From early June though July I hear this question. “Is it too late to plant…?” Some ask if it’s too late to plant vegetables, others want to know if they can still plant shrubs, annuals and trees in the summer time. For some reason people have a notion that it’s OK to plant in spring and fall, but not in the summer. This is a shame because as long as the plants are watered correctly, in my experience plants that are placed in the ground in June, July and even August often get established better than those that are planted in the fall.
I finished planting my Annual Alley today, but I have other annuals that will continue to be placed in the ground over the next two weeks. I will frequently plant both annuals and perennials in July, and I’m happy to dig holes for shrubs and trees throughout the summer.
Don’t let the calendar or the nursery industry slogan about fall hold you back: spring, summer and fall are all for planting…and in some parts of the country, winter is good too.
This morning I took this photo of some of the plants that are waiting to go into my gardens. This lineup of Profusion zinnias and Verbena bonariensis sat on the edge of the trial and cutting garden, waiting to be planted.
This year annual alley is planted with an assortment of varieties with dark purple foliage and white flowers, with some lime-green Nicotiana thrown in for fun. I’ll post photos later in the summer to show how it has all filled in.
