If you’re unsure of what to plant in your garden this summer, there are plenty of options. These include daylilies, Geraniums, Clematis, and Bee balm. These low-maintenance plants can be grown without much care. Summer is the best time to add color and fragrance to your outdoor space.

Daylilies

Planting daylilies requires some basic gardening skills. They need a well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter, and they must be spaced about 18 to 24 inches apart. After planting, mulch them with shredded leaves and bark. If the soil is dry, you may add a little compost to improve the soil. The first year, daylilies need weekly watering, but they are drought-resistant once established.

Daylilies can grow up to five feet tall and two to four feet wide. They should be planted in the spring or early fall, one month before the last hard frost. For northern gardens, planting is best in the spring. They also grow well in containers. Daylilies are great if you want to add color to the front of the house, or as a border.

Daylilies bloom in May, but they can be cut back after the first blooming cycle. This helps the plant focus on producing more blooms and strengthening its stems, which will speed up its second blooming cycle. You can also split daylilies if you wish to have multiple plants. A daylily’s bloom cycle can last anywhere from a few weeks to 45 days.

Geraniums

Geraniums are easy to grow from seed or stem cuttings. They are best propagated in spring, early summer, or late fall. Cut the stem at the node, remove the leaves, and plant the cuttings in warm soil. Geraniums can also be propagated from seed or by sowing them under cover. The seeds should be sown about ten weeks before the last spring frost. When the threat of frost has passed, transplant the seedlings.

These flowers can be grown in a wide variety of colors and textures. They are also low maintenance and hardy plants. A few varieties have even received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. However, their height, bloom time, and color may vary depending on your climate.

Geraniums require good drainage and fertile soil. Dry soil is bad for them and can lead to root rot. Water geraniums only when the soil feels dry or when they are in need of it.

Clematis

Clematis is a beautiful, fast-growing summer plant that is easy to care for. These versatile perennial vines can be used as ground covers, specimens, or vertical accents. They grow up to three feet in height and have tiny lavender blue flowers. They’re also hardy and drought-tolerant.

Clematis can be pruned to make it more attractive. It is best to prune them in early spring so they produce more new growth. During the winter months, some varieties will die back to the ground, and you’ll need to trim the old vines to promote new growth. This will make the overall plant look fuller and lusher.

To plant clematis, dig a hole at least 18 inches deep and 12 to 15 inches wide. Make sure the soil is moist, as this will help prevent wilting. Make sure to dig the hole deep enough to accommodate the root system of the clematis. Add about half a bag of organic matter to the soil. Clematis are best planted in full sun or partial shade.

Dahlias

Dahlias are summer plants with colorful blooms. They have a wide variety of cultivars and are commonly grown as cut flowers. Dahlias bloom all summer and produce a huge amount of tubers. They can be easily shared between gardeners and can add a splash of color to beds and borders.

Dahlias need full sunlight to bloom properly. They should be grown in soil that is well-drained. Plant dahlia tubers at least 6 inches deep. Plant small varieties 2 feet apart, while large ones should be planted 3 feet apart. Plant dahlias with their fatter end facing upward. Make sure the soil is level with the top of the tubers. Dahlias need at least six hours of full sunlight daily.

Dahlias are native to Mexico and grow well in soil with plenty of sun. If planted properly, dahlias are hardy from Zones 9 to 11. Dahlia tubers should be planted in late spring before the last frost. If your area is not yet ready for dahlia planting, you can start the process indoors before the last frost.

Irises

Irises are summer plants that look lovely when planted in pots or on a sunny patio. To keep their foliage healthy and supple, you should prune them as needed in late summer. You should cut the plant’s stems by half and prune its leaves at an angle to create a fan shape. You should also remove their foliage after fall frosts have killed off their leaves. This will limit the number of fungal spores that can overwinter on their leaf debris.

The perennial irise is among the easiest flowers to grow. They grow from a fleshy root called a rhizome and come in a variety of colors. The flowers bloom in the early spring and last through early summer, and repeat-blooming bearded varieties continue to bloom through early fall.

To grow irises, you must make sure that you get the right kind of rhizome. Choose a rhizome that is about a thumb-thick and with at least two leaf fans. Make sure to discard any large, dead or decaying rhizomes. Also, check your iris rhizomes for iris borer. If you suspect that they are infested, use a 10 percent bleach solution to disinfect them. However, this won’t help if the rhizome is already decaying or has a bad odor.

Sedum Stonecrop

There are several varieties of Sedum Stonecrop, which are both summer and fall-flowering. These plants grow in the shade and have mat-forming foliage. The most common varieties are Sedum acre and Sedum kamtschaticum. The two species are similar, but differ in color. Sedum acre has yellow flowers in the spring. Sedum kamtschaticum is taller than Sedum spurium.

Stonecrops thrive in poor or rocky soils. In fact, they are often deer resistant! These plants also have attractive flowers and distinctive foliage. Some varieties have succulent leaves that resemble flowers, and they can tolerate drought. However, winter watering is necessary to prevent winter rot.

If you are planning to transplant a stonecrop, you should start by planting seeds in spring or summer. It is best to start these seeds four to six weeks before the last frost. Then, plant the seedlings in a pot or a seed tray with a well-draining medium.

Canna

Cannabis is a photoperiodic plant, which means that it responds to seasonal changes in light. The shorter days trigger the plant to flower, releasing pollen. This pollen reaches the female plant, where it produces seeds. Cannabis grows best during the summer months. The summer solstice is also a good time to plant cannabis indoors. The plant’s growth is controlled by the length of days and night, which make the summer season an ideal time for growing cannabis.

The short-day plant begins flowering as the days get shorter, usually about one month before the autumnal equinox. In the northern hemisphere, this means that harvest time for cannabis plants is typically in late October. If the climate is warm enough, plants can continue to flower and produce cannabis until December.

While summer is the best time to plant cannabis indoors, the plants can also be started outdoors as early as May. They will need a minimum of 10 degC to flower. However, if the minimum temperature falls below this level, autoflowering cannabis plants will not flower as well.