As summer takes over from spring, it becomes harder and harder to work in the garden. The heat and the resulting sweat buckets can act as discouragement into committing more hours in the garden. It is understandable if you just want to lay back in the shade and pray that a cool breeze decides to come your way instead of learning how to garden.

That is why you need summer plants that aren’t too hard to deal with at such extremes of weather. Fortunately, there is a wide array of plants you can choose from and perfectly fit the bill.

1. ‘Moonshine’ yarrow

This is one variety that shows off its lemon-yellow flowers throughout the summer. It has silver-gray foliage and is not such a hassle to grow and maintain. The Moonshine yarrow has fragrant flowers that are bee and butterfly friendly. And what’s more, these radiant plants are browsing resistant – they will not be eaten by the rabbit or deer.

2. Dahlia

Dahlia will single-handedly cheer up any garden with its radiant bright colored petals. They come in different varieties and heights. These plants will not budge in the full summer heat and so your summer gardens will remain adorable.

3. Penstemon

Penstemons are atop the list of indispensable plants – they are a pretty hardy variety. Their flowers are comparable to foxgloves towering on 2ft stems. They will bloom right through the summer and may withstand the frost – of course with a bit of care. They will perform well on any soil – whether wet or on the cracks of rocks – but demands a full dose of sunlight.

4. Marigolds

It will completely be understandable if you pick marigold as your favorite this summer. They come in a variety of colors and make fantastic landscaping fellows. If you like, you can contract these varieties with other vibrant picks for a wonderful effect in your garden. The good thing about these annuals is that they will adorn your garden with some of the best bright colors throughout summer. And to cap it all, these varieties are pretty easy to plant and maintain – a good thing.

5. Gaillardia Aristata

These belong to the same family as the sunflower – you can see the resemblance. They are a breeze to plant and can easily cover the whole garden. The flowers are a darling to butterflies and do well in full sun. They are resistant to browsing and will not demand an arm and leg when it comes to maintenance.

It’s no surprise to many (whether you garden or not) that the winter months can be harsh on plants and produce. Summertime, however, is much more ideal as plants get more sunshine. From a therapeutic point of view, you can also spend lots of time in your garden as you come home from work at utilize those garden tools.