What to Grow This Summer

The sunniest time of the year is upon us. For many, the holiday season is a great time to get out and enjoy a bit of free time in the garden.

Some gardeners will try and tell you that Australian Summers are too hot for growing plants, and that it’s time to put the tools down – but not us! Instead, we reckon that you want your garden to look as lush and enticing as possible before all the BBQs and gatherings begin. 

There are plenty of plants that love to grow in hot or otherwise harsh conditions, including flowering plants, and you often wouldn’t expect it from how delicate they can look. Here are 7 of our favourite plants to grow in the Summer months:

1. Petunias

These gorgeous multicoloured flowers are easy to grow and they love the warmer weather. Petunias are annuals that start to bloom around early summer, once the sun has begun to warm up the soil to at least 15-20 degrees Celcius. Petunias will continue to produce a full bloom until the first frost of winter, providing you with months of joy in the garden.

These pretty and highly affordable flowers are a fantastic way to quickly add a burst of colour to your garden, especially when planting at the beginning of the blooming season. We also stock the Petunia Supertunia, a high-performing variety of Petunia that comes in a range of exciting colours, and Calibrachoa, a similar-looking perennial flower that is closely related.

Planting Petunias

Plant Petunias in fertile, well-drained soil that has been prepared with compost. They will grow in a garden bed but are also well-suited to pots. Water daily when the plants are still establishing – once they look healthy and mature, water semi-regularly to keep the soil moist. 

Adding fertiliser every 2-3 weeks can also assist with flower growth. You may see your flowers wilt away on scorching days (around 40 degrees) but there’s no need to stress. These tough plants are very tolerant of heat and humidity and will flower again as soon as it cools. Deadheading any spent flowers can also help to extend the bloom for a longer period.

2. Crepe Myrtle Trees (Lagerstroemia)

It’s rare for non-native ornamental trees to thrive during an Australian summer, but the flowering Lagerstroemia Tree – or ‘Crepe Myrtle’ Tree – loves the warm, dry conditions and the full sun.

These trees are highly versatile and can be kept small in pots or grown large in the garden, making them a great option for all sorts of different gardens. They can also provide some great Summer shade when allowed to grow tall!

These deciduous trees begin to bloom in early Summer before losing their foliage in a spectacular show of colour during Autumn. They have an incredibly delicate, multi-layered flower that looks almost like folded ornamental paper – hence the name. We also stock a stunning ‘Diamonds in The Dark Indica’ variety that produces the same delicate flowers in bold, fiery colours.

Planting Lagerstroemia

Lagerstroemia trees can be planted in fertile loamy soil with good drainage, any time from late Spring to early Summer. Planting later during the blooming season in mid-Summer is possible, but you will need to give your tree some extra water for a while. This will help it continue to produce flowers while it adapts to the conditions of its new home.

Otherwise, this is a pleasantly low-maintenance tree and will only need to be watered when the soil is dry. Annual fertilising in Spring can help with growth but it is not strictly necessary. Finally, this easygoing tree will also tend to take an attractive shape without much pruning. However, you’ll still need to prune back after planting if you’ve planted bare root – our Bare Root Tree Guide explains why.

3. Hydrangeas

This classic perennial flower is one of our most popular plants at this time of year. The dense flowering bulbs look beautiful as they sway gently in the wind and the glossy green foliage will bring a lush feel to your garden. Late spring to early Summer is prime Hydrangea planting season, with their flowers beginning to bloom en masse shortly afterwards.

Known for their ability to change colour based on the acidity of your soil, the Hydrangea’s cool shades of blue, white, pink and purple are soothing on a hot Summer afternoon. For something more intricate, we also stock the Hydrangea Lacecap variety. This gorgeous flowering shrub blooms with a ring of larger flowers around a cluster of smaller, semi-open flowerheads.

Planting Hydrangeas

Like many of the other plants on this list, Hydrangeas love fertile, loamy soil mixed with compost (around 10%). It’s important to make sure that drainage is good, as these plants will need lots of regular watering through Summer. Aim to always keep your soil moist, but don’t let it become soggy or soaked, as this can potentially cause rot or fungus to form.

Positioning your Hydrangea is important. Ideally, you want it to receive cool sunlight in the mornings and filtered shade in the afternoon when the summer sun is harsh. This flowering shrub is therefore a perfect fit for the dappled light of a tree canopy, and evergreen varieties can even survive in full shade. 

You also need to consider the wind – high winds may damage the flowers, but a light breeze is important to prevent any mould build-up in the flower buds. Finally, an annual dose of fertiliser in spring will provide all the extra nutrients that this plant needs to thrive.

For more detailed information on growing these beautiful flowers, check out our guide on How to Grow and Care for Hydrangeas

4. Citrus Trees

Citrus trees thrive in warm soil, making late Spring/early Summer a great time to plant a fruit tree in your garden. Fruit trees can make any home garden feel more wholesome and cozy, with their lush leaves, fresh juicy fruit and cool Summer shade. Growing a fruit tree will create memories that will last your family a lifetime. Not only will a citrus tree look fantastic in your garden, but it will provide you with plenty of delicious fresh fruit to eat and share.

