This is my favorite time of year where all of your hard work in the garden finally pays off! Zinnia flowers are one of the most low maintenance beautiful flowers that will bring life into your garden. Whether you are looking for zinnia landscaping ideas or how to plant a zinnia garden. Explore our 11 zinnia garden ideas that will transform your backyard!
As someone who is a self taught gardener, I have struggled keeping plants alive and have learned what works in the garden. After a- ot of trial and error, I discovered that zinnias are such an easy and beautiful addition to my garden and they have quickly become a favorite.
Starting a zinnia garden can seem overwhelming if you don’t have a green thumb, but they are actually very beginner friendly! In this post we will show you how to care for your zinnia garden, what flowers to plant with your zinnia garden and zinnia garden ideas you can copy!
This post is all about zinnia garden ideas.
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How to Care for Zinnias in the Garden
Zinnias are popular annual flowers that are easy to care for and can bring vibrant colors to your garden or flower beds. Here are some tips on how to care for zinnia flowers!
Check out this very helpful video on everything you need to know about starting and maintaining your zinnia garden bed!
Planting Zinnias
Zinnias need full sun to thrive, so choose an area that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Plant them in well-draining soil, and water the soil thoroughly after planting.
Zinnia flowers are annuals which means they have a life cycle that lasts one growing season. Often times these types of plants need to be replaced yearly, but that is not necessarily true for those plants that germinate.
Watering Zinnias
Water your zinnias flowers regularly to keep the soil moist but not over watered. Zinnias don’t like to dry out completely, so water them deeply once or twice a week, depending on the weather and soil conditions.
Fertilizing Zinnia Flowers
Zinnias benefit from regular fertilization to promote healthy growth and abundant blooms. Use a balanced fertilizer once a month during the growing season, following the manufacturer’s instructions. We use Miracle-Gro Flower Food as directed on the package for our zinnia flower bed.
BUY THE FERTILIZER
This 3 in 1 fertilizer seed mix makes it easy to start your own zinnia garden bed for an affordable price!
Deadheading
Zinnias produce more blooms if you remove the dead flowers regularly. This process is called deadheading, and it involves cutting off the faded blooms with scissors or pruning shears. Deadheading also helps to prevent the zinnias from going to seed too quickly.
BEST PRUNING SHEARS
These are our favorite pruning shears because they are so heavy duty and easy to use even on the most stubborn plants!
Pests and diseases That Harm Zinnias
Zinnias are generally resistant to pests and diseases, but they can still be affected by common garden problems like aphids, spider mites, and powdery mildew. So be sure to check on your plants regularly and treat any issues quickly with an appropriate insecticide or fungicide.
By following these tips, you can enjoy beautiful zinnias that will brighten up your garden or indoor space all season long!
Best Zinnia Garden Ideas
Zinnias are a beautiful and versatile flower that can add a pop of color and texture to any garden. Here are 11 zinnia garden ideas to inspire your next gardening project!
1. Monochromatic Zinnia Garden Ideas
Create a garden bed filled with different shades of one color of zinnias, such as pink, red, or orange is an awesome way to start your own monochromatic zinnia flower bed. This creates a beautiful and bold color scheme!
2. Rainbow Garden Ideas
Try using a mix of different colored zinnias to create a rainbow looking garden idea. This is a fun and creative way for you to add color to your landscaping all Summer long.
3. Zinnias in Containers
Plant zinnias in pots of different sizes and colors to create a cool container garden. This is a great option for small spaces or balconies. Check out our post on small backyard ideas that will transform your outdoor space! We show you cute potted zinnia garden ideas you will love!
4. Cottage Garden Ideas
Zinnias fit perfectly in a cottage garden with their bright colors and whimsical look. A cottage garden design is all about having a large variety of different textured flowers and flower heights.
COTTAGE STYLE PLANTS TO PLANT WITH ZINNIAS:
- Catmint
- Hollyhocks
- Peonies
- Phlox
- Daisies
- Foxgloves
- Ammi
5. Cutting Garden Design
Plant zinnias in rows in your cutting garden, so you always have fresh flowers to create arrangements with. Pair your zinnia plants with sunflowers, tulips or dahlias for a bold bouquet.
ADD THESE FLOWERS TO YOUR CUTTING GARDEN:
- Sunflowers
- Ageratums
- Tulips
- Daffodils
- Echinacea
- Zinnias
- Black eyed susan
- Peonies
- Roses
- Aster
- Dahlia
Add any of these flowers in addition to your zinnias to start your own small cut flower garden.
6. Butterfly Garden Ideas
Zinnias are known to attract butterflies and other pollinators. Plant them in a butterfly garden with other pollinator plants to watch the beautiful creatures roam your yard.
BEST PLANTS FOR A BUTTERFLY GARDEN BED IDEAS:
- Sunflowers
- Black-eyed susans
- Marigolds
- Day lilies
- African daises
- Petunias
- Zinnias
- Violets
- Sage
- Wild White Indigo
- Aster
GET THE LOOK
Start your very own butterfly garden with this butterfly garden seed mix! These flowers will bloom into your dream garden that will attract the most beautiful pollinators!
7. Edible Garden
Fun fact, zinnias are actually edible and add a fun pop of color to salads and other recipes. For this reason, they make a good flower to add to your vegetable garden or herb garden. You can also add zinnias as a cute pop of color in your summer alcoholic beverage or mocktail.
8. Border Zinnia Garden
Use zinnias to create a flowering border along a walkway, sidewalk, or fence. This is such an easy way to brighten up your backyard, so why not start a zinnia garden bed along your fence this summer!
9. Low-Maintenance Garden Ideas
Zinnias are very easy to grow and require minimal maintenance. Plant them in your garden with other low maintenance plants like succulents and grasses.
10. Wildflower Garden Idea
Create a wildflower haven with zinnias and other wildflowers like coneflowers and black-eyed Susans. This creates a natural and whimsical look. You can buy a variety of wildflower seeds for a decent price on Amazon, Lowe’s, or Home Depot.
GET THE LOOK ON A BUDGET
11. Children’s Garden
Zinnias are an excellent flower to plant with your children because they are so fun and easy to care for. Plant them with other fun plants like sunflowers and pumpkins for a cute and playful garden.
Types of Zinnia Flowers for Your Garden
There are actually many different types of zinnia flowers and here are the most popular types:
- Single-flowered zinnias: These zinnias have a single row of petals around the center. We love these for cutting gardens
- Semi-double zinnias: These have two or three rows of petals around the center for a fuller look.
- Double-flowered zinnias: These zinnias have many rows or petals and are very full looking.
- Cactus zinnias: These zinnias have unique curled petals and come in so many fun color options.
- Pompon zinnias: This type of zinnia is much smaller and more compact.
- Giant zinnias: The name says it all, these flowers that can grow up to six inches in diameter!
- Lilliput zinnias: These zinnias have small, double flowers that resemble pompons. Best used in containers and borders.
- Persian carpet zinnias: These zinnias are also very small and resemble a daisy.
- Envy zinnias: These zinnias have lime green flowers that add a pop to your garden.
This post was all about the best zinnia garden ideas.
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