Flowers to Plant in a Low Maintenance Rock Garden
Everyone likes to have a well kept yard and garden but in the rushed world of today where multitasking seems to be the rule, being able to maintain a flower garden while taking care of other daily tasks outside of work can be considered somewhat of a hassle. You can actually plan your garden so that it remains low maintenance from the spring season throughout the fall season. Many of these plants grow from bulbs instead of seeds so that they last much longer. For this low maintenance garden, it will be in the form of a rock garden to give it a more decorative look.
The rocks should be a decent size, but not too heavy to lift. The rocks can be arranged naturally in the garden or by a slope in your yard. Before planting the flowers, arrange them so that the rocks they are next to will have a color contrast. For example, a white rock can benefit from any brightly colored flower next to it. A gray rock looks beautiful with pink, white, or pale yellow flowers next to it. Other rocks will have a blue, green, or purple hue, depending on the minerals present in the rock. As with any flower garden, prepare the soil, turning it over and crumbling it, to make sure it is well drained. Add some mulch to the soil then make the top layer level and ready for planting the flower bulbs in.
The spring flowers that are easy to care for usually come up at Easter. Plant crocuses, hyacinths, grape hyacinths, daffodils, and tulips of varying colors in the rock garden. When you plant the flower bulbs, leave some space to plant bulbs of another kind for the succeeding summer and fall seasons. There is nothing prettier than Easter flowers in full blossom among your favorite rocks, for they look natural even though they were planted with a intended pattern.
Later spring flower bulbs, which come up in May and June, include: lily of the valley, daisies, blazing star (a member of the aster family), red salvia, iris, and wild violets. Violets tend to spread each year but you can keep them under control by transplanting them to another part of your garden. The blazing star is another blue flower which pairs well with daisies. Plants the violets next to grape hyacinths for a rich, blue purple combination. These later spring flowers will blossom into the summer, too.
Summer flowers include the azalea, columbine, daylilies, dusty miller, and hosta. The azalea is of course a small bush which can occupy its own space in your rock garden. Hosta has purple flowers in substantially sized plants although the green leaves remain throughout the rest of the growing season until wintertime. The leaves are quite decorative, with some being solid green, and another variety, green and white. Dusty miller is that ubiquitous silver-gray plant that looks beautiful with any cut flower combination. This will grow through the summer and fall seasons, too.
Fall flowers include: zinnias, daylilies, trillium, and chrysanthemums. Trillium tends to like some shade so if possible, plant them by a shady spot. Daylilies have bright orange flowers well suited for the fall season.
Any of these flowers can be cut and set in a vase. Outside of watering once a week, these flowers do not require any special care such as deadheading, replanting, or other maintenance provided. You will still be able to maintain a busy life and have a beautiful garden that always looks well kept.
Image Credit: Nhl4hamilton | Chit-Chat, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
