Carol Klein’s Favorite Low-Maintenance Flowers
Carol Klein, a famous gardener, shares her favorite plants for filling your garden with flowers year after year.
Perennials, Shrubs, and Bulbs
Unlike bedding plants, which only bloom for a short time, perennials, shrubs, and bulbs can bloom for many years. They’re also more sustainable, as they don’t need to be replaced every year.
Choosing the Right Plants
When choosing perennials, consider the amount of sunlight and drainage in your garden. There are perennials that will thrive in both sunny and shady spots. Bulbs, like daffodils and lilies, can also add color to your garden and will multiply over time.
Care and Maintenance
Perennials are generally low-maintenance, but they do require some basic care. Mulch around your plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Feed your plants during the growing season to help them produce more flowers. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage new growth.
Dividing Perennials
Dividing perennials is a great way to get more plants for free. Every few years, dig up your perennials and divide them into smaller sections. Replant the divisions in fresh compost to keep your plants healthy and blooming.
Recommended Plants
Here are a few of Carol Klein’s favorite low-maintenance plants:
- Dahlia ‘David Howard’: Blooms from June to October with orange flowers and bronze-green foliage.
- Eryngium alpinum ‘Blue Hobbit’: Has long-lasting blue-green bracts and prefers sunny, well-drained soil.
- Helenium ‘El Dorado’: Blooms from July to October with sunny yellow flowers that attract pollinators.
- Hydrangea paniculata ‘Pinky Winky’: A compact shrub with pink flowerheads that bloom from July to September.
- Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’: Blooms from August to October with golden yellow flowers that are easy to grow and propagate.
- Astrantia ‘Roma’: Blooms from June to September with pink bracts and prefers moist, well-drained soil.
