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There is no doubt I love plants and don’t mind getting my hands dirty! I find it relaxing and I can putter around my backyard all day. When work allows me… 😊
We all lead busy lives, and it is important to have a place of calm where we can just enjoy ourselves. Here are my tips for making your backyard more inviting, colourful, and even producing some tasty summer treats!
A pop of colour! We all know blue, green, and purple hues create a sense of calm and relaxation. Green grass is a definite must for me. I like to walk around barefoot on lush soft grass. For my garden, I pick flowers that are bright and vibrant. These can help brighten up your mood and are great for pollinating insects like bees and butterflies. Some of my favourites include:
FLOWERS
- Sunflowers – these might be one of the easiest things to grow in your garden. They are fast growing, provide privacy from neighbours, and, yes, you can harvest the seeds at the end of the season for a tasty treat or to use for the next year. Plant seeds early spring after the last frost. There are several varieties and colours can range from yellow, orange, purple, and red. They will need some attention to germinate and while young, but once established they are easily maintained. Water moderately and remember, they LOVE the SUN!
- Hollyhocks – these are a hearty, easy to grow, self seeding plants. They are biennials, meaning they will last 2 maybe 3 years, but because they self-seed you will not need to replant. They too love the sun and can grow up to 8 feet tall if happy. Proving privacy and beautiful flowers from early June to late August or even September. They do tend to spread so you will need to pull the young ones, keeping them confined to the areas you want in your garden.
- Poppies – I have had good success with these low maintenance flowers. They will flower in spring or fall, and some varieties throughout the entire season. They come back every year and need only to be thinned out when they start to spread. Partial shade and well drained moist soil is what works best. Mulching can help keep the soil moist.
I like to plant things that will flower throughout the season. When one is done, another comes up! This keeps things exciting and colourful all season long! Some other favourites are of mine are tulips, crocuses, daylilies, forget-me-nots, irises, and wild pansies. All easy to grow and will come back every year, if properly cared for.
VEGETABLES AND FRUIT
There is nothing like picking fruit and vegetables from your backyard! Although I don’t plant a lavish vegetable garden every year, I do keep a few staples on the go to forage while spending time in the backyard.
- Strawberries – there is nothing better than a fresh strawberry from your backyard. No store-bought strawberry can compare, not even if you make the trip to BC or hit the local farmer’s market during the season. I keep a variety that produces only once a year. Producing berries from late May through to the end of June. They are well worth the wait and even more special to anticipate and see them go. I look forward to these little gems every single year! They are easy to grow and once established will propagate on their own. Making little jumpers for next season. You will need to tame these as they fill the areas you wish to confine them to.
- Raspberries – one of my favourites. Easy to grow and once established you will be able to enjoy these, year after year. Mine produce as early as July to the end of August. You will need to prune/cutback or they will take over everything!
- Root Vegetables and Leafy Greens – I have always had great success with beets, carrots, kale, and chards. All of these are hearty, easy to grow and packed full of nutrition.
- Chokecherries – These shrubs are quite hardy and can withstand almost anything. I’ve had these in my backyard since I purchased my home. Although I do not harvest the cherries, I snack on them when I’m outside and the birds seem to love them. They have beautiful flowers with white and pink hues. Once ripe, the fruit is sweet and juicy, mind the pits. A pleasant add for privacy, noise reduction, and a pop of colour in the spring!
I typically plant a variety of herbs throughout my garden and pick them as I need them. My must haves for cooking are thyme, rosemary, oregano, parsley (Italian), sage, chives, and mint.
The possibilities are endless, don’t be afraid to change things up from season to season. Replenish your soil. I use compost and save the fallen leaves every year to help restore the nutrients in my soil. Mulch in sunny/dry areas to help keep the soil moist and don’t forget to have FUN!
What are you planting in your garden this year?!
