Summer is one of our favorite times of year, but it can be tough on the garden. Many plants peak in the spring right as warmer temperatures start to show up, but by late May or June, the long days of hot sunlight can cause them to wilt and die. But don’t worry– you can still enjoy the plants in your yard all the way through the summer, you just have to know what kinds to plant.
Lantana
Lantana are essentially impervious to the heat. They do well even if you don’t water them regularly throughout the summer. The most common color is a bright yellow, but you can also find varieties in white and purple. These flowers are very popular with butterflies, so they’ll bring beauty and a splash of color to your yard in more ways than one.
Lantana is an annual, so you’ll have to replant each year.
Marigold
A small and popular annual, marigolds are known for their rich yellow and maroon blooms. These plants are a cheap and common annual, so you’re sure to have no trouble finding them at your local nursery. Remove dead blooms as they wilt, and the plant will continue to flower. Marigolds are easy to grow, but sometimes extremely rich soil can be too much for them, so buy a few and try them out in your yard before planting a larger number.
Black Eyed Susan
Gardeners love the black eyed susan because it is an easy-to-grow plant that yields a lot of color. After the first round of blooms dies out, you can sometimes get the plant to bloom again if you cut back the dead parts. If you’re worried about wildlife such as deer causing problems in your garden, the black eyed susan is a great option for you– for whatever reason, the plant is unpopular with deer.
Zinnia
The zinnia is a good choice because the most common variety comes in almost any color you could want. Like the marigold, it will bloom for longer if you remove wilted blooms as they fade. Zinnias attract many wild visitors to your garden like butterflies and birds. When growing zinnias, be sure not to over water– wet soil is intolerable for them.
Sweet Potato Vine
If you’re looking for less color and more coverage, consider skipping the small blooms for a large running vine like the sweet potato. The plant has large leaves and can be trained to run across an entire bed, trellis, or wherever else you want it. While the standard green variety is most commonly seen, the sweet potato vine is also available in other rich colors such as purple and burgundy.
The intense heat of summer can yield some great blooms from these flowers and if you want a little color in your yard even as the spring fades, look into planting some of these that can survive our harsh summers.
