13 Summer Flowers to Plant Right Now

• New plantings require more water in summer, but be wary of overwatering. Check moisture by inserting a screwdriver or pencil 4 to 6 inches into the soil, says Talabac. If it’s dry at that depth, water; if moist, leave it. It’s better to give plants a deep watering once or twice a week rather than a light one more often. That light watering just encourages roots to grow near the surface, says St. John.
  
  
• Plants purchased in summer may be root-bound since they’ve been in pots at the garden center since spring. Tease out and separate the roots before planting, says Amy Jo Detweiler, a professor and horticulturist with Oregon State University Extension Service. And Lutz suggests giving annuals a jump-start with a bit of liquid fertilizer.

• Don’t forget to “deadhead” annuals, picking off faded blooms to encourage more flowers, Detweiler says.
  
  
• Buy a bag of compost along with your plants to enrich the soil, St. John suggests. And mulch around flowers to keep in moisture and regulate soil temperature.
  
  
• Plant perennials for fall bloom. Try asters, joe-pye weed and perennial chrysanthemums, which will bloom later and longer than the standard mums you buy potted at the supermarket.
  
  
• Come fall, don’t forget to plant in anticipation of spring. That includes bulbs like daffodils and tulips that will then bloom each spring but also pansies and violas — “winter annuals” that in many areas are hardy and will bloom when spring comes.

There’s another good reason to plant now: You might save money. Garden centers tend to devote space to flowers that are currently blooming, Talabac says. That means leftover out-of-season plants might be discounted, especially toward autumn. While you might not get blooms this year, the plants will be established by next growing season.

A list of summers flowers

But if you’re hoping for more blooms this year, here are some suggestions from the experts for perennials and annuals that you can install during July:​

Susan Moeller is a contributing writer who covers lifestyle, health, finance and human-interest topics. A former newspaper reporter and editor, she also writes features and essays for the Boston Globe Magazine as well as her local NPR station, among other outlets.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on July 14, 2021. It's been updated to reflect new information.