Summer Garden Ideas: The Best Summer Plants and Flowers to Brighten Up Your Garden


There are thousands of empty gardens around the UK that are a blank canvas and just waiting to be transformed into a beautiful and restful oasis for people and wildlife. This time of year is peak season, with so many summer plants and flowers looking their best such as Lavender, Buddleja, Coreopsis and Verbena that it is hard to choose a favourite! Our ready made borders are the perfect project if you’re looking for summer garden ideas, as not only do they look great, but they they grow quickly too! After only a few months, our cottage border and wildlife border in particular will already start to see the benefits, with a border full of beautiful colours, textures and scent.

Choosing the Right Summer Plants and Flowers

There are a bewildering amount of summer plants and flowers to choose from when you go to your local garden centre or online, which can be daunting and confusing - especially if this is your first step into gardening.

While some plants may look appealing, a lack of research and knowledge could mean you end up with plants that are not be suitable for your garden, nor may survive the winter. Not knowing where to start is usually the first thing our customers say when asked ‘why did you choose Garden on a Roll?’, as we have spent years perfecting the plant combinations! By taking the guesswork out of gardening there is no need for you to spend hours researching, as we understand the importance of choosing the right plant for the right place.

For sun, there are a myriad of summer plants and flowers to choose from to create a sunny border, but always try to think about interest for each month so that all the action does not happen at once. Scabiousa ‘Misty Butterfly’, Erigeron karvinskiana and Penstemon are your best friends at this time of year!

For areas deprived of sun even in the depths of summer, a shady border is the perfect choice as it contains beautiful, pastel colours with the delicate foliage of Hardy Ferns, Carex grasses and hardy variegated evergreens. Hydrangea is often the star of the show for plants that thrive in shady spots, with even winter flowers of Sarcococca and Helleborus.

Create a Wildlife Haven This Summer!

Once your plants are in and thriving, you will really see the benefits your summer plants and flowers make to the local wildlife by attracting bees, butterflies and other insects. Why not continue developing your own nature reserve by fixing up bird feeders and nest boxes to attract birds and even bats!

And if you’re really getting into the swing, creating a small pond offers great reward, but is simple to make and requires very little upkeep (future advise on how to do this to come!).

Top Tips For Your Garden This Summer

While we may have hoped for a slightly drier summer than we seem to have in store, with the ground so moist from rain water now is a great time to get yourself outside and planting in the garden!

Should we have some dry spells over the coming months, watering your summer plants and flowers thoroughly and then mulching the soil with 2-3cm of soil conditioner/mulch is a great way to retain moisture for a good few days, which can really help. It also feeds the earth, improves soil structure and helps the general health of the soil.

If you’re looking to add a splash of colour while your border is establishing itself this season, annuals (bedding plants that flower through the summer but later die in winter) are great gap fillers to give an instant impact when planted amongst other plants.

Final Thoughts on Summer Garden Success

There’s no shortage of summer garden ideas out there and with so many beautiful summer plants and flowers it can be easy to get swept up in things. Many people buy plants on impulse and while there can be great fun in a bit of trial and error, this can also go through plenty of time and money in trying to get it right.

Lavender, Buddleja, Coreopsis and Verbena are among the best plants to plant in summer, and at Garden on a Roll we wrap up years of experience and know-how to deliver your perfect summer design straight to your door. Designed with your garden in mind, choose your style, width and length, and we’ll handle the rest - ensuring you get it right, first time. Contact our team of gardening experts to find out more.