Sunflowers can transform your garden into a lively, welcoming space. Whether you have a sprawling backyard or a cozy balcony, incorporating sunflowers can create a stunning visual impact. From classic garden layouts to innovative design tips, get ready to brighten your outdoor area with the charm and cheer of sunflowers.
1. Plant a hedge of sunflowers
Planting a hedge of sunflower plants is an excellent way to add both beauty and functionality to your garden. With their tall, robust stems and large, radiant blooms, they create a striking natural barrier that can offer privacy and wind protection.
When planting, space the seeds or seedlings about 6 inches apart to allow enough room for growth. This spacing will enable the sunflowers to form a dense, leafy hedge. Regular watering is crucial, especially during the early stages of growth and in dry periods.
As they grow, sunflowers may require support, especially the taller varieties. Stakes or a trellis can prevent them from leaning or breaking in strong winds. Planting them against a fence as a base can make this process much easier.
One unique aspect of sunflowers is their heliotropic nature; young plants follow the sun from east to west, which can add dynamic movement to your hedge. As the plants mature, they will generally face east. This characteristic should be considered when planning the location of your sunflower hedge to maximize the visual impact of those sunny faces.
A sunflower border also serves as great protection from the sun. If you don’t want your house or other less tolerant plants getting ruined by the sun, use a sunflower border to protect that space.
2. Try some dwarf sunflowers
Dwarf sunflowers are a great plant to have in your garden if you don’t want skyscraper-sized sunflowers in your yard. These miniature sunflowers are fantastic for kids and for bouquet gardens.
Dwarf sunflowers are ideal for smaller gardens or spaces. They typically reach heights of 1 to 3 feet, making them suitable for container gardening, balconies, or compact garden beds. They also often require less upkeep and don’t usually need staking, as their stems are short and sturdy.
Their manageable size makes dwarf sunflowers a great choice for gardens where children are involved. Kids can easily plant, care for, and observe them at eye level. Dwarf sunflowers also tend to bloom faster than their taller counterparts. This quick turnaround is gratifying for gardeners looking for a shorter growing cycle.
3. Create a bouquet cutting garden
A bouquet cutting garden of sunflowers is lovely to have in the fall. Start by choosing different types of sunflowers for variety in size, color, and form. Some good choices for cutting gardens are ‘Van Gogh,’ ‘Teddy Bear,’ ‘Autumn Beauty,’ ‘Sunrich Summer Provence,’ ‘Procut Orange,’ ‘Procut White’ and ‘Italian White.’ Look for varieties with sturdy stems and long vase lives.
Regularly check the growing plants for pests and diseases. Cut sunflowers early in the morning when their petals have just opened. Look for flowers with firm, upright heads and pollen-free centers for longer vase life.
After cutting, place the cut stems in water immediately. Use a sharp knife or shears to cut stems at an angle. Change the water every few days to prolong the life of your sunflower arrangements.
4. Grow a sunflower maze
Growing your own sunflower maze is a fun way to prepare for celebrating the fall harvest season. Start by sketching a simple design on paper, keeping in mind the size of your yard. A grid or simple spiral pattern works well for small spaces. Leave pathways wide enough to walk through comfortably.
Clear the area of weeds and debris. Loosen and enrich the soil with compost or well-rotted manure to ensure good drainage and fertility. Opt for taller varieties for the walls of the maze, such as ‘American Giant’ or ‘Mammoth’. Florist varieties will only grow to about 5 feet tall. Consider planting shorter or dwarf varieties along the paths for contrast.
Make lines with flour to outline the maze. Sow sunflower seeds directly in the ground under the flour lines, spacing them about 6 inches apart in rows. Plant the seeds 1 inch deep. The rows will form the walls of your maze.
As sunflowers grow, keep the pathways clear by weeding and possibly mulching. If needed, stake taller varieties to keep them upright. Once the sunflowers are grown, enjoy walking through your maze. It can be a delightful spot for relaxation, play, and photography.
5. Plant a sunflower photo backdrop
Creating a sunflower photo backdrop in your garden is actually quite easy. The key is knowing that mature sunflowers generally face east (in the USA). While young sunflower plants exhibit heliotropism, meaning their blooms follow the sun from east to west throughout the day, this movement stops once they reach maturity.
At maturity, sunflower heads typically settle in an east-facing position. This eastward orientation at dawn allows them to attract more pollinators, as many pollinating insects are more active in the morning. This behavior is an adaptation to maximize the plant’s reproductive success.
