Flower Plants

What flowers can I plant now?

Plant flowers outdoors or indoors under cover depending on the season. It’s best to sow hardy annuals like sweet peas in autumn undercover for stronger roots come spring whereas tender perennials like pelargoniums do better in a sheltered spot after the risk of frost damage has passed in late spring.

Find out how and when to plant your spring flowering bulbs in our handy guide. Remember to wait until November to get your tulips into the ground.

What does perennial mean?

Perennial plants live for more than two years. Popular flowering herbaceous perennial plants include salvias, lavender and alstroemeria among others. Looking for some inspiration? Fill your garden with perennial colour by planting our top five perennials. Tender perennials die back during winter and start to regrow again at the start of spring, typically getting larger each year. A good way to keep your perennials healthy is to split them every few years. Use a sharp spade to split the clump into two and replant one. Give the second split to a friend or plant into another pot or garden bed.

How to plant a flower bed

Dig over and rake your flower bed before planting to remove stones and loosen the soil. It’s a good idea to place your plants on top of the bed in their pots to check they have plenty of space to expand and look right in their positions. Use a hand trowel or spade to dig a hole for each plant, making sure that the juncture between root and stem is level with the soil before you backfill and water to settle the soil. A generous layer of mulch keeps roots moist and cool. Leave a small gap around the stem to let it breathe.