Here are some general
guidelines for planting and maintaining annuals.
Soil
The majority of annuals
prefer full sun and well-drained soil with a moderate humus content. If
your soil is clay, you can amend it with compost or well-rotted manure;
after the first year, you should need only a light reapplication in
spring.
Portulaca is at
its best where the soil is poorest, which is why its multicolored
rose-like blossoms brighten so many seaside gardens. You will reap only
frustration trying to grow the plant in fertile soil. The same holds
true for poppies, whose gorgeous blooms are at their best in the dry,
fast-draining soil of stony banks and alpine rock gardens.
pH
If your soil pH
falls within the 6.0-7.4 range, you should be able to grow most annuals.
If test reveal that your soil is too acid or alkaline, it can be altered
with amendments, such as lime for acid soil and aluminum sulfate for
alkaline soil.
When
to Plant
Tender annuals cannot be
planted until after all danger of frost has passed and the soil is warm.
Half-hardy annuals can be safely planted if nights are still cool as
long as there will be no more frost. Hardy annuals can be planted in
early spring as soon as the ground can be worked.
How
to Plant
The best time to plant is
late in the afternoon. Before planting, water your plants and the soil
in your bed well. Remove the plants from their pots gently to disturb
the roots as little as possible. If they are in peat pots, tear the pots
slightly to make it easy for the roots to grow through. If the roots are
compacted, loosen them gently before planting.
Dig a hole slightly larger
than the root ball, and set the plant in at the same level at which it
was growing. Carefully firm the soil around the roots. Water well after
planting and keep moist until the plants are established and new growth
has started. Once they are established, addition of a soluble fertilizer
will encourage them to bloom.
Sun
Most annuals like at least 6
to 8 hours of sun a day. There are many annuals that will do well in
part shade or filtered sun. Few if any annuals will do well in complete shade.
Fertilizing
Most annuals don't require a
lot of fertilizer, but will do much better if adequate nutrients are
available. In general, you can fertilize once or twice during the
growing season. Over fertilizing will cause a build-up of soluble salts
in the soil, especially if the soil is heavy, and result in damage to
the plants. Soil that has been enriched with compost will not generally
need additional fertilizer.
Watering
Annuals need about an inch
of water a week. If Mother Nature doesn't provide, you will have to
help. When you must water, water deeply to encourage deep root growth.
Try to keep the foliage dry during watering. If you must use an overhead
sprinkler, use it early in the day so the foliage will be dry by
nightfall, lessening the chance of disease.
Mulching
The addition of a two to
three inch layer of mulch
will make the bed more attractive, reduce weeds, and conserve soil
moisture. Organic mulches are best. Try bark chips, pine needles,
cypress mulch or soil conditioner. The following year the mulch can be
incorporated into the soil and new mulch added on top, resulting in an
improved soil.
Weeding
Weeding not only keeps the
bed more attractive, but also eliminates possible hosts for insects
and disease and allows the flowers to receive the full benefit of the
available moisture and nutrients. Weed carefully when the annuals are
young so as not to disturb the young roots.
Pruning
The amount of care required
by annuals varies. Most will need to have faded flowers removed (called
deadheading) to encourage new blooms and keep the plant attractive. Many
will become bushier if the top is pinched out. Remove the plants in the
fall when the foliage begins to fade.
Verbena Blue Pink Begonia
