According to Sears, there’s no uniform best time to plant. Rather, it depends on your growing zone and the date of the last frost in your region. Sears explains that the last frost is "typically when temperatures reach 45 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. In some parts of the country, this shift in temperature occurs in early to mid- March, but other areas, like those in the Northeast, might not see this shift until late March or early April.”

To find out the best gardening timeline for your area, she recommends checking the USDA Hardiness Zone Map. “Once you know your zone, you’ll be able to determine the last frost date specific to your location and start planning your garden from there,” she says. 

Novice gardener? No worries. Here are a few of the easiest perennials to grow, recommended by Sears: Coreopsis, Butterfly Weed and Shasta Daisies. Coreopsis are weather tolerant and also aren’t incredibly picky when it comes to soil pH. Butterfly Weed is known to do well in humid and dry climates across different growing zones, while Shasta Daisies are low maintenance and deer resistant, so you won’t have to worry about sharing your hard-won flowers with sneaky, errant nibblers.

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