gardening
plants
Looking for a meaningful way to spend Mother's Day? Gardening offers a wonderful opportunity to bond with your mom while enhancing your outdoor space. Whether you're tending to a garden, planting a window box, or creating a container garden, here are expert tips to help you make the day memorable and green.
Mother's Day marks an excellent time to plant, as the risk of frost has typically passed. Consider these plants that bloom around this time:
Make this Mother’s Day extra special—join a hands-on workshop or garden tour together.
For a portable and charming gift, create a flowering basket using a small recycled container. Line it with plastic if necessary, and plant a combination of early-flowering annuals like stock, pansies, and alyssum. Add edible herbs such as parsley, sage, or Thai basil to enhance the arrangement. While this won't last the entire summer, it will bring cheerful color to a deck, porch, or patio until July.
Mother's Day is an ideal time to refresh window boxes. Choose vibrant geraniums or sunny marigolds to add color and joy to your landscape. Additionally, consider dividing perennials like Heuchera, Acorus, and evergreen ferns to rejuvenate existing plantings.
For those with limited space, such as front stoops or city patios, container gardening is a perfect solution. Use the "thrillers, fillers, and spillers" method:
Ensure your container has proper drainage to support healthy plant growth.
Whether you're planting a flowering shrub, window box, basket, or container garden, research is key to success. Consider factors like light levels, available space, and potential deer presence in the intended planting site. Remember, every gardener starts somewhere, and with a little planning, you can create a thriving garden together.
PHS offers a wealth of resources to support your gardening endeavors:
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced gardener, PHS is here to guide you and your mom on a growing and gardening journey!