So, you’re wondering what would be the best plants for summer.
Do you want to add some pizzazz to your garden? Or maybe you want a variety of fruits and vegetables you can utilise in your kitchen.
Either way, you’re in the right place.
Summer is a season of vibrant growth and colourful blooms, making it the perfect time to enhance your garden with a variety of plants. As days grow longer and temperatures rise, flowers burst into bloom, filling the air with sweet fragrances. Lush green foliage provides refreshing shade from the summer sun.
Add bright annuals for instant colour and perennials for lasting beauty. Mix in flowering plants, shrubs, and trees for variety. Include fragrant herbs and vibrant vegetables to combine beauty and utility. Your garden can become a lively habitat for butterflies, bees, and birds, promoting a harmonious ecosystem.
Take advantage of the warm, long days to cultivate a thriving garden that brings joy all summer long with Hozelock’s Best Plants For Summer:
Summer Vegetables
Summer is ideal for planting vegetables that thrive in the warm weather and long days. Here are some of our top choices:
Tomatoes
These sun-loving plants are a summer staple, available in varieties like cherry, beefsteak, and heirloom.
Cucumbers
Fast-growing and productive, cucumbers thrive in warm soil and full sun.
Beans
Green beans and pole beans are easy to grow and yield plentiful crops.
Zucchini
This summer squash grows quickly and offers a continuous harvest throughout the season.
Peppers
Both sweet and hot peppers flourish in the summer heat, adding colour and spice to your garden and kitchen.
Tips
Ensure your vegetables receive ample water, especially during dry spells.
Use mulch around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds, ensuring your garden stays vibrant and productive all summer long.
Summer Fruits
Summer is also an excellent time to plant a variety of fruits that can thrive in the warm weather and provide delicious, homegrown produce. Easily making these some of the best plants for summer:
Blueberries
With the right acidic soil, blueberries can flourish, producing an ample harvest of nutrient-rich berries.
Strawberries
These sweet, juicy fruits are a perfect addition, they can be grown in the ground or in containers.
Figs
Fig trees bloom in warm climates and can produce abundant fruit in summer.
Melons
Watermelons, cantaloupes, and other melons love the summer heat and are a great refreshing treat.
Raspberries
These berries are easy to grow and can produce fruit throughout the summer.
Tips
Ensure fruit plants get full sun and consistent watering – something Hozelock’s Automatic Watering Range can help with.
Mulching around the base keeps roots cool and reduces weeds. These steps promote healthy growth and abundant fruit production in your garden.
Summer Flowers
Bring a burst of colour to your garden with flowers that bloom beautifully in the summer months. Consider planting some these popular options:
Marigolds
These bright, cheerful flowers are easy to grow and can help repel garden pests.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers add height and drama to your garden, and they’re also great for attracting pollinators, like bees.
Zinnias
With their bold colours and long-lasting blooms, zinnias are a summer garden favourite.
Petunias
Available in a range of colours, petunias are versatile and perfect for containers, borders, and hanging baskets.
Cosmos
These delicate, daisy-like flowers bloom in the summer heat and require minimal care.
Tips
Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming.
This redirects the plant’s energy into producing new flowers, extending the vibrant display in your garden throughout the season.
Summer Herbs
Some of the best plants for summer are herbs, which can be used fresh or dried to improve your culinary creations.
Rosemary
Rosemary can be used in cooking and as an ornamental plant.
Basil
This fragrant herb loves the warmth and pairs perfectly with summer vegetables like tomatoes.
Mint
Refreshing and aromatic, mint is perfect for summer beverages and desserts. Plant it in a container to prevent it from spreading too much.
Thyme
Thyme is easy to grow and great for seasoning dishes. It can also serve as an excellent ground cover in your garden.
Oregano
A staple in Mediterranean cuisine, oregano requires minimal care.
Tips
Harvest herbs regularly to promote new growth and prevent them from becoming woody.
Regular harvesting redirects the plant’s energy into producing fresh foliage, ensuring a continuous supply for culinary use.
This practice also helps maintain the flavour and aroma of the herbs, enhancing their quality in your garden, and ensuring they remain in your garden as some of the best plants for summer.
Summer Perennials and Shrubs
Planting perennials and shrubs in summer can add structure and long-lasting beauty to your garden.
Echinacea
Also known as coneflowers, these hardy perennials attract pollinators and add vibrant colour to your garden.
Lavender
Known for its fragrant flowers and foliage, lavender blossoms in sunny, well-drained spots.
Hydrangeas
With their large, showy blooms, hydrangeas are a garden highlight as one of the best plants for summer.
Daylilies
Dayliles are low-maintenance perennials, that produce stunning flowers.
Salvia
A magnet for bees and butterflies, salvia is drought-tolerant and blooms generously in summer.
Tips
Regularly water newly planted perennials and shrubs until they establish deep root systems.
This promotes healthy growth and helps them adapt to their new environment effectively.
Did you find our top picks on the best plants for summer helpful?
Share your recommendations or additions for your garden in the comments below! We’d love to hear about your gardening plans and favourite plants.
Or, even better, take the chance to show off your summer gardens and tag us on social media.
