We used to grow them in rows, but now we do something a little bit different.
We grow a zinnia bush from seeds, for mere pennies each season, with this easy gardening DIY.
Come check it out.
If you're a longtime reader of Exquisitely Unremarkable, you know that I am a big cheater.
I like the quickest, easiest and least expensive way to achieve a spectacular result.
Doesn't matter if it's in the house or the garden, I'm not a perfectionist and I don't really care about the process. I just want things to look fabulous, as fast as possible.
And if cutting corners or thinking outside the decorating box is what it takes, then so be it.
Luckily, I have a husband who helps me out with all my crazy ideas.
I like the quickest, easiest and least expensive way to achieve a spectacular result.
Doesn't matter if it's in the house or the garden, I'm not a perfectionist and I don't really care about the process. I just want things to look fabulous, as fast as possible.
And if cutting corners or thinking outside the decorating box is what it takes, then so be it.
Luckily, I have a husband who helps me out with all my crazy ideas.
Case in point.
I want a lush cottage garden, but I was not born with a green thumb.
Therefore, spending tons of money on plants is not a wise investment for this girl.
I also crave an immediate result, the growing season here is short and I am not patient enough to wait years for some teeny, tiny starter to grow into something of notice.
Seeds are super cheap, require very little effort to lay down and usually produce great results in short order.
And if you plant the right seeds, in the right way, you can cheat your way to fabulous in no time flat.
My zinnias are a perfect example, coming in at just under $2.00.
There was a sale at our local nursery and at that price, we couldn't resist.
We had removed an underperforming hydrangea from a corner bed bordering our concrete patio and needed a large bush to fill the space.
Instead, of shopping for some pricey plant, that might, or more likely, might not survive, my handy husband decided to cheat his way to bush for the spot by planting three different zinnia varieties all in the same small area.
He sprinkling them haphazardly right on top of one another. He didn't plan out his placement or seperate varieties.
He just grabbed handfuls and spread them around in a 2-3 foot circular space.
Each zinnia seed packet listed a maximum growth height. To get the look of a full and rounded bush, he purchased one low, one medium and one tall flower variety.
Once they were in the ground, he covered the seeds with a handful of plant nutrient and hit them with water. It was a ten minute job, at most.
The result was a thick mass of flowers peaking at varying heights.
By layering the seeds in no particular order, they have grew as a unit, giving the appearance that they are one cohesive ball of blooms.
A zinnia bush, if you will.
It filled the corner so completely, it would've taken a perennial plant years to get quite that large.
Or it would've cost us a small fortune to buy one that big. And like I said, its chances of survival would be iffy at best.
I like my $2.00 solution much better.
I absolutely adore the burst of color it adds to my patio area and the never-ending supply of fresh flowers it provides for my indoor vases.
Since there is such a variety of zinnias in that lovely tangle, my centerpieces are so much more interesting.
Since there is such a variety of zinnias in that lovely tangle, my centerpieces are so much more interesting.
Plus, the crazy amount of blooms attracts small, colorful finches and an army of butterflies for us to admire during quiet moments in the garden.
Of course, cheating is a dangerous habit.
As a matter of fact, our trellised Morning Glory is a product of seeds, as well.
We've been planting the seeds in that same exact spot for so many years, the flowers just come up on their own now.
And that my friends is the best cheat of all.
Are you a gardening cheat?
I brought morning glory seedlings over from the other place. The same purple morning glories that put out its first bloom over two years ago, and I headed out to take a photo with my camera. And broke both sides of my ankle. A life-altering event in just a snap of the fingers. Those seedlings are strong little suckers. They have flourished and grown up the trees here. The other pretty blue seeds I planted that I SO wanted to have, never even came up.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Brenda, I am so sorry to hear about your ankle. I have heard you talk about it, but I never knew how you broke it. I have had seed failures, as well. I have planted scarlet colored morning glory seeds, many times and they have never bloomed either...I think the purple ones are just very hearty!
DeleteI have never tried seeds much, but several people talked about how easy it is to grow zinnias from seeds. This is the first year that I bought zinnia plants and they did well. I am enjoying them in our front planter.
ReplyDeleteI like to split perennials and plant seeds, Carol. I do plant a few annuals each year, but only in pots. They are so pricey, sometimes they don't do very well and the season is short here...seeds are easy! ;)
DeleteGreat idea and your zinnias look beautiful! I'm always afraid to plant seeds figuring they will never come up, but I'm surprised and think I need to find some seeds. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Gina! I am really happy with the way the bush turned out. I say give the seeds a try! Sometimes I get them at the dollar store, two for a buck! If you plant them, let me know how it turns out! :)
DeleteHahaha, I'm a cheater too Kim!!!! Love your zinnias, enjoy them on this long weekend dear!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, you too, Vel! :)
DeleteI AM A GARDEN CHEAT TOO! teeeheeeee
ReplyDeleteI love your green on white; we have a beautiful stone house but a little white sure adds the look I love. I am not an avid gardener but I do want my garden to look as if I was, so like you, I find ways to make it look lush without me having to weed or plant a lot. I have perennial boxwoods everywhere so in the spring/summer, all have are white annuals in pots, everywhere. Though it's still warm here, I'm back to school teaching and my flowers have take a hit with a strange virus, so things are dying, but it sure was fun to look at my DYI garden!
