With the return of sunshine and warmer weather, it’s time to brighten up your garden and balcony with easy-care flowering plants. April is one of the best months to plant flowers. That said, you have a wide selection at your disposal, and different varieties of perennials and annuals can delight you with their colorful blooms. Discover our selection of four flowering plants you can grow in April to brighten up your balcony or ornamental garden.
The return of spring is the perfect time to grow flowers. Here’s a selection of four flowering plants you can plant in April.
What flowering plants can we plant during this spring month?
These flowering plants are ideal for brightening up your garden and balcony with their colorful flowers and decorative foliage.
Also read: How to plant and care for jade? The step-by-step guide
Plant the cane in April
cane
Canna is a perennial tropical plant from the Cannaceae family. Its decorative foliage resembles that of the banana tree with its wide, long leaves. These can be striped, ribbed, green, or even purple. Planted in April, canna offers spectacular blooms throughout the summer and until the frost. To successfully plant canna, plant the rhizomes in a pot filled with light peat-based potting soil and water lightly to keep the soil moist. Keep the pot in a bright location, with a temperature between 18 and 20°C, until the first shoots appear. You can then, after the last frost, transplant the young plants into the ground in your ornamental garden. The soil should be rich, and composed of manure or compost.
Native to tropical America, cane thrives in warmth and humidity. Water the soil regularly to keep it moist and give your plant a sunny spot. Also, keeping your cane in the shade may slow flowering. For abundant blooms, feed your plant with a flowering plant fertilizer in summer and remove spent flowers.
Planting agapanthus in April
agapanthus
Native to South Africa, agapanthus is a perennial flowering plant. Easy to care for, it is characterized by its umbel-shaped inflorescence. In addition, its attractive flowers are highly prized for decorating gardens or composing bouquets. Before planting agapanthus tuberous roots, you must first loosen the soil (till it to lighten it) to a depth of 30 cm. Then clean it of weeds or stones and add a little compost. If the soil is heavy, feel free to add a little sand or fine gravel. Then plant the tuberous roots to a depth of 15 cm. Cover your planting with soil, compact it, and water it with rainwater. For growing in pots, choose light, sandy soil rich in humus. Place a layer of clay pebbles at the bottom of the pot to aid drainage, and keep your plant exposed to the sun and sheltered from the wind. In winter, remember to remove the saucer from the pot, as agapanthus does not like humidity.
Plant periwinkle in April
periwinkle
Periwinkle is an evergreen perennial. Undemanding, it can be grown in the ground or in pots to beautify balconies or terraces. The important thing is to provide it with partial shade to encourage flowering. Periwinkle also needs space to grow well. That said, remember to maintain a distance of at least 50 cm between plants. For growing in pots, plant periwinkle alone so that it doesn’t smother other plants. As for the soil, it should be light, well-draining, and rich in compost. Growing periwinkle is easy, even for those without green fingers, and it’s no coincidence that this plant doesn’t require much care and can withstand short periods of drought.
Also read: How to plant mint? Guide to growing it well
Planting poppies in April
poppy
The poppy is an annual plant with deciduous foliage, distinguished by its solitary, bright red flower, borne on a thin, hairy stem. This variety of poppy is called the wild poppy. It is the most common type in France. Before sowing your poppies, first weed and turn the soil over with a spade to loosen it, that is, to make it lighter, as the poppy likes light, well-drained soil. Feel free to mix the soil with river sand if you notice it is heavy. After planting, water the poppies regularly to keep the soil fresh until they germinate. Undemanding, the poppy appreciates sun and heat, and does not fear drought.
That said, consider growing these flowering plants in April to brighten up your ornamental garden or balcony with beautiful, colorful flowers.
Also read: I no longer buy garlic from the store. My gardener explained to me how to grow it in large quantities.