The Lazy Gardener’s Guide to Spring Planting

Let’s get something straight: you don’t need to be a full-time garden person to have a beautiful, blooming yard. You don’t need a spreadsheet. You don’t need to start seedlings under grow lights in January. You don’t need to overthink it.

Here’s how I approach ornamental gardening for the lazy gardener—aka, the gardener who wants cut flowers, color, and life without a ton of upkeep.

Perennials Are Your Friends

They come back. They get better each year. They take up space so you don’t have to. What more could you want?

Start with workhorse plants that give you beautiful blooms and can be cut for arrangements. Think:

• Peonies

• epimedium

• hellebore

• foxglove

• iris

aND FOR SUMMER AND fALL iNTEREST:

• Echinacea (coneflower)

• Yarrow

• Russian sage

• Black-eyed Susans

• Sedum

• Northern sea oats

I could go on! Clearly, i love me a perennial.

Plant once, then let them handle it from there. Most of them thrive on benign neglect and still look great.

Bulbs: Set It and Forget It

Bulbs are the crockpot of the garden world. You plant them in the fall, forget they exist, and then BAM—spring color. Daffodils, tulips, alliums, and hyacinths are the obvious choices, but don’t sleep on lesser-known ones like fritillaria or camassia for something different.

They naturalize over time, meaning you get more blooms every year with zero extra effort.

Direct Sow Seeds = Instant Volume, No Stress

Here’s the cheat code: just throw seeds in the dirt once the danger of frost has passed. No trays, no hardening off, no timing anxiety.

These are foolproof favorites:

• Zinnias: bloom machines

• Cosmos: floaty and romantic

• Marigolds: Punchy and Nostalgic (Bonus! They’re a companion plant and deter pests and rodents!)

• Sunflowers: sky high showstoppers

Don’t worry about perfect spacing. Scatter, water, and let the strongest win. You’ll get color, texture, and wild beauty all summer long. Plus, they make excellent cut flowers.

Annuals: Buy Them, Don’t Baby Them

If you want instant gratification or pots that pop, buy annuals—but buy them from someone who specializes in them.
Skip the big box store six-packs. Go to your local grower or farmstand. You’ll get healthier plants, better variety, and way more personality.

Then just drop them into containers, window boxes, or gaps in your garden beds. No shame in store-bought. We’re being lazy, remember?

Final Note: This Isn’t About Perfection

This is about joy with minimal effort. It’s about creating a space that’s alive and blooming without it becoming a second job. You don’t need a master plan. You just need a few solid choices and a willingness to let nature do her thing.

So go easy on yourself. Throw some seeds, plant some perennials, grab a tray of something bright—and call it a day.