This year was my second year growing dahlias in volume. The small area I had hoped would be my cut flower garden became too shady due to encroaching shrubs. I have sea holly, lavender, rudbeckia, coneflowers, yarrows in perennials. But next year I’ll have more zinnias, cosmos, calendula & more.
I have established hydrangeas. I also have some beautiful itoh peonies, but I haven’t cut them yet. They’re still too young. I sometimes do daffodils but I may try tulips.
I also have a Barbara Ann climbing hydrangea next to an oak tree. She’s very happy. She finally bloomed this spring. She’s about 5-6 years old. Very hardy and easy.
I have very large limelights in full sun. I’m in zone 8. They thrive in the heat. I added sand to my soil. My neighbors have some big leafs under shade trees that are also very happy. Most do not like too much sun/heat.
I have 2 beds just for cut flowers with Dahlias, zinnias, red hot pokers, peonies, lillies, marigolds...I have rose bushes, limelight hydrangeas, coneflower, straw flowers, Giant Cockscomb, sunflowers, Gladiolus, tulips, etc. in containers.
This is a compilation of what my yard looks like in spring and summer...I started growing flowers to attract pollinators for the vegetable garden. It has been a tremendous help and they're beautiful...
I’ve started mixing some of my cut flowers into my kitchen garden - mainly marigolds, zinnia, cosmos and sunflowers. Supposedly the flowers will increase the number of pollinators and at the same time confuse some of the unwanted bugs.
It definitely does increase the pollinator count in that area. I haven’t seen it decrease the bugs I don’t want but depending on what you plant it does attract bugs that prey on the not so wanted ones
Comments