trick” – as they can produce even more flowers if you cut them back and allow them to grow again.
He said: “If you cut them back, they’ll treat you with even more flowers later on. Once they finish flowering, cut them right back to the base, and they’ll flower again at the end of summer.”
Geums like sunny spots with soil that doesn’t dry out in the summer, so you’ll need to keep them well-watered. However, there are some alpine varieties that do like dry soil, so always make sure you’re buying the right type for your garden.
