Gardening With Annuals

Annuals provide gardens with an array of colorful flowers from spring until the first frost. With their striking display of colorful blooms, annuals are effective on their own as bedding plants. Annuals can also provide additional color to the herb or perennial bed where they can fill in bare spots and compliment the other flowers.

Though annuals flower all summer long, they sprout, flower, set seed and die within one growing season. Since annuals cannot tolerate freezing temperatures they need to be planted in the spring after the there is longer a threat of frost. Become familiar with your local climate and the specific needs of the flowers before you plant.

Prior to planting your new flowers, prepare the site. You'll want to amend the existing soil with organic compost in order to increase the it's ability to hold water in sandy soils. Clay soils, however, are often too heavy and wet for annuals. Add compost and sand to clay soil to improve drainage. Mix in the soil conditioners with the existing soil to the depth of about 1 foot. Nutrient rich soil encourages annuals to establish quickly. As you plant, add a slow release fertilizer to the soil so the plants are adequately fed throughout the entire growing season. Water newly planted annuals well to promote deep root growth. Avoid over watering, however. Soil which is always wet may result in root rot. Soaker hoses are great for annual beds since they slowly soak the soil while keeping the flowers and leaves dry.

Few annuals will flourish in shady conditions. In fact, most prefer between 6 and 8 hours of sun per day. Some annuals, however, such as impatiens and begonias, will tolerate shade.

Deadheading, the process of clipping of the spent blooms, will encourage annuals to flower continuously throughout the season. Deadheading prevents annuals from putting all of their energy into producing seed heads; rather, their energy goes into producing more flowers.

A light mulch, such as buckwheat hulls, will help limit the encroachment of weeds in the garden. It will also help the soil retain moisture. Annuals don't like competition in the garden so be sure to remove any weeds that do appear. Annuals will also compete with other flowers like perennials or a surrounding lawn. If the flowers are planted in a bed next to a lawn space, edge the garden bed a few times during the season with an edger. This will help keep the grass roots from growing beneath the garden and taking the annual's nutrients and water.

Annual beds which are cut into the lawn should be at least 3 ft. wide; this will make maintenance easier and give the flowers adequate space to grow. Cultivate the garden regularly. It will loosen compacted soil and allow air, moisture and nutrients to penetrate the garden surface.

When spring arrives or as soon as the weather permits, head to the greenhouse and pick out some annuals. Have a plan ready before you go. Annuals are somewhat more labor intensive than most other garden plants but the payoff, continuous colorful flowers from spring through autumn, is well worth the effort.

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