You have prepared your lawn this spring and now it is green, thick and ready for cartwheels and endless amounts of tag-you’re-it games. Now it’s time to add personality and color to your lawn with endless landscape options. There are a plethora of trees, flowers and shrubs to choose from, but where to start? Here are a few gardening tips to help Atlanta homeowners make their lawn bloom!

First, it is important to know the climate you live in. In Georgia, the weather is hot and humid during the spring and summer months, therefore, it is important to find plants that can hold up to extreme heat and weather changes. Some flowers, such as sunflowers, globe amaranths and daisies, not only grow well in the heat, but they also require little watering.

The most important factor to consider for your garden is soil preparation. Creating healthy soil means plants will grow strong, last longer and be disease resistant. First, gently turn the soil. It is best to do this when the soil is dry. After opening up the soil, add an organic matter such as compost, leaf mold or decomposed animal manure. Compost is the key to successful gardening. This improves soil structure, texture, aeration, water retention, proper pH balance and more.

Add some flower-power to your garden with perennials. Perennial plants remain in the ground year after year. For the homeowner looking for beautiful flowers, but don’t want a lot of maintenance, these are the flowers for you! Another great attribute about perennials is that many spread readily. This means you can buy less flowers because there will grow and fill larger spaces. This will save you money and keep your lawn looking fresh. Next time you are at your local nursery, check out the Buddleia, a sweet fragrant flower; Coneflower, grown best in full sun; Peony, available in a variety of colors; and Catmint, a rich blue flower that can stand up to heat and drought.

If you are looking for a new home with a beautiful yard perfect for gardening, Heron Bay is a beautiful master-planned community conveniently located on Atlanta’s Southside. Perfect for families, Heron Bay features a combination of natural assets and community amenities including four miles of peaceful trails, a golf course, aquatic center and more. Enjoy a community that hosts numerous events and programs allowing residents to be involved while getting to know their neighbors. For more information about Heron Bay, visit www.heronbayinfo.com.