Easy Gardening 101 - a Quick Start to Gardening
With a little time and investigation, even those with "purple thumbs" can garden successfully. The trick is to experiment, and don't be afraid to ask your local gardening center or we here at JFS4 what plants work best in the Philadelphia area. But there are some plants, no matter where you live, that seem to thrive.
Pansies: Pansies are adorable little flowers (that come in all kinds of bright, cheerful colors) that do best in the early parts of the summer. They loath high heat, so generally don't last all summer. They do require deadheading - the process of removing the bloom after it has faded so that nutrients can go back into the plants to create more blooms, rather than a flower that's dying. The blooms also shouldn't be allowed to go to seed, because it will slow the plant's process of creating more flowers. Partial sun is required.
Flowering Vincas: This annual is a nice alternative to the annual impatiens. Flowering Vinca usually blooms with 1-3 flowers and spreads when planted early. Colors range from pink, white, purple, and dark pink. This annual is deer resistant.
Petunias: This annual has abundant spreading potential. It is a great plant for filling beds quickly with tons of color. This plant is also deer resistant.
Hostas: These big green leafy plants are easy to grow...but they will spread! No dead-heading or maintenance is required.
Impatiens: These little flowers are low-maintenance and easy. They like shade or sun, and come most commonly in white, red and pink.
Mums: These plants are designed for late summer and early fall, with their blooms lasting often until first frost. They come in fall-type colors, rich reds, yellows and oranges and are often nice for planters whose other flowers have died out after the summer.
All of the plants, with an exception of the Hostas, are annual plants, so they will need to be replanted each year, though occasionally Pansies that have gone to seed will surprise you and make a return appearance the following year. Annuals are a great way to start a garden and see what you like, before committing to the perennials, which are most expensive, though will, with any luck, be around for a long time to come.
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