Flowers to grow for wellbeing
Daisies
Plant them in full sun as these flowers prefer a lot of light. Keep them well watered. Daisies grow in sand or most soils except for very wet ones. Prepare the ground well before planting and raise the garden bed a little to ensure drainage. They are not good in areas with heavy frosts.
Dahlias
Plant from late August to late October or after the last frost. Plant in well-drained soil in full sun. Fertilise well with an organic fertiliser. Dahlias will develop buds from early summer and bloom through the autumn, or until the weather cools considerably. Taller varieties will need staking. Deadhead regularly.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers are typically bright yellow, although they also come in red, orange and striped varieties. Sunflowers are annuals that grow well in fertile, well-drained soil. They like a lot of sun (6-8 hours of sunlight each day). Before you plant, enrich the soil with some compost. Sow sunflower seeds in spring or early summer when the soil is starting to warm up. They typically flower within about 8-10 weeks.
Sweet Peas
Most sweet peas are summer flowering and need at least 12 hours of daylight before they can flower. They prefer a sunny position away from strong blustery winds. Stake or provide support for taller growing varieties. Seeds can be sown in autumn in a sunny, well-drained site. In cooler areas, it’s best to wait until spring. Sweet peas require regular watering, especially as the temperature increases.
Lilies
There are three main types of lilies – Asiatic, oriental and trumpet. Lily bulbs are available from early winter and are best planted soon after. Lilies prefer moist, well-drained soil year-round and full sun to light shade. Enrich the soil with peat, compost or well-rotted organic material to help retain moisture and improve drainage. Once bulbs are established, mulch in spring and autumn. Lilies flower from November through to March. As your lily grows tall you may need to tie it to a stake to help keep the flower and stem growing upright.