5 beginner-friendly plants for new gardeners – try a flower that ‘thrives on neglect,’ another deters rabbits and deer
FOR anyone interested in gardening but not knowing where to start, look no further than the list below of beginner-friendly plants.
You could try planting a flower that "thrives on neglect" or even another that repels animals from rummaging in your yard.
Epic Gardening expert Danielle Sherwood offered several plants that are easy to grow and tricks to maintain them.
NASTURTIUM
Sherwood called nasturtium a "garden essential" with its huge lily pad leaves and colorful blooms.
Not only is nasturtium easy to grow, but it also attracts beneficial insects and makes the calcium in your soil more accessible to other plants.
To plant them, sow the seeds directly about two weeks after your last frost and water only when the soil is dry.
They thrive on neglect, so soon enough you'll have a colorful spread of nasturtiums in your garden.
It's also a great addition to salads with a tasty peppery taste.
LANCE-LEAVED COREOPSIS
This cheerful wildflower is native to parts of Canada and the United States and also attracts beneficial insects that will eat unwanted pests.
According to Sherwood, coreopsis should be planted in full sun and is "easy-going" and "self-seeds," so it's great for a garden bed or pot.
She called it an "upright, attractive plant" that has many flowers and bright yellow petals, sometimes with a maroon base.
The seeds need to be exposed to cold temperatures without any moisture, so you can directly sow as early as November.
BRADBURY'S BEE BALM
Bradbury's are a member of the mint family and some gardeners like to harvest it to make mint tea.
"The fluffy, ragged blooms are unusual and sometimes spotted with purple. They contrast well with the plant’s dark green foliage," Sherwood said.
They are native to the Eastern United States but will grow almost anywhere with lots of sun and medium to dry soil.
The expert advised planting them in a random area so they have space to spread out and form "pretty flowering clumps of ivory to blush flowers."
SHRUBBY ST. JOHN'S WORT
Shrubby St. John’s Wort is easy to grow and commonly used as an herbal remedy.
It forms a four-foot shrub smothered in bright yellow flowers that are small, but "has a nice visual impact on the garden."
Sherwood explained that rabbits and deer avoid it, although it's an important nectar source for many insects with beneficial properties.
HUNGARIAN BREADSEED POPPY
Easy gardening tips to save money, maximize space, and repel pests
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- Banana peels, vinegar, and coffee grounds are often recommended as natural fertilizers.
- Dollar Tree sells four packs of seeds for $1.25.
- Try a vertical planter like Amazon's Mr. Stacky 5 Tier Stackable Planter, $35 to make more use of a small space.
- Use netting like the Garden Netting Pest Barrier, $8, from Amazon to keep away bugs that eat your vegetables.
- Try sacrificial planting to reduce the use of pesticides and keep pests away from your garden. Deliberately growing certain plants to attract agricultural pests can keep them away from the plants you want to protect. Examples include marigolds, lavender, catnip, and chives.
- For pesky weeds in your garden, the Grampa's Weeder - The Original Stand-Up Weed Puller Tool with Long Handles, $45, from Amazon is a helpful tool you can use without having to bend over.
According to Sherwood, the delicate, papery blooms of the Hungarian breadseed poppy are breathtaking in any outdoor area, especially when planted in large quantities.
They are so low effort to plant that they can be sprinkled right on top of the soil, even snow, from November to February.
As they start to sprout, the large blue-green leaves almost look like the start of a head of lettuce.
Soon after, the big flower buds open into white, lavender, or deep purple, with dark centers.
STRAWFLOWER
If you love colorful, long-lived blooms, then strawflowers are a must-have because they look like "fluffy daisies" and pretty much last forever.
Strawflowers come in warm shades of red, orange, hot pink, and yellow.
Sherwood dubbed them as one of the easiest to grow from seeds because the process can be started indoors.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Plant them indoors about four to six weeks before your last frost date and then move them into the garden after temperatures outdoors have reached at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
They’ll bloom all summer through early fall and make great-cut flowers, which are a great gift for the special someone in your life.
