No green thumb? No problem!

Not every plant that is available for purchase in a big box store’s garden section is suitable for where you live.  Sometimes those pretty blossoms won’t thrive in the type of soil, weather, or temperatures of the environment.  Through experience, my wife, who is way better at this than me, has learned to always check the planting zone for a plant before purchasing.  We also like to stick to local plant stores, like Deep Roots, to make sure that what we are getting is suitable for homes in Locust Grove. 

Here are some plants that will thrive in our Virginia red clay soil.  They will make your front yard look beautiful even if you don’t have the greenest thumb.

Petunias

These sun loving plants come in many different colors.  They appreciate the hot summer days at homes in Locust Grove and will flower from the spring through fall.  While they are annuals and will die at the first frost, we have had a couple survive through the winter and into next spring.

Dahlias

Dahlias are low maintenance plants that produce bright colorful blooms.  There are many different varieties and they can grow in just about any type of soil.  We like to keep these in pots on our porch, since some creatures like squirrels and deer tend to eat them if they are in the yard.  While they are annual plants for homes in Locust Grove, there are methods for digging out the roots and storing them in a garage for next spring.

Marigolds

Marigolds are easy to grow annual plants that have yellow, red, or orange blossoms.  They need to be watered consistently, but will attract lots of pollinators like bees and butterflies.  The fragrance that marigolds give off is also a deterrent to animals like rabbits or insects like mosquitoes. Try planting them around your garden or near other plants that might attract hungry creatures. 

Daylilies

Daylilies are plants that keep on giving.  They enjoy lots of sunshine and will continue to spread until you break them into small sections.  Some varieties bloom once while others will rebloom throughout summer.  Daylilies come in a variety of sizes and colors.  Daylilies are perennials which means that they will add pops of color to the homes in Locust Grove year after year.

Cardinal Flower

Bring some hummingbirds into your yard year after year with this perennial.  It blooms from spring through fall with bright red blossoms. Cardinal flowers are tall and slender. Their blossoms add some interest to any garden or flower pot.

Portulaca

These bright and bold flowers love heat and are drought tolerant.  Perfect as filler in a hanging basket or in the ground (heads up, they will spread) portulaca will return year after year as they reseed themselves in the soil.  

Vinca

Vinca enjoys the hot humid summers that the homes in Locust Grove experience.  They don’t grow too tall, so they are perfect as a filler in a hanging basket or as an accent around a taller plant.  Vinca are deer resistant and will bloom from the spring through fall.

Lantana

The bright pink, yellow, and coral shades of the blossoms of this plant will attract lots of butterflies and other pollinators.  Blooming from summer to fall, lantana love a lot of sun and are drought tolerant. They are annuals for homes in Locust Grove unless you plant them in a pot and bring them inside over the winter.

With a little water, these plants should thrive in the yards of homes in Locust Grove. Looking for some planters for your plants. Take a look at these suggestions.