Whether your yard is full sun or shady, you can bring in colorful blooms and foliage with the right planting plan. Popular gardening plants include perennials, shrubs and trees that are easy to care for and grow reliably year after year. Adding a tree to your yard can provide added height, structure and visual appeal. Whether you want to eat the fruits or simply enjoy its greenery, fruit trees are an ideal pick for sunny yards.
Perennials are a must-have for any garden and you have endless choices from which to select. Perennials that bloom all season long, like roses, lilacs and peonies, are reliable and easy to grow. Perennials that rebloom, such as phlox, dianthus and garden tulips, also add color to gardens throughout the season.
Flowering shrubs, such as lilacs, dogwoods and azaleas, are another popular choice to plant in sunny areas. They can be placed in front of taller plants to create a dynamic effect or at the back of a flower bed to fill out its shape. Perennials that offer a hint of fragrance are also popular, like lilyturf, scented geraniums and lilac sage.
Shade-loving flowering plants can be more difficult to find but are well worth the effort when you do. A few popular choices include the brookside geranium, which offers bright blue flowers through summer, and the native beautyberry, which produces purple berries for fall and winter. This shrub is a favorite for many gardeners because it’s hardy and easy to maintain, despite growing in areas with little to no sunlight.
When selecting a plant, read the tag or description to see if it needs sun or shade and how tall or wide it will get. You should also pay attention to how much water it requires and what conditions it thrives in. Then, you can plant your garden with confidence and enjoy it all season long.