Flower Power
Play Up Your Landscaping with a Splash of Annual Color
Linda Fox
Almost any community association will benefit from a splash of annual color. Whether you install the plants yourself or hire a professional company, there are a few guidelines to follow for successful, long-lasting flower displays.
There are several factors to consider when designing your annual garden bed or container beyond the color of the flowers, texture, and scale. Location, soil conditions, availability of a water source and the presence of slugs, rabbits and/or deer in your area will determine the type of plants that can be used.
Location Consider visibility when choosing your location. Containers at front entries, back decks, pools and patios always add a welcoming feel. In-ground displays at entries and driveways guide the eye toward the home or office.
Is the area you have chosen in the sun or shade? All plants will bloom better with at least four hours of sunlight. On the other hand, a hot, dry, full sun area along the edge of pavement or in front of a south facing wall will dry out the ground and your plants quickly. You can still plant in these areas; you just need to be mindful of your plant selection.
Soil No matter how well you plan, you will not succeed without well-prepared soil. All gardens benefit from the incorporation of organic matter to help improve soil texture, tilth, aeration and drainage. This will mean adding approximately 3-to-4 inches of organic matter tilled into the top 6-to-8 inches of soil. The area should also be fertilized using a general all-purpose fertilizer such as 10-10-10, at a rate of 1.5-to-2 pounds per 100 square feet of garden bed. After working all of the material into the bed, rake the area level and you are ready to plant.
Selecting Plants Consider sun or shade requirements, color combinations and eventual height and width specifications of the plants you love. Typically you will want to plant the tallest plants in the back of the display and stair-step down to the lowest in front. For plant selection help, visit:
www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/annual/
Bedding plants are sold in a variety of ways. Whether you buy packs, individual 4-inch pots or 1-gallon containers, ensure the foliage is bright green, not faded yellow or scorched bronze or brown. The sturdiest plants will be compact, with short stretches of stem between sets of leaves. A lanky, skinny plant is weaker and less desirable than a short, stocky one. The best way to judge root quality is to pop the plant out of its container and check to see how matted the roots have become. Ideal roots will have filled out the container without growing cramped.
Planting Do not get in a hurry to plant too soon. Most annuals prefer warm soils and stable temperatures to grow well. As a rule of thumb, summer annuals should be planted around Mother’s Day. Fall annuals are usually planted around mid-September while the soil is still warm enough for the pansies to get a good start before the cold weather moves in.
When you are ready to plant, water the plants while they are still in their containers. This helps keep the soil around the roots when you lift the plants from the pots. If the roots are extremely compacted, it is a good idea to loosen the roots slightly by breaking the soil ball apart.
Set the plants at the same level or slightly lower than how they were grown in the container. Carefully firm the soil around the plants.
Watering Water is an essential ingredient for plant growth. After planting your annuals, be sure to water them deeply. Deep watering is preferred over light watering as it encourages deep root systems. Automatic sprinkler systems are ideal, as they save you time and money. Your investment won’t dry up if you forget to water!
If your annuals are planted under trees or near large shrubs, be aware that they pull large quantities of moisture from the surrounding soil. Annuals planted near or under trees or large plantings need more frequent watering than those in the open.
Grooming & Weeding Many annuals require “deadheading” on a regular basis to allow the plant produce more flowers. Remove the spent flowers before they go to seed and remove all weeds so they do not compete for space and nutrients in the bed.
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