Gardening can be a great de-stressing activity that gives you something to be proud of. But when the heat of the St. Louis summer kicks in, you may find yourself more interested in a cold glass of lemonade and some air conditioning rather than digging in the sweaty sunshine.
Here are some easy plants to grow outside that we recommend to even the most novice gardener so you can sit back, relax, and bask in the glory of your garden without breaking a sweat.
Easy Care Outdoor Plants to Enjoy All Summer
Daylilies
These beautiful blooms continue to blossom throughout the warmer months, are impervious to drought, and can even handle areas of low sun. You can have your pick of colors—from vibrant oranges to sunny yellows—with very little effort and a whole lot of payoff.
Hostas
If flowers aren’t your thing, hostas are incredibly easy plants to take care of. They’re a hearty plant that can cover a lot of area with their vibrancy. They’re typically green with white-edged leaves but come in lots of varieties of different colors, including a green gradient like that found in liberty hostas, or even a beautiful teal like with the colossal blue variety.
Bonus: Hostas are perennials, so you can really minimize your gardening work and maximize those lazy days of summer by setting up a drip irrigation system that gives them just enough water without drowning or damaging them.
Catmint
These low-maintenance garden plants beauties pack a punch of purple along with a beautiful scent all summer long. They’re tough enough to withstand long periods without much rain or excessive watering and are also deer-resistant, so you won’t have to worry about them blooming and then disappearing right away. Just be sure to plant them in a pot with the lip above ground or they will take over the rest of your garden!
Hardy Hibiscus
If you want florals that pack a punch, these are it! With blooms as big as dinner plates, these will make a big, beautiful statement in your yard or garden and will bloom well into the colder months. They’re also known to attract butterflies (and not deer), making them doubly beautiful.
Wood Fern
Wood Ferns are an excellent way to create a lush-looking garden with minimal effort. Their bright green color and dynamic leaves create volume and height, and they can thrive in complete shade or full sun. They require moist soil, but little maintenance, all of which can easily be achieved with an automated sprinkler system. Use wood ferns to fill empty spots in your garden, create borders, or highlight bright florals.
Little Bluestem
These gorgeous grasses bring color and privacy to any garden. These easy-to-grow outdoor plants boast a unique bronze and blue color combination that shines throughout the warmer months and turns to a lighter tan (while still standing tall) throughout winter.
Stonecrop
Stonecrop is a beautiful flowering plant that works well for garden borders because of its durability against the elements. Stonecrop, also known as sedums, come in both tall and creeping varieties, so you can use them to create any shape you can imagine. Another perk of these tolerant, tough plants is that they come in a huge variety of colors, from copper to deep purple. An automated, climate-controlled irrigation system like Solar Sync will help maintain these foolproof plants and make use of every drop of water without any waste.
Want to see how you can enjoy your garden without having to spend a ton of time working on it? Contact Pro Outdoor at (636) 692-4441 or fill out a service request form here to learn how to save water and money and have the most beautiful lawn on the block.
Informational sources:
- http://www.midwestliving.com/garden/flowers/have-a-nice-daylily/
- http://www.midwestliving.com/garden/ideas/25-top-easy-care-plants-for-midwest-gardens/?page=1
- https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/flowers-and-plants/tough-plants-for-midwest-gardens-pictures
- https://home.howstuffworks.com/lawn-garden/professional-landscaping/-5-perennials-for-midwest2.htm
- https://www.plantdelights.com/blogs/articles/sedum-varieties-stonecrop-autumn
- http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/visual-guides/low-maintenance-perennials.aspx
- https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/foliage/wood-ferns/wood-ferns-in-the-garden.htm