Kim, your space is beautiful and thank you for your comment! Anita
Thanks so much, Anita! I adore stone on a house! We have just a bit, the original owners added some around the front door, back in the 1920's. It contrasts well with the white. I put annuals in pots, too. The rest of the yard is decorated with perennials. They are lush, hearty, some are colorful and they all come back up each year with a warm prompt from Mother Nature...requiring nothing from me! ;)
DeleteOkay, I'll have to try this next year. I've been collecting seeds from all over my garden, now, and marking their envelopes. I want to see if THOSE seeds work, but will buy some too next season. Love those zinnias!
ReplyDeleteI have done that too Cheryl! I have had success most of the time. I find that sunflowers are the easiest, but this year I am going to try to collect some from the zinnias, since they are so beautiful! I just have to remember where I put those envelopes of seeds come spring! Good luck!
DeleteKim, I don't consider this cheating, at all! In fact, you are smarter than me, who DID buy young flowers, transplanted them into their ceramic pots, watered every single scorching day so that they would grow into strong, healthy flowers, and some did, BUT others, (we won't mention how many), did not. Let's not talk about how much $$ I spent on replacing the 'lost ones' - ouch! The thing is, I enjoy pruning and pinching and showering my lovelies with the gift of life, but I can still do all of this from seed!! Your BEAUTIFUL zinnias, looking like something straight out of an English cottage garden, have convinced me to do so. Kudos to you... cheater!
ReplyDeletePoppy
Those flowers can get so pricey, Poppy, I totally get it! I always hate spending so much money when the season is so short here. I am also such a bad gardener, when things don't make I feel very bad! BTW, you have just made my day with your English cottage garden comparison!
DeleteI do seeds sometimes...but mostly I have a black thumb! Yours is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteOh Kristen, I am right there with you! I am not a great gardener...that's why I love the seeds...they are cheap and if they don't come up, it's not like I really killed anything!! ;)
DeleteI planted Zinnia seeds for my daughter this year. We put ours in seed trays and then she transplanted the little plants once they had a little size to them. They turned out great. We also grew some marigolds from seed that turned out nice as well.
ReplyDeleteI have seen pictures of your garden, Lorri and you are head and shoulders above the rest!
DeleteHi Kim, wow how pretty your zinnia plants look. I love planting by seeds too! We planted basil and strawberries from seeds and they did well. By the way you are not cheating! Take care.
ReplyDeleteJulie
Mmm...your seeds sound much tastier than mine! ;) Might have to give that a whirl next season! :)
DeleteHeck yea I am / morning glories and zinnias here too. Yours are stunning. Such a lovely display of color and variety :)
ReplyDeleteI didn't plant as many zinnias this year as the prior one and I am missing that.
Thank you Deb, your garden is lovely, too...that's some hollyhock! ;)
DeleteI've always grown zinneas from seeds. I love them for cutting. Actually, I consider buying the plants to be more like "cheating". Although I wouldn't judge anyone for doing so. LOL Hugs, Kim.
ReplyDeleteYou know, Nancy, maybe you are right...maybe I have it backwards! :)
DeleteI love growing zinnias. They are so easy to grow from seed. I will be tryingn morning glory next. Yours are beauties! xo Jen
ReplyDeleteThe zinnia bush was an experiment and it turned out really well...thanks for popping by, Jen!
DeleteYour Zinnias are beautiful. I have planted them from seed many times for many yrs. This yr. however, I did not and I really misses my Zinnias. The summer is very short here and passed too fast. Thanks for sharing. xo
ReplyDeleteSummer is short here, too. The zinnias don't really take off until late in August and they hang around for the beginning of September. Their colors are so cheerful! Thanks so much for the comment and the visit! :)
DeleteThese are gorgeous! I'm going to try this for next summer. Great idea to mix the different seeds!
ReplyDeleteI cannot for the life of me get Zinnias to grow. I have lived several places in Coastal North Carolina and for some reason I cannot get them to grow. My Dad used to plant them for me and I would go cut them everyday and put in every room. I have tried planting the seeds in the ground following directions on packet, in containers, etc. but nothing happens. What am I doing wrong???
ReplyDeleteThank You,
Patricia (NC Coast)
Hi Patricia, I wish I could help, but I am not familiar with the growing season in North Carolina, nor do I have a particularly green thumb. Zinnias seem to thrive here, perhaps it's the climate. We generally throw the seeds down, cover then with a bit of dirt and mulch and Mother Nature does the rest. They don't bloom here until late August and only for a few weeks until there first cold snap hits and they're gone. I'm sorry I am not more help. There is a website called Hometalk. It is full of knowledgeable gardeners and whenever I have a question, I ask there. Perhaps you could give it a try, everyone is so helpful and maybe they can help you fill those vases again!! Good luck! :)
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