Tip of the Week: Give Mom flowers in 2018's trending colors

Frost appears to be out of the forecast which makes Mother's Day a great time to give mom plants she can enjoy outside beginning right now. Hot 2018 trends in flowers are the Pantone Color of the Year which is Ultra Violet plus bright shades of orange and yellow.

Every year the Color of the Year shows up in furniture, décor and fashion as well as in spring flowers. This year we see Ultra Violet and shades of purple in baskets and containers and it's THE color if you want to give your mom the latest trend in flowers.

The easiest gift for mom when it comes to plants is to select a container or a hanging basket that is already put together with more than one type of plant. Combos have a lot more interest than 1 pot full of pink petunias. When combining plants, everything in the container should have the same needs for moisture and sunlight or shade.

Garden centers create mixes of flowers that share the same water and sunlight requirements. But if you prefer a DIY container, be sure plants you combine are all either sun-lovers or shade plants and that mom has the perfect outdoor space for your selection. If her patio is on the north side of the house, she will probably need shade plants - on the south side, sun-loving plants.

If Ultra Violet isn't for your mom or her décor, think about flowers in mango, orange and yellow. Easy-to-find flowering plants in these colors include roses, zinnias, petunias, calibrachoa, impatiens and sunpatiens. Mix in other annuals to add splashes of white and lime green. These combos throw a pop of color that brightens up outdoor spaces and they work especially well with mid-century modern décor showing up now in outdoor living areas.

Specific plants to consider for mom are:

• Sunflowers in varieties that will keep blooming all summer long
• Sunpatiens which look like traditional shade-tolerant impatiens, but they're meant for the sun. Unlike the shade variety, they are mildew resistant. They will bloom all summer long in a sunny location.
• Also consider a traditional fave, the gerbera daisy, which is available in many colors - from violets to mango.

Hanging baskets and patio containers will bring mom a season full of enjoyment lasting long after bouquets of fresh flowers have wilted.

Please email our team at info@designscapes.org to add a beautiful assortment of flowers to your mother's yard.