Flowers (Sun/Shade/Deer)
Recommended Flower Lists
Deer Tips & Hacks
Mulch & Bed Care
Shrubs & Trees
Garden Design
Lawn & Mowing
Seasonal Calendar
Flowers by Sun & Shade
Quick rule: Full sun = 6–8+ hours direct sun, Part shade = 3–6 hours (often AM sun/PM shade), Full shade = <3 hours.
Full Sun Perennials
Lavender (Lavandula)
- Soil: Lean, well‑drained
- Water: Low; hates wet feet
- Bloom: Summer
- Deer: Resistant
- Bonus: Fragrant; pollinators
Coneflower (Echinacea)
- Soil: Well‑drained
- Water: Low–moderate
- Bloom: Summer–fall
- Deer: Usually resistant
- Bonus: Birds love seeds
Black‑eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
- Soil: Average
- Water: Moderate
- Bloom: Mid‑summer–fall
- Deer: Often resistant
- Bonus: Long bloom window
Salvia
- Soil: Well‑drained
- Water: Low
- Bloom: Summer
- Deer: Resistant
- Bonus: Hummingbirds
Yarrow (Achillea)
- Soil: Well‑drained
- Water: Low
- Bloom: Summer
- Deer: Resistant
- Bonus: Heat tolerant
Russian Sage (Perovskia/Salvia yangii)
- Soil: Lean, dry
- Water: Low
- Bloom: Late summer
- Deer: Resistant
- Bonus: Airy texture
Daylily (Hemerocallis)
- Soil: Average
- Water: Moderate
- Bloom: Summer
- Deer: Attracting
- Bonus: Easy to divide
Coreopsis
- Soil: Well‑drained
- Water: Low–moderate
- Bloom: Summer
- Deer: Usually resistant
- Bonus: Long bloom
Sedum (Stonecrop)
- Soil: Lean, well‑drained
- Water: Very low
- Bloom: Late summer–fall
- Deer: Resistant
- Bonus: Drought‑proof
Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum)
- Soil: Average
- Water: Moderate
- Bloom: Summer
- Deer: Sometimes
- Bonus: Classic look
Peony
- Soil: Rich, well‑drained
- Water: Moderate
- Bloom: Late spring
- Deer: Rarely bothered
- Bonus: Fragrance
Catmint (Nepeta)
- Soil: Well‑drained
- Water: Low
- Bloom: Long summer
- Deer: Resistant
- Bonus: Great edging
Partial Shade Perennials
Hydrangea
- Soil: Moist, rich
- Water: Moderate
- Bloom: Summer
- Deer: Sometimes
- Care: Prune by type
Astilbe
- Soil: Moist
- Water: Mod–high
- Bloom: Early–mid summer
- Deer: Resistant
- Care: Mulch to cool roots
Heuchera (Coral Bells)
- Soil: Well‑drained
- Water: Moderate
- Bloom: Spring–summer
- Deer: Usually resistant
- Bonus: Colorful foliage
Bleeding Heart
- Soil: Moist
- Water: Moderate
- Bloom: Spring
- Deer: Resistant
- Care: Dormant mid‑summer
Brunnera
- Soil: Moist
- Water: Moderate
- Bloom: Spring
- Deer: Usually resistant
- Bonus: Heart‑leaf
Lungwort (Pulmonaria)
- Soil: Moist
- Water: Moderate
- Bloom: Spring
- Deer: Resistant
- Bonus: Silver‑spotted leaves
Toad Lily (Tricyrtis)
- Soil: Rich, moist
- Water: Moderate
- Bloom: Late summer–fall
- Deer: Generally resistant
- Bonus: Orchid‑like
Japanese Forest Grass
- Soil: Moist, well‑drained
- Water: Moderate
- Bloom: Foliage interest
- Deer: Usually resistant
- Bonus: Texture, motion
Full Shade Plants
Ferns (various)
- Soil: Moist
- Water: Moderate
- Deer: Resistant
- Note: Texture over bloom
Coleus
- Soil: Average
- Water: Moderate
- Deer: Resistant
- Note: Vivid foliage
Impatiens
- Soil: Moist
- Water: Moderate
- Deer: Sometimes
- Note: Non‑stop color
Hellebore
- Soil: Rich
- Water: Moderate
- Deer: Resistant (toxic)
- Note: Very early bloom
Lily of the Valley
- Soil: Moist
- Water: Moderate
- Deer: Resistant
- Note: Can spread
Foamflower (Tiarella)
- Soil: Moist
- Water: Moderate
- Deer: Resistant
- Note: Groundcover
Popular Annuals
Full Sun Annuals
- Petunia
- Verbena
- Lantana
- Zinnia
- Geranium
- Calibrachoa
Shade Annuals
- Impatiens
- Begonia
- Coleus
- Torena
- Fuchsia
- Sweet Alyssum (partial)
Recommended Flower Lists
Low‑Maintenance Winners
- Daylily
- Sedum
- Coneflower
- Catmint
- Black‑eyed Susan
- Coreopsis
Pollinator Magnets
- Milkweed
- Bee Balm
- Lavender
- Salvia
- Russian Sage
- Coneflower
Long‑Bloomers
- Geranium (hardy)
- Coreopsis
- Catmint
- Roses (repeat)
- Zinnia (annual)
- Salvia
Fragrant Picks
- Peony
- Lavender
- Lilac
- Sweet Alyssum
- Dianthus
- Rose
Deer‑Resistant Border
- Lavender
- Daffodils
- Yarrow
- Russian Sage
- Boxwood (shrub)
- Ornamental Grasses
Deer‑Attracting (use near house)
- Hosta
- Tulip
- Daylily
- Roses
- Arborvitae (shrub)
Deer Tips & Hacks
Strategy: Put deer‑tempting plants close to the house where activity deters browsing, and ring property edges with deer‑resistant plants.
