Plant a Patriotic Flagpole Garden

Plant a garden bed with red, white, and blue flowers at the base of a flagpole to create a beautiful display of patriotism and pride. Developing a garden bed beneath the flag will also disguise the flagpole’s base and naturally blend the pole in with other garden features.

Supplies:

Shovel
Trowel
Gloves
3-4 Stepping Stones

Dwarf Shrub

• Red Twig Dogwood Ivory Halo™
• Dwarf Alberta Spruce ‘Conica’
  
• Nishiki Willow ‘Hakuro Nishiki’
  
• Japanese Holly ‘Soft Touch’

Ornamental Grass

• Chinese Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides)
  
• Japanese Blood Grass ‘Red Baron’
  
• Oriental Fountain Grass ‘Karley Rose’

Annuals

• Red – Wax Begonia, Petunia, Coleus that thrive in sun, Geranium
• White – Wax Begonia, Petunia, Sweet Alyssum, Geranium
• Blue – Petunia, Lobelia, Pansy, Ageratum, Verbena

Mulch
Solar Light

Directions:

1. Lay out a circular flower bed around the flagpole base with a diameter at least as long as 1/3 of the pole’s height. This creates the ideal proportions for the best appearance.

2. Place stepping stones to make a path to the pole, which provides easy access to raise and lower the flag.

3. Set a backdrop for the annuals by planting an ornamental grass and dwarf shrub. Select a grass and shrub that won’t grow taller than 1/3 of the pole’s height (taller than 1/3 would detract from the focus of the flag).

4. Fill the open space in the front of the bed with red, white, blue-colored annuals. Check the plant labels for spacing recommendations.

5. Apply three inches of mulch to the entire bed, leaving a bit of space around each annual, the shrub, and the ornamental grass.

6. Install a solar light to illuminate the flag at night.