Planting Citrus Trees

Citrus loves rich composted soil that has been warmed up by the sun and has great drainage. It’s a good idea to plant your fruit tree in late Spring or early Summer, as planting in the dry heat of mid-Summer may unfortunately shock or kill your tree. They have relatively shallow & fragile roots, so be sure to give them a bit of space when planting. 

You should water your tree twice weekly while it is young – once established, you can drop back to watering deeply once every few weeks. These trees can be fertilised as often as once a month, but take care not to feed the tree during flowering season or it may grow much less fruit as a result. Your tree may become gnarled and congested as it ages – don’t be shy about cutting back and pruning unattractive branches as desired.

5. Marigold

The Marigold is a beautiful annual flower that blooms all through the warmer months, and some varieties are even perennial. These bright yellow and orange flowers can add the perfect dash of colour to any garden, with a warm and sunny feel that’s hard to match. The flowers bloom in abundance, and can be used to make stunning flower garlands. 

Marigolds are also known for their ability to repel common garden pests like spider mites or whitefly. This makes them a perfect companion plant for Spring and Summer veggies like tomatoes, lettuce, kale or basil. Best of all, these flowers are low-cost and extremely low-maintenance. They’re something that any gardener can grow!

Planting Marigolds

As mentioned, these plants are very low-effort and are likely to survive in any soil. However, fertile loamy soil with good drainage will give the best results. They will enjoy full sun conditions, with a very high tolerance for dryness and heat, but will tolerate part shade. Plant 20-30cm apart and be sure to water in well.

Marigold care is about balance and not overdoing it. After planting, it’s important to water semi-regularly but not too often, usually once the top layer of soil has dried out. Otherwise, soggy soil and overwatering may cause your Marigolds to rot. During the flowering season, you can fertilise every 1-3 months with a liquid fertiliser to keep your flowers well-fed but not over-fertilised.

6. Lomandra

This hardy Australian native is an extremely tough little plant that’s perfect for the warmer weather. A native species of ornamental grass, Lomandra comes in many varieties and can survive harsh winters or dry Summer droughts with ease. It looks incredible when placed around borders, used as a low-edging plant, or layered in front of other native plants.

The long strap-like leaves can bring a sense of calm and serenity to your garden as they sway in the breeze. Your Lomandra will start to bloom spiky yellow flowers over Winter and Spring that emit a wonderful pleasant scent. This plant is affordable, low-maintenance and will look very elegant in the garden – what more could you want?

Planting Lomandra

The Lomandra is an incredibly low-effort plant that will survive in most conditions. It can be planted in any type of soil (including clay and sandy soils) and will tolerate any pH level. What’s more, it’s just as happy growing in a part-shade position as it is in a full-sun position. It really is that easy!

Adding fertiliser or mulch once a year, ideally in spring, can help to encourage further growth. Lomandra grass will only need occasional watering unless conditions are drought-like. You will see the tips of the grass blades start to turn brown if the plant is not getting enough water.

7. Bacopa

The Bacopa is a trailing perennial and a fantastic warm-season plant, with dozens of soft white, purple or pink-coloured flowers that begin blooming in late Spring and continue all the way through to Autumn. Bacopa is an old favourite amongst seasoned gardeners, but is perhaps not quite as well known as other plants on this list. These flowers can be planted in your garden in early Summer and enjoyed straight away.

Bacopa are trailing plants that grow very quickly, which makes them highly desirable as ground cover. Planting a Bacopa can be a great way to fill a garden bed quickly and stop other weeds and grasses from moving in. They also look stunning when used as edging borders along pathways, low fencelines or other plants.

Planting Bacopa

There are two conditions that this flower loves – sunshine and moisture. This plant is semi-aquatic in the wild and grows near bodies of water, so it’s important to water this one regularly and keep it moist. It likes heat so it will enjoy a full sun position, though if it is forecasted to be a particularly dry summer then a part shade area may offer more shelter.

Otherwise, the Bacopa is a versatile and easy plant to grow. Unlike other flowers on this list, it can be as fertilised as regularly as every 2-3 weeks to help with blooming. Deadheading any spent flowers can also assist younger plants to bloom longer. As a (very) fast-growing trailing plant, you may find that you want to lightly train or prune your Bacopa foliage occasionally to send it in the right direction!

---

These 5 colourful flowering plants are some of our favourite things to grow in a Summer garden. They’re attractive, affordable, and generally easy to plant and look after.

However, this is just the start of what you can grow in warmer weather. Citrus Trees, Succulents and Australian Natives are all wonderful plants that will generally enjoy the sunnier, drier conditions of Summer.

If you’ve got any gardening questions at all or you’d like to have a chat about what to grow in your garden this Summer, feel free to ask one of our Diacos gardening experts today.