Low maintenance flowers?

Question

I want to plant flowers around my backyard. I want them to be colorful, Like a mixture of flowers. I don't do roses or carnations.

I also need them to be low maintenance.

I Live in Southern Cali.
They will be planted in both sun and shade.

I want them to bloom once a year(that's called perennials right?)

Answer 1

goto your library and get a book on perrenials either perrenial gardens, gardening or flowers. Perrenial means it comes back every year - so you don't have to replant. I did the same thing in my front yard. love flowers/color but hate the work involved.

also, check out those online nurseries and they have "gardens" for sale, they include the planting layout/plan. you can select different "gardens" like "perrenial" or whatever, browse through. goto springhillnursery.com and check out their garden plans. I used the concept of one of their plans (I didn't order online - I tried ordering plants online once and they send you these little saplings or suckers and then when the plant flowered it was the WRONG ONE). I just looked at the plants and the plan and adjusted it to my liking.

Answer 2

You need to know several things first. Sun or shade? Area of the country or USDA zone you live in? Annual or perennials?

Flowers are wonderful, but to get the best results, you need to do some research. I would suggest a visit to a local garden center. ( a local one, not a box store type). Ask questions about what will grow well in your area and yard. Look at colors you like, watering requirements, maintenance issues. Pick a variety of plants for blooms in all seasons.

Then, go wild and try things out. You will change you mind yearly, at least I do, and try new combinations and colors.

Answer 3

Perriwinkles do well in full sun, marigolds also do well in full sun. Petunias. Most flower beds just need to be weeded every couple of weeks, fertilize once a week for optimum growth and flowering, water regularly at least twice a week. Another thing to do is to make up some hanging flower baskets, remove the hook and wires, and dig a small hole in the ground to set the hanging flower pot in level with the gound. The flowers can be watered and changed easily as the seasons change. I have a couple like this in my front yard. It kind of makes it look like they are growing "wild" in the yard.

Answer 4

Try daylillies, but look for varieties that are evergreen and reblooming. All daylillies will come back, but evergreens will not die down during the winter. Rebloomers will give you more than one set of blooms rather than just an early, midseason, or late season bloom. They are extremely easy and virtually maintenance free. If you have plenty of sun, you can also try cosmos. They are taller and more airy and should reseed themselves. A favorite perennial of mine is four o'clocks. They will die down and come back each year. The flowers are very colorful and pretty, but they do not open until late in the evening.

Answer 5

Iris Really good and one of my favorites. Petunias, Scabiosa.

Actually all flowers can be 'low maintanace' if you design your garden correctly. Find the flowers that are native to your area. Often native plants have also been hybidized and some are tremendously lovely.
Like Gallardia. Or clarkia, Echinacea, blackeyed susan.

Its just too big a question with not enough info on your zone and soil and space, and... etc.

Answer 6

zinnias.

it's easy. you throw seeds, and they grow year after year after year after year.. and take care of themselves. quite colorful. and by that, I mean multiple colors and plants that can grow with variant colors and reproduce flowers over & over & over. Google "zinnias".

Answer 7

well, this is my very own one. last year i planted a spoon in my garden, and within two monthes, i had my very own SPOON TREE!