If you’re new to gardening, it can be tough to know where to start. There are so many different plants to choose from, and it can be hard to know which ones will be right for your climate and your level of experience.
With some foreknowledge of common plants and resources like At Home Pros, you can choose the plants that are the easiest to grow and to maintain. If you’re trying to make the informed choices for your beginning garden, contact our digital platform to help you find the right help.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers are a great choice for beginner gardeners because they’re so easy to grow. They’re also very forgiving, so even if you make a few mistakes, they’re likely to still thrive. Sunflowers come in a variety of colors, and match any personal style or aesthetic.
Plant seeds an inch deep around six inches apart. Separate seedlings when they get to six inches tall, leaving the stronger seedlings planted a foot apart. To get continual blooms all through the season, stagger your planting. Every week starting in spring, sow a new row of sunflower seeds for fresh flowers and more for the rest of the growing season. The easiest sunflowers to grow are Goldy Honey Bear, Chocolate, and Autumn Beauty.
Marigolds
Another great option for beginner gardeners are marigolds, which are easy to grow and come in a variety of colors, including orange, yellow, red, and white. They need to be planted in full sun in order to keep blooming, but if you put them in the right spot, they will not let you down.
Marigolds are also known for their ability to repel pests, so they’re a great addition to any garden. Deer and rabbits find marigolds’ odor terribly offensive, so planting these in and around your vegetable garden is an excellent way to keep these herbivores at bay.
Petunias
Petunias have long been a popular choice for hanging baskets and containers. And with the many varieties available, the days of having to deadhead petunias or watch them wilt from disease are long gone.
These cone-shaped flowers are easy to care for and, even if you forget to water for a few days, petunias will rebound easily. They come in a variety of colors, including purple, pink, white, and red. Petunias are also relatively drought-tolerant, so they’re a good choice for areas with hot, dry summers and do well in both full-sun and partial sun without needing a lot of toil.
Lavender
Everyone loves lavender; some for its soft purple colors, others for its many uses, still others for its delectable aroma. Lavender, a beautiful, fragrant, simple-to-grow plant, is a good choice for beginner gardeners because it’s relatively drought-tolerant and can tolerate poor soil conditions.
There are three types of lavender but you usually find only one in U.S. gardens – English lavender. As its name implies, this hardy perennial can withstand the most foul British weather and is great for many harsh climates.
It’s also a popular choice for essential oils as it reduces anxiety, so people love to use it in all different forms, both indoors and outdoors.
Roses
Roses are a classic choice for any garden and are ideal for beginners as they are essentially just flowering shrubs, so you don’t need to be a master gardener to take care of them. They’re available in a variety of colors and sizes, so you can always find the perfect rose for your space.
Roses do require some care once you put them in, but they’re well worth the effort. With proper care, roses can provide years of beauty and enjoyment and can even become part of your garden’s legacy. The three easiest varieties to grow are Knock-Out roses, David Austin climbing roses, and flower carpet roses.
Wild Bergamot or Bee Balm
Blooming every summer from mid-season into the fall, bee balm is a favorite of most pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, which are drawn to its tubular blooms by the sweet scent of nectar. Herbivores like rabbits and deer tend to avoid wild bergamot or bee balm because of the minty flavor of its foliage, so it’s a win-win situation in terms of what this flower attracts.
The blossoms come in all hues of pink, purple, and white, and they are a cheerful addition to any beginner’s garden. Some pollinators, like bumblebees, are too big or lack the long tongues necessary so they commit “nectar-robbing,” a process in which the insect punctures the base of the long tubular flowers to bypass it altogether and drinks the nectar that way.
Rose Mallow or Perennial Hibiscus
With extra-large blossoms that open in the sun, hibiscus plants make a big splash in your garden and don’t require tons of work. They are endemic to the eastern U.S. and many varieties grow near water, so it’s important to keep the soil well-moistened and drained.
This is another perennial that will look great year after year, but you should avoid growing them in containers as they don’t thrive well. Rose mallow is another plant that deer tend to avoid due to its taste.
Lantana
Lantana is a low-maintenance shrub that comes in a variety of colors, including yellow, orange, red, purple, and white. It’s perfect for adding color to your garden or patio. Lantana is also deer-resistant, so it’s a good choice if you live in an area with deer.
To care for lantana, plant it in full sun and water it regularly. Lantana is drought-tolerant, but it will produce more flowers if you water it regularly. You can also fertilize lantana once a month during the growing season.
Phlox
Phlox is a perennial flower that comes in a variety of colors, including pink, purple, blue, and white. It’s a great choice for adding color to your garden or border. Phlox is also relatively easy to care for.
Plant phlox in full sun or partial shade and water it regularly. Phlox is drought-tolerant, but it will produce more flowers if you water it on a consistent schedule. You can also fertilize phlox once a month during the growing season.
Zinnias
These superstars grow quickly and bloom a lot, and will keep blooming up until the first frost in the fall, making your garden colorful well past summer. They’re also easy to get started as you can seed them directly into the garden.
If you want to see blooms even sooner, you can start them inside to germinate right after the last frost. These annuals need replanting every year, but they are hardy, flashy, and easy to maintain, so they are perfect for someone who is less experienced.
All of these plants are relatively easy to care for and come in various colors and sizes, so they’re ideal for novices. If you need more inspiration, try begonias, impatiens, hosta, or peonies.
There’s sure to be a plant on our list that’s perfect for your new garden. If you need help finding a landscaping service that can help you care for your newly planted garden, contact At Home Pros, a premium digital platform that reduces the amount of time and stress you spend finding a professional in your area.