Learn what to plant this summer and grow the garden of your dreams.
One of my mom’s greatest joys (outside of raising my siblings and me, I hope) is gardening. She’s become quite the little gardener, with seven raised beds filled with corn, squash, zucchini, broccoli, okra, cauliflower, tomatoes, cucumbers, and more. Of course, those beds don’t include the dozens of types of flowers she has planted all across the front and back yards. There’s even a spot we call “Zinnia hill.”
After recently moving into a new home, I found myself excited to consider the possibility of growing my own vegetables and flowers. “But how do I know what to plant?” I asked myself. Thus began my hunt to figure out what to plant in the summertime. Of course, when researching, I got nervous I was too late to the planting game… I had good intentions to start in April, but here we are, in the middle of May. Can you still plant? (The answer? Yes!) So I reached out to Leaf & Petal, a local nursery, and they filled me in. I’ll save you the Google search and share what I’ve found.
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“There are lots of things you can plant throughout the summer, but if it’s in full-sun versus shade might make a difference. Pay attention to the watering cycle,” explains Charles at Leaf & Petal.
KEY TERMS:
Perennial: They return every year!
Annual: The plant lasts for one growing season.
Deciduous: It sheds its leaves annually.
PLANTS & FLOWERS
Sometimes when the yard is feeling bare, you just need a pretty plant to spruce things up. Here are a few plants that will brighten your yard (or porch!) that are perfect for summer.
- Lantana
- Certain perennial verbenas
- Part-sun/shade ferns
- Heuchera (part-sun/shade)
There are multiple varieties; also called coral bells, they are known for their bright pink blumes and foliage.
- Muhly grasses are a great choice because they’re full sun, perfect for an Alabama summer. (Heads up: They go dormant in the winter.)
- Adagio grasses (also known as “dwarf maiden grass”)
- Phlox full sun
These perennial flowers come in whites, pinks, and purples.
- Boxwood evergreen shrubs
“Best to give it some good morning sun, afternoon shade when planting in the summer. They’re always popular!” – Charles
- Gardenias
This delightful bush produces very fragrant blooms, and is also an evergreen. They have waxy leaves and grow decently tall, able to handle either full or partial sun. Some bloom in spring through fall, and some only bloom in the summer, so be sure you know which one you’re buying!
- Azaleas
- Camelias
You can’t go wrong full sun, but there are also some part sun/part shade bushes. They might bloom in fall, winter, and/or spring, depending on the variety.
- Ligustrum or “wax leaf” privet
Full or part sun, they’re great for hedges, produce white cluster blooms, and are evergreen, so they last through the winter.
- Arborvitae trees
- Junipers
- Butterfly bushes
Yet another great plant you can start with now, even in the middle of the summer. Put it in full sun and wait for the beautiful purple blooms that attract beautiful butterflies!
- Plumeago
Its less-cute name is leadwort, which does not do the pretty blue blossoms justice!
- Spirals & emerald colonnade holly
They’re very resilient throughout the summer because they require full sun. They like to be soaked in water but also get good drainage. They last throughout the winter too (evergreen). You can let them grow or you can trim them back.
- Dinka
Dinka is an annual; it’s very heat-tolerant and it works well in containers and garden beds. Good for accents. They don’t get super tall, and are on the dry side. Plus, they come in multiple colors. Some are trailers that will cascade over your pot.
- Salvia annuals & perennials
Note: The blooms & foliage will have different look: The perennials will get taller and have longer lasting blooms than the annuals. They’re both great fillers for the back of your pots or gardening beds, though.
- Guara (or “Indian Feathers”)
They’re a great perennial, majestic and flowy, perfect for the back of your perennial beds because they get tall. And last throughout the winter too.
- Cat mint
Also called Nepeta, this plant will die back (it’s deciduous), but it will come back for you each year if you get it pretty well established before winter comes. Moreover, it produces a great smell that attracts butterflies and bees, making it the perfect pollinator plant.
- Lavender
Usually Spanish lavender and French lavender do well in full sun. Giving them fertilizer once a month helps give them new blooms. If you’re potting, make sure it has drainage for excess water.
- Elephant ears
Elephant ears (or “alocasia” if you want to be fancy) love full sun and have several different varieties to choose from. Sumos are decently tall (6–10 feet) whereas lowriders grow to a 2 feet max and produce more of a crinky, crispy leaf.
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Plants like ferns are great to go ahead and plant so they can become well-acclimated to their environment. That way when winter comes, they can withstand the cold! Although the key is covering your plants up anytime it reaches 30º or below to help to protect the foliage. (Especially if it’s in a pot!)
VEGGIES
- Tomatoes
Usually when you plant them, they get decently tall, so make sure you have a trellis.
- Squash
- Cucumbers
- Bell peppers
- Okra
(It’s not too late to grow all my favorites after all!)
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When you’re planting vegetables, especially a plant like tomatoes, you want to feed it vegetable fertilizer about once a month! When you first plant it, give it good water for the first few days (hand water!), then hold off for a day or two, monitoring it, so the roots are able to stretch for the water in the ground, which helps it grow taller & bigger. The key is to give them full sun and make sure they are well watered—don’t want them getting dried out!
There are two types of fertilizer: granular or liquid. Charles confesses a preference: “I prefer to do a liquid fertilizer over the granules, because the roots automatically soak in the liquid and get to work.”
Be sure to head over to Leaf & Petal to pick up these plants and start growing that dreamy garden of yours! They have three locations around town: Mountain Brook Village, the Summit, and at the Botanical Gardens.
