Garden Plants

Many gardeners derive great satisfaction from cultivating a plot of plants. From low-growing ground cover that spreads and covers soil to prevent erosion and weeds to imposing vines that twine around structures or support climbers, there is something for every type of garden.

Hardy annuals can be sown directly outdoors in spring and include cornflowers and nasturtiums. Half-hardy perennials are sown indoors in spring and need two years to complete their life cycle.

Flowering Plants

Flowers are a beautiful way to add color to any garden. Their vibrant hues help attract pollinators and are a vital part of the plant’s life cycle. Flowers also produce seeds within a fruit, and this is how flowering plants (also called angiosperms) and their animal pollinators co-evolved.

Flowering plants can be annuals or perennials, but they are always beautiful and easy to grow in the garden. Zinnias, sunflowers, petunias and marigolds are a few favorites that thrive in full sun and warm soil. If you have shaded areas, try adding arugula (Arugula spp.) or a shade-loving perennial like hostas, begonias and hydrangeas.

Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria) blooms from spring to summer and is a perfect addition to garden beds, borders and containers. It’s also a great choice for attracting pollinators to the vegetable garden, so plant it near crops that need cross-pollination such as corn or squash. It likes consistent watering and well-draining fertile soil. Consider pairing it with a butterfly-attracting flower such as black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) or sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale). Use fertilizers formulated for flowering plants that contain more phosphorus than nitrogen to encourage flower production.

Vegetables

The vegetables that you grow in your garden will provide a significant portion of the food you eat. Almost any vegetable can be grown, although it is important to choose varieties that are well-suited to your climate. You may want to plant a variety of vegetables that are easy for you to harvest (such as green beans, tomatoes and cucumbers), or you might prefer to focus on those that can take longer to mature (such as root vegetables and squash).

Vegetable plants need a good supply of water. Plan to locate your vegetable garden near a water source so you can easily and conveniently water it, without dragging a hose around the yard for long periods of time. A shallow strip of tilled soil — no more than the width of a garden rototiller — kept free of grass and weeds will help define your vegetable garden and keep these unwanted plants from competing with your crops.

Many vegetables are annuals, meaning you will need to replant them each year. However, planting a veggie patch close to a garden that has already been planted with vegetables from the same family will help reduce pest and disease problems. Also, consider planting vegetables that are attractive to beneficial insects (such as nasturtiums and marigolds) to attract pollinators and predators of pests that can damage plants.

Fruits

Fruits come in a range of sizes, colors and textures that can be found throughout the garden. They are often easy to grow and provide a welcome taste of the outdoors.

Vegetables are heavy feeders, so choose nutrient rich soil and regularly test the soil pH and nutrient levels to ensure it is healthy. Add organic matter like compost and well-rotted manure to enrich the soil. It’s also a good idea to choose plants that are resistant or less susceptible to specific pests and diseases common in your area.

Once you’ve decided which plants will be part of your garden, consider their spacing requirements and sun needs. Using an online garden planner tool can help you visualize your garden layout and plan for optimal plant growth. It’s a good idea to locate areas that receive full sunlight and are free from obstructing structures or shaded by tall trees. Then evaluate the site for soil conditions like adequate drainage, and whether it’s a location where you can easily access the plants for pruning, weeding, watering, and other maintenance tasks.

Herbs

Herbs offer a variety of leaf textures, shapes and scents to your garden beds and containers. Many are also easy to grow, making them a perfect choice for new gardeners or anyone looking for quick and satisfying results.

When preparing to plant herbs, first remove any that have died back (chives will often return from the roots in spring; cilantro usually reseeds itself and parsley may be biennial). Then rake the garden space to loosen it and amend the soil as needed with compost or other organic matter. Adding peat moss or coarse sand to the soil before planting helps improve drainage and aeration.

Perennial herbs such as chives, thyme, oregano and rosemary can be used in flower gardens; lovage is an easy-to-grow perennial with leaves that add a celery-like flavor to soups and stews. Other perennials include the carrot family – dill, parsley and cilantro – plus fennel and arugula. These plants make good companions for vegetable and fruit crops because they help repel pests and attract pollinators.

Annuals such as basil, mint and dill are also easy to grow, and they can be repotted indoors for the winter months to continue producing. For best results, place herbs near the kitchen so you can easily snip a few leaves for pasta sauce or bruschetta.

Trees

Incorporating trees in your garden brings height and structure and can make the rest of your planting scheme work. It’s important to think about where you want them and the effect they will have, such as the shade they will cast or the birds that will roost in their branches. Look at the shape of the foliage and how it changes in autumn – some are spectacular.

A tree is a woody plant with one main trunk and usually grows to over 4.5 metres (about 15 feet) at maturity. It is different to a shrub, which is a multi-stemmed or thorny plant that is less than 4.5 metres (15 feet) tall.

There are many different types of trees, including standard, feathered, multi-stemmed, umbrella, box shaped and espalier. Trees can be used in formal gardens such as a parterre or maze to add structure and create a frame, or they can be dotted throughout the garden in more informal schemes. For example, Tom Stuart-Smith often uses a single, columnar beech or cypress to anchor a planting of perennials, creating a sense of scale and balance. Planting a tree is a huge decision and it’s important to consult a professional garden designer to help you choose the right species for your garden.

Vines

Imagine reclining on a patio or deck, your head crowned by a graceful waterfall of flowering vines. This is the effect you can achieve with a variety of vines, such as the purple florida wisteria (Lonicera semperflorens) or whiteleaf leather flower (Clematis glaucophylla). Or train a clematis into a lattice for a strong vertical accent. Vines can also provide a lush backdrop for other garden elements, such as seating areas or a green wall. In warm climates, bougainvillea and jasmine bring color and fragrance to fences and walls, while wisteria brings a classic elegance to garden walls in cooler areas.

Some vines use specialized tendrils to grab onto supports, while others, such as climbing hydrangea and Carolina jessamine, are self-clinging. Others, such as Boston ivy and Virginia creeper, grow tiny suction disks on their stems that grip rough surfaces. These vines may damage soft brick or masonry, and are difficult to remove once they’ve grown into a home.

Most vines are vigorous growers and thrive in rich, organic soil. But don’t over-enrich the planting hole; recent research indicates that doing so discourages root growth beyond the hole and slows a plant’s development. Dig a hole twice as wide and only as deep as the root ball of your plant, then backfill with a mixture of 1/3 soilless mix and 2/3 garden soil.

Biennials

While annuals are flash in the pan and perennials can sometimes feel like a long wait, biennials offer the best of both worlds – occupying the sweet spot between fast growth and garden durability. They grow leaves and stems in their first year, go dormant for the winter, and then flower, produce seeds and die in their second year. The hardy, colourful plants include wallflowers (Erysimum), foxglove and forget-me-not flowers and even some vegetables such as spinach, fennel and lettuce.

Biennials are often easy and cheap to grow from seed, and they’re also great for boosting the colour of your cut flower bouquets with their long vase life. Many are easy to overwinter as half-hardy biennials, such as nicotianas, in a sheltered garden area or a unheated greenhouse. The rest can be sown in early spring or late summer to give them plenty of time to bulk up before they flower in their second year, or they can be sown in trays and planted out in the autumn (provided the weather is warm enough). When planting biennials, spread a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost in fall to provide a valuable nutrient boost for plants’ roots when they germinate in spring.