The Easiest Plants To Grow For Beginner Gardeners

The cheerful sunflower is unmistakable. Despite their large heads and towering stature, don't be intimidated: They're actually quite forgiving for novice gardeners. Mental Floss suggests waiting until the threat of frost has passed and choosing a location that gets plenty of direct sunlight throughout the day. Then, plant the seeds in one-inch holes. You'll want to space them about six inches apart, as you don't want to risk overcrowding once their growth takes off. Be sure to check the seed packet label for any instructions specific to the variety you choose since some types need to be spaced much farther apart. 

Give the seeds a good drink of water after planting, but be careful not to overwater once the sunflowers are established, which could ruin your chances of success. According to Mental Floss, these hardy flowers do well even in poor soil, which means you don't need to worry about fertilizing them. You'll get to enjoy their bright faces throughout the hottest days of summer, and their seeds make a delicious snack, so you can't go wrong.

Whether you buy ready-to-plant marigolds or opt to start them from seeds, this annual will go easy on you regardless. The flowers bloom in shades of red, orange, and yellow. Some varieties are tall and leggy, while others remain short and compact. Choose whichever suits your garden aesthetic. If you decide to grow them from seeds, Mental Floss says to wait until after the last frost and plant them in moist, well-draining soil. Spacing varies by the type of marigold you choose, so consult the instructions on the seed packet. 

While marigolds are low-maintenance and long-blooming, they have an additional perk: protecting tomatoes. According to Modern Farmer, marigolds release limonene, a gaseous chemical. It acts as a natural deterrent of pests like whiteflies that wreak havoc on tomato plants. "Aside from looking nice, using another plant as a pest repellent is a far better solution than a pesticide, which kills beneficial insects as well as harmful ones," notes Modern Farmer. The flowers are easy to grow, last all summer, and help keep your tomatoes healthy. What more could you want?

If you're looking for something easy to grow that's also delicious in cocktails and cooking, look no further than mint. This tasty herb is actually a perennial, so it will return each year if you plant it in the ground. Better Homes & Gardens warns that mint can overtake your garden since it spreads with such ease. Keep it trimmed to prevent spreading, or just plant your mint in pots. 

Either way, mint does well in full sun to partial shade. It likes damp, well-draining soil, which means it'll need some extra watering if your area goes through a dry spell. When it comes to pruning, Better Homes & Gardens advises to "remove flowers as they appear, and pinch back the stems to encourage shorter, bushier growth. In fall, cut the plants to the ground after a hard frost has withered their stems." 

There are many varieties of mint — including classics like spearmint and peppermint as well as interesting varieties like chocolate mint and apple mint — so you can choose one that's perfectly tailored for your needs. Whether you muddle the leaves into a cocktail or dry them to make tea, the possibilities are endless and delicious.

Smaller-sized cousins to sunflowers, these are also easy to grow for inexperienced gardeners. The perennial wildflowers sport bright yellow petals, prominent black seed heads, and blooms from summertime until early autumn. They can be planted in mid-spring or fall in spots that get full sun. Black-eyed Susans are drought-tolerant once established, but they do appreciate about an inch of water per week.

The seeds can be sowed into the garden when the outdoor temperatures are over 70 degrees. They can be scattered over the soil, covered with a light layer of dirt, and watered. Plant dwarf seedlings 6 to 12 inches apart and larger ones from 18 to 30 inches apart. Black-eyes Susans stretch up to 36 inches tall, are resistant to diseases and pests, and make lovely bouquets. They are known to spread throughout gardens because they have aggressive root systems and are self-seeding. To keep them under control, just thin them out every four or five years.

Perfect for adding height and cheery color to gardens, the forsythia's bright yellow flowers are often one of the first signs of spring. These early-blooming, tall shrubs can grow up to 8 feet high and 12 feet wide and require little attention to thrive. The prolific flowers make their presence known in the late winter once the soil temperature reaches 55 degrees Fahrenheit. They are showy enough to outshine their bluish-green summertime foliage until the leaves turn a pretty deep purple as temperatures drop in autumn.

The forsythia does best in full sun and should be planted in evenly moist soil. These shrubs can handle drought conditions once they are established, but once-weekly waterings are preferred. They can benefit from a 10-10-10 fertilizer application twice a year in the spring and summer, after the first year of growth. These shrubs are not completely upright, and the shape can often be described as curved or weeping. 

Lavender does well in containers, rock gardens, paths, and herb gardens, making it a great plant to easily add anywhere in your yard. Plus, besides looking elegant, it has a wonderful smell. It should be planted in the spring in a sunny area that has sandy, well-draining soil. Some gardeners also add builder's sand to the dirt before planting to stave off excess moisture but that isn't always necessary. To plant lavender, amend the soil with compost and dig out holes that are 12 to 18 inches apart.

As they are somewhat drought-tolerant, lavender only needs a drink when the top 2 inches of soil seem dry. Expect the flowers to come out in the summertime and cut the plants back lightly each spring. The important thing to remember with this perennial is to give it enough air circulation because excess heat and moisture can lead to fungus. Lavender is known to reemerge larger each year, so it's a good plant to practice your emerging pruning and shaping skills.

There's no reason to be afraid of growing plants that sprout from flower bulbs and they have the bonus of returning year after year. Daffodils fall into this category and can be first planted in gardens in the fall when it's still about 60 degrees out. The roots develop when it's cold outside and the foliage pokes out in the spring. The familiar white, bright yellow, orange, or pink flowers have six petals and a cup-shaped part in the middle. Choose one of the standard varieties to get the largest blooms.

Daffodils need full sun or partial shade and fertile soil. When you find an ideal home, dig out planting holes 4 to 8 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches apart. Each bulb should be deposited with its pointy end up and then covered with soil. Then it can be watered thoroughly and after that, about 1 inch per week. Once the flowers come out in the spring, they should last for six weeks up to six months. Remain hands off until those and the foliage have wilted completely because the plant needs that energy for the next growing season. With proper care, the bulbs should produce daffodils for years.

This tough perennial plant is not a true lily because it doesn't grow from a bulb but that's not the most interesting thing about it. The daylily can have up to six stems that produce as many as 15 buds apiece. Each flower lives for just one day — hence the name. But since it features so many buds, the plant always looks like it's in bloom. The vibrant flowers come in different shapes and colors like red, orange, and purple and the resilient plant is perfect for a low-maintenance gardening routine.

A daylily planting site should get a minimum of six hours of daily sun, with moist soil. The roots should be soaked in cool water for half an hour before planting to rehydrate them. Dig a hole about 12 inches deep, lower in the plant into the center of the hole, and spread its roots out before filling in the hole with dirt. Give daylilies 18 to 24 inches of space to grow, mulch the bases, and water afterward and every day for a week or so if it hasn't rained. Remove spent blooms and yellowed leaves during the season to promote more growth.