Help me pick flowers for next year.?

Question

This year my garden sort of failed, due to it being my first one. Next spring though, I want to try again and have it work. What are some great plants that will survive in zone six. We have very hot summers (90-100 degrees) and colder winters. I have lillies already.

Answer 1

Getting started:
Buy a few bags of compost from a nursery.
Sprinkle Osmocote time-released-fertilizer for flowers over your gardening soil, now spread the compost over the fertilizer and water well. Leave it until next spring/summer.

Send for free gardening catalogs so you can get use to flower names and how they look. Here are a few that you can send for:

http://www.waysidegardens.com
http://www.dutchbulbs.com
http://www.jacksonandperkins.com (Roses)
http://www.parkseed.com
http://www.burpee.com

Other catalogs:
http://www.leevalley.com
http://www.gardeners.com
http://www.GardensAlive.com
http://www.deerbusters.com (all types of animal control)
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Don't forget about containers. Lots of fun.

Container/pots/window boxes needs:

All need holes in the bottem for water drainage,
Potting soil that comes in bags (Micacle-Gro is very good), time-release fertilizer for flowers (not for green plants).
Water crystals to be mixed into the soil for holding water,
Bedding plants or full grown plants.

Here is an excellent link to check out for color combinations and plants that look good together:

http://www.fernlea.com/awesomeaccents/recipes.html

Answer 2

It depends on whether you have shade or full sun as to what you plant where. I love zinnia's and they are easy and like full sun. Plant some sunflower seeds in a row to make some shade in the east and west and make a flower bed there with petunias, begonias, impatiens are gorgeous but need shade and alot of moisture. Ferns are one of my fav's and there are many varieties, they don't bloom but compliment any garden with their greenery and they like shade too. Portulaca is a great flowering, low growing plant that loves the sun and has beautiful flowers and is easy to grow from seeds. Good luck , gardening is like cooking , you learn from trial and error, and don't make the same mistake twice.

Answer 3

I'd try a wildflower seed mix next Spring and see what comes up. I was pleasantly surprised with Dame's Rocket, Russian Sage and poppies. You didn't say whether or not you want all year round interest, etc. I love black-eyed susans and Purple coneflower, anise hissop and yarrow. These can be purchased next Spring and once rooted, will come back each year.

Answer 4

I would suggest Hosta. They come in many varieties and some will tolerate quite a bit of sun whereas, some require shade. One thing you can count on is they come back year after year and get bigger every year. If you find some available now, you can still plant for beauty next summer.

Answer 5

My "bible" for picking out flowers was a perennial book I had purchased. I picked those for my zone first. Then decided according to colors, heights, & time of blooming.

I created a 'map' of my yard on a squared graph paper using 1 square = 1 foot.

I liked annual petunias, marigolds and leaf lettuce in the front due to their height & long blooming (lettuce made cute short light green border).

I know you were asking for names of flowers to use. I thought this idea works better for you to pick what suits you & not me.