This is a guest post by Brian Rees.
Springtime is such a wonderful time of year!
The sun is shining and the flowers are blooming giving a beautiful color to your garden.
Studies show that being around flowers help people concentrate better and stimulate cognition and mental performance. Additionally, planting flowers can be a fun family activity. Gardening also encourages you get to up, move around, stretch, and get some sun! There are countless benefits to planting your own flowers.
Here are 10 springtime flowers you can plant in your garden to brighten up your yard.
Lilac
Lilac is a shrub like plant that has a beautiful purple color and flowers in early spring. They have the most success when planted in soil that is still cool and moist, during early spring or winter. Lilacs are relatively low maintenance flowers, requiring around 6 hours of sun a day, and only need to be watered around once a week if it is not raining often.
Tulip
One of the most popular springtime flowers, the tulip comes in nearly every color of the rainbow! Tulips were even so popular in the 1600s, that they were a form of currency in the Netherlands. With hundreds of varieties of tulips, there’s no shortage to choose from. Tulip bulbs should be planted in the fall in a sunny area that drains well. Tulips should be watered thoroughly after planting to ensure the roots set properly.
Dahlia
Dahlia is a study flower that comes in many colors and shapes. The can range in height from 12 inches all the way to 6 feet. They grow best in full sunlight and need good drainage where they are planted. Dahlias should, as with all of your garden, be kept weed and pest free in order for them to thrive. Watering dahlias needs to occur roughly twice a week.
Marigolds
The quintessential garden flower, marigolds are a staple of any new gardener’s bed. Marigolds typically come in yellow and orange, though there are other varieties and colors if you want something a little different. Seeing as they are native to Mexico, they are a low maintenance, drought resistant plant, perfect for someone who does not want a flower with too much upkeep. They are good in relatively dry soil and only require water if it has been dry for over two weeks.
Peonies
Peonies bloom in the late spring and throughout the summer, so they will keep your garden looking colorful the whole season. They grow best in cool conditions and only require sun in the morning. Watering often is a must, especially in the first few seasons of planting. After that, they do not need to be watered often.
Hyacinth
Hyacinths are well known for their smell and will definitely be noticed in your garden. They should be planted in the fall to give them maximum time to take to the soil. They also require a cold period in order to bloom. Hyacinths need to be planted in a sunny area and need to be watered thoroughly after planting.
Iris
Irises begin blooming in late winter to early spring so they are a good flower to give some color to your garden early on. After they take to your garden, iris’ are low maintenance flowers. While the need to be planted in a sunny area, they only need water during lengthy dry periods. Iris’ are sure to add some nice cool colors to your garden.
Snowdrop
Snowdrops get their name from being the first flowers to bloom out of the snow in the springtime. They are a good flower to kick off your springtime blooms. Snowdrops are pest free plants and love shady spots in your garden. They will become dormant by late spring but will sleep through the summer and winter and pop up again next spring.
Phlox
Phlox is a perennial plant that can be extremely eye catching in your garden. Large bushes of white, pink, or purple flowers will continuously bloom throughout the spring and summer. They should be planted in a sunny area in moist soil. They should be watered weekly during the first few weeks of planting, but sparingly after that. Because phlox can grow to around 3 feet tall at their maximum, they can make for great cut flowers as part of a bouquet.
Dogwood Tree
While not a traditional flower, the dogwood tree can be a good start to a brand-new garden or yard with some beautiful springtime blooms. The tallest a dogwood will ever grow is around 25 feet tall making them the perfect size to fit at the edge of a flowerbed or along the walkway to your home. Dogwoods can withstand heat with little problems and will last years if planted correctly initially.
Gardening can be a fun, learning activity for the whole family and there are so many flowers to choose from! From the colorful to the fragrant, there are endless options to make your garden beautiful.
Brian Rees is a media relations representative for Bradley Mowers. In his spare time, he enjoys writing, music, and spending time outside.