Celebrate Mother's Day with Gardening: Tips for Planting Together

Apr. 30, 2025

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.

rhododendron schlippenbachii royal azalea — Rhododendron Schlippenbachii 'Royal Azalea'

Ideal Plants for Mother’s Day Planting

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:

Rhododendron schlippenbachii ‘Royal Azalea’: This deciduous shrub features pale to rosy-pink or white flowers in spring, transitioning to vibrant scarlet, orange, and yellow hues in the fall.
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’: A versatile native hydrangea that thrives in various light and moisture conditions, making it a top choice for many gardeners.
Tree Peonies: Known for their stunning blooms that often coincide with Mother’s Day, tree peonies are long-lived and produce spectacular bouquets.

DIY Mother’s Day Flower Basket

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.

Refresh Window Boxes

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.

Container Gardening for Smaller Spaces

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:

Thriller: A bold focal point with an eye-catching vertical shape, like tall ornamental grasses.
Filler: Two or three different annuals or perennials to add fullness.
Spiller: A cascading plant that gently falls over the sides of your container, such as sweet potato vine, ivy, vinca, or trailing begonia.

Ensure your container has proper drainage to support healthy plant growth.

Plan Ahead for Success

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.

Additional Resources

PHS offers a wealth of resources to support your gardening endeavors:

Gold Medal Plant Database: A curated list of top-performing plants suitable for various conditions.
Virtual Programs: Participate in online classes and workshops to expand your gardening knowledge.
PHS McLean Library: Access a vast collection of gardening books and materials to inspire your projects.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, PHS is here to guide you and your mom on a growing and gardening journey!