Sometimes it ’s prissy to have a garden that ’s as well-to-do on the eye as it is on the back . After all , there ’s nothing wrong with creating a dispirited - maintenance garden layer that wo n’t need a lot of your time or effort . That does n’t make you a lazy gardener — just a smart one .
Add extra color with annuals and bulbs
There are just five intemperately - working , easy - attention perennials in this full - sun island garden bed . To start the inflorescence even earlier , plant some spring - blooming bulbs . Bulbs thrive in a low - piss bed like this because they hate being overwatered while they ’re dormant in summer . you may also tuck a few yearly , such as these ‘ Magellan Orange ’ zinnias , into any open place between the other plant . You ’ll be assured of constant color all summertime long .
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Quick guide to maintenance
Here are a few steer for keep this colorful low - maintenance garden seam planting looking good .
A
Maiden grass ( Miscanthus sinensis‘Gold Bar ’ )
TypePerennialBloomsUpright habit with horizontal gold stripes on leaf ; copper - pink late summer to fall flowerheadsLightFull sunSize3 to 5 ft . tall , 2 to 3 foot . wideHardinessCold - hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9Number to plant3
B
Sea holly ( Eryngium’Sapphire Blue ’ )
TypePerennialBloomsSpiny blue flowers in mid- to tardy summertime with spiky leafage ; long tap tooth root makes it difficult to transplant , so be sure you know where you want it before plantingLightFull sunSize24 to 30 in . magniloquent , 18 to 24 in . wideHardinessCold - hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9Number to plant7
C
Salvia ( Salviaxsylvestris‘May Night ’ )
TypePerennialBloomsLong upright spike of indigo plant blue flowers heart-to-heart in early to midsummer ; will bloom for two months , if you keep it deadheadedLightFull sunSize18 to 24 in . tall , 15 to 18 in . wideHardinessCold - hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9Number to plant11
D
Bloody cranesbill ( Geranium sanguineum corpus striatum )
TypePerennialBloomsLight pinkish flowers cover the plant life in late spring , reblooms ; foliage takes on a reddish shape in fallLightFull sun to part shadeSize6 to 9 in . tall , 12 to 18 in . wideHardinessCold - hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8Number to plant10
E
Sedum ( Hylotelephium telephium‘Lynda Windsor ’ )
TypePerennialBloomsDark burgundy leaves and stems on a goodly , compact plant life ; 2- to 3 - in.-wide bunch of crimson flowers in former summertime to fallLightFull sunSize12 to 18 in . tall , 12 to 16 in . wideHardinessCold - hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9Number to plant12
