Bringing Summer Colour to Your Garden

As the days lengthen and the sun warms your garden, thoughts turn to transforming your gardens into a vibrant display. Summer bedding plants are the stars of the season, offering a kaleidoscope of colours and textures to bring your outdoor space to life.

What are Summer Bedding Plants?
Summer Bedding plants are typically short-lived flowering plants that grace gardens for a single season, although some varieties can last for several years with proper care. They come in a vast array of colours, shapes, and sizes, allowing you to create stunning borders, fill containers, or add trailing beauty to hanging baskets.

Choosing the Perfect Plants For Summer
The UK’s temperate climate with cool nights and occasional summer showers provides the ideal environment for a wide variety of Summer bedding plants.

Here are some top choices to consider:
Sun Seekers: For areas bathed in sunshine, petunias, geraniums, marigolds, and (million bells) calibrachoas will thrive, rewarding you with a continuous display of blooms throughout the summer.

Shade Tolerant Beauties: Don’t despair if your garden lacks full sun. Impatiens, fuchsias, begonias, and lobelias will happily flower in semi-shade, adding a splash of colour to these areas.

Trailing Delights:
For hanging baskets and window boxes, trailing varieties of lobelia, verbena, and Million Bells will cascade down in a vibrant display.

Planning and Planting:
Timing is Key: While some bedding plants can be sown directly outdoors in late spring, many gardeners prefer to start seeds indoors a few weeks before the last frost. This gives seedlings a head start and allows them to establish strong root systems before being transplanted outdoors.

Location, Location, Location:
Consider the amount of sunlight each plant requires when choosing its position in your garden. Ensure good drainage to prevent waterlogging, which can damage roots.

Feeding for Success:
Regular feeding with a balanced fertiliser will keep your bedding plants blooming their best throughout the summer.

Beyond the Basics:
For a truly show-stopping display, consider incorporating contrasting colours and textures. Play with heights by planting taller varieties at the back of borders and edging with low-growing options. Don’t forget the power of foliage! Foliage plants like silver dust and purple hearts can add depth and interest to your bedding schemes.

With a little planning and these top choices, your summer bedding plants will transform your garden into a haven of colour and beauty for the entire season.