- Plant choices: Favor lavender, daffodils, allium, yarrow, boxwood, hellebore, ornamental grasses.
- Motion deterrents: Sprinklers, lights; move them monthly so deer don’t pattern them.
- Repellents: Alternate recipes (garlic/cayenne/egg) and commercial sprays; reapply after rain.
- Scent tricks: Soap bars or human hair in mesh bags near beds.
- Bed design: Tight spacing + thorny/fragrant edges reduce nibbling.
- Young plants: Use cages netting their first season.
Mulch & Bed Care
Mulch Types
- Hardwood: Versatile; refresh yearly.
- Cedar: Longer‑lasting; mild pest resistance.
- Dyed: Strong color; avoid piling against siding.
- Pine Needles: Acid‑loving beds (azalea, rhodo).
- Stone: Ultra low maintenance; use fabric; heats soil.
Depth & Timing
- 2–3" depth; keep 2–3" off trunks/stems.
- Refresh in spring; touch‑up midsummer if thin.
- Always edge beds first for clean lines.
Calculator
Mulch yards = (L × W × D) ÷ 324 where L/W in feet and D in inches.
Example: 40ft × 5ft × 3in → (40×5×3)/324 ≈ 1.85 yd³.
Weed Control
- Pre‑emergent (as labeled) in early spring.
- Landscape fabric under stone only; avoid under organic mulch.
- Hand‑pull or spot‑spray invaders promptly.
Shrubs & Trees
Privacy Hedges
- Arborvitae (watch deer)
- Boxwood (deer‑resistant)
- Holly
- Hemlock (needs moisture)
Accent Shrubs
- Hydrangea bushes
- Azalea/Rhododendron
- Spirea
- Viburnum
Ornamental Trees
- Dogwood
- Japanese Maple
- Ornamental Cherry
- Serviceberry
Spacing & Care
- Check mature width before spacing.
- Water deep 1–2×/week first year.
- Mulch donut, not volcano.
Garden Design
- Layering: Tall (back) → medium (middle) → low (front).
- Color rhythm: Repeat 2–3 colors across beds.
- Texture mix: Grasses + broadleaf shrubs + blooms.
- Focal points: Archways, specimen shrubs, boulders.
- Hardscape: Paver borders/walks define and protect beds.
Lawn & Mowing
Mowing Heights
- Spring/Fall: 3.0–3.5"
- Summer: 3.5–4.0" (shade soil)
- Final fall cut: ~2.75–3.0"
Schedule
- Follow 1/3 rule—never remove more than 1/3 blade.
- Sharpen blades 2–3× per season.
- Alternate stripe directions to prevent ruts.
Feeding & Soil
- Soil test every 2–3 yrs; adjust pH.
- Spring starter; light summer feed; strong fall feed.
- Aerate + overseed early fall.
Watering
- Target 1"/week (incl. rain).
- Water deeply, early morning.
- Let topsoil dry slightly between sessions.
Seasonal Calendar (Zones ~5–6)
March–April
- Spring cleanup; edge beds
- Pre‑emergent in beds
- Divide perennials as needed
- Plant cool‑tolerant annuals
May–June
- Mulch 2–3"
- Plant most annuals/perennials
- First fertilizer & grub check
- Stake tall growers
July–August
- Deep watering; deadhead
- Light summer fertilizer
- Spot‑treat weeds
- Shear hedges lightly
September–October
- Aerate + overseed
- Plant spring bulbs
- Cut back spent perennials
- Final strong lawn feeding
November
- Final mow slightly lower
- Leaf removal
- Wrap young evergreens (wind)
- Drain/put away hoses
December–February
- Protect beds from plow piles
- Plan next year’s layout
- Prune dormant trees as needed