Top 5 Low-Maintenance Flowers for Busy Gardeners

Gardening can be a wonderful hobby. But for those of us with packed schedules, elaborate flower beds that require hours of tedious upkeep simply aren’t feasible. The good news is, that there are plenty of flowers at your local florist in Lansing MI that thrive with minimal care. These beauties will add cheer to your landscape without demanding much time or attention.

 

1. Petunias

Petunias are a classic summertime flower, and for good reason. These pretty trumpet-shaped flowers in Lansing mi come in a rainbow of colors and look gorgeous in hanging baskets, window boxes, borders, and beds. The best part? Petunias aren’t finicky at all. As long as you plant them in full sun and well-draining soil, they’ll reward you with continuous waves of flowers from spring through the first frost. Deadhead spent blossoms if you’d like, but otherwise, petunias are happy to keep pumping out blooms with minimal effort on your part.

 

2. Marigolds

With their cheery golden hues and tossed-around, seasonal profusion, marigolds embody the carefree spirit of summer. They relish heat, shrug off droughts, and have almost zero pest or disease problems. As long as you sow them directly in the garden after the last spring frost, marigolds will bloom abundantly all season long. Deadheading occasionally will encourage more flowering, but it isn’t strictly necessary. An occasional drink of water during truly hot, dry spells will keep them happiest.

 

3. Zinnias

Few flowers can match the eye-popping color saturation of zinnias. These sunny annuals come in almost every hue imaginable except blue: reds, oranges, yellows, whites, greens, purples, pinks…you name it. And with their reputation for being ironclad and easy to grow, they’re a natural choice for low-maintenance landscapes. Sow zinnia seeds after the last frost, and they’ll sprout in about a week. Within a couple of months, your plants will be carpeted with daisy-like flower that attract butterflies. Deadhead to encourage more blooms if you wish, but it’s not required.

 

4. Cosmos

Cosmos have delicate, open blooms reminiscent of wildflowers. The petals come in shades of pink, magenta, yellow, orange, red, and white. With long, slender stems, these pretty flowers are fantastic for cutting. And they couldn’t be less demanding in the garden. Direct sow cosmos right in the garden after the danger of frost. Within weeks, ferny green foliage will emerge, followed by abundant flowers. Cosmos bloom steadily all summer until the first hard freeze. Just give them full sun and average soil—they’ll handle the rest on their own.

 

5. Sunflowers

What’s more iconic on a summer day than a sunflower turning its face toward the sun? Sunflowers aren’t quite as carefree as the other flowers on this list, but they’re still relatively low-maintenance for the high visual impact you get. Plant sunflower seeds directly in the soil once temperatures have warmed. Stake taller varieties if needed, and deadhead spent blooms—but otherwise, sunflowers will produce their signature yellow petals and seed heads with minimal intervention. Their cheery faces evoke summer like nothing else!

 

So stop by Smith Floral or your local garden center today. Get ready to populate your landscape with carefree flowers in east Lansing that let you embrace summer on your terms.