For a visually impactful backdrop, consider planting sunflowers in multiple rows. Use taller varieties like ‘Pike’s Peak’ or ‘American Giant’ for the back rows, florist varieties or branching cultivars in the middle row, and shorter ones like ‘Teddy Bear’ or ‘Sunny Smile’ for the front. This tiered planting will create a depth effect, adding richness to your photos.
Caring for your sunflower photo backdrop is crucial for vibrant and healthy blooms. Regular watering is essential, especially in the weeks after planting and during dry spells. Sunflowers are generally hardy but watch out for pests like aphids and caterpillars that might damage the flowers. As the sunflowers grow, they may require staking, particularly the taller varieties, to keep them upright and photogenic.
Once they bloom, your sunflower backdrop will be a stunning feature in your garden and a dynamic spot for taking beautiful, sun-kissed photographs. Whether it’s for family photos, artistic photography, or simply capturing the beauty of nature, a sunflower backdrop offers a unique and charming setting that changes with the light throughout the day.
6. Plant branching sunflowers for an extended blooming season
Branching sunflower cultivars are a wonderful choice for gardeners and flower enthusiasts alike, offering several distinct advantages over their single-stem counterparts. Unlike traditional sunflowers, which typically produce one large flower per plant, branching varieties develop multiple stems, each bearing its own bloom. This results in a more prolific floral display and a longer blooming period, as these plants continuously produce flowers throughout the summer and into early fall.
Popular branching cultivars include ‘Autumn Beauty’ and ‘Lemon Queen.’ These sunflowers can range in hue from classic sunny yellows to deep reds, oranges, and even pastel shades, adding a diverse palette of colors to any garden space. Furthermore, branching sunflowers attract many pollinators like bees and butterflies, enhancing the biodiversity of your garden.
Growing branching sunflowers also provide practical benefits for florists and flower lovers. With multiple blooms per plant, these varieties yield a more abundant harvest for bouquets and arrangements, allowing you to regularly cut flowers without depleting the plant. The cut flowers typically have a good vase life, making them ideal for home decoration or sharing with friends and family.
7. Line a walkway with sunflowers
Lining a walkway with sunflowers is a captivating garden design idea that creates a visually stunning and welcoming entrance. This approach transforms an ordinary path into a vibrant, inviting passage, enveloping visitors in the warmth and cheerfulness of sunflowers.
When implementing this design, choosing sunflower varieties that match the scale of your walkway and the desired aesthetic is essential. Florist sunflowers are about 6 feet tall at maturity. Taller varieties can create a dramatic, almost tunnel-like effect with their lofty stems and large blooms. For a more subtle, cottage-garden feel, consider shorter or dwarf varieties, such as ‘Teddy Bear’ or ‘Little Becka’.
This design element can provide a stunning backdrop for photography, capturing the essence of summer in each frame. The result is a delightful and immersive experience that begins the moment one steps onto the sunflower-lined path, making it a perfect welcoming element for any garden.
8. Plant a sunny entranceway
Plant sunflowers right beside the entrance to greet your guests. They are a bright and cheery welcome to anyone coming to visit.
They’re a great plant to have growing beside a tall fence post. The fence post will support the sunflower stalks if you need to tie them to a stake, and the sunflowers will give a pop of color with their yellow blooms.
If you are looking for long-term options for your sunflower garden, these perennial sunflowers come back every year:
- Ashy sunflower
- Western sunflower
- Maximilian sunflower
- Jerusalem artichoke
9. Plant sunflowers in pots for a sunny addition
Plant miniature sunflowers in pots to have them on your deck or patio. They are a wonderful sunny addition to any sitting area and will surely bring a smile to your face. Planting sunflowers isn’t difficult and just requires plenty of watering. Place your potted sunflowers anywhere you would like and move them around as needed.
If you are ambitious enough, sunflower basket sunflowers or a vintage washtub planter are nice porch or deck area aesthetics. Instead of potted sunflowers, use a fun container lined with well-drained soil to house your sunflowers.
10. Build a sunflower trellis in your sunflower garden
Plant your sunflower seeds beneath a wooden trellis. Instead of putting the trellis vertically, stake or suspend it above the ground horizontally so it creates a mesh-like pattern.
They will find their way through the trellis slots as they grow, making a lovely garden display. The trellis can give tall sunflowers support and keep them organized as they grow. Just make sure the trellis slots are large enough for mature sunflower stems!
