Maintaining relationships can be difficult. We all have a variety of individuals with whom we have some sort of relationship. It may be a friend from elementary school that we have lunch with every few years, an adult child that we talk on the phone with each day or a cousin with whom we exchange Christmas cards annually. The level of the relationship, the type of contact and the frequency of contact varies. Some relationships âwither on the vine,â as the saying goes, because we donât invest enough time and energy in maintaining them others remain strong no matter the amount of effort.
A correlation can be drawn between our relationship with plants and people. Some plants grow and grow without us doing anything or perhaps even despite what we do. Other plants require regular care through our time and commitment to them. Annual flowers fall into the latter category. Annual flowers can be a bit needy. In an effort to help you get the most from your annual flowers this summer, this column includes information on annual flower selection, planting, watering, fertilizing and pruning.
The key to a plantâs success, whether they be annual or perennial often starts with the questions that are asked prior to purchasing them. A few questions to ask yourself before you invest in annual flowers include âWhat type of light will these flowers receive?â and âWhat type of care will I be able to give these flowers?â and âWhere do I want to place or plant these flowers?â
Annual flowers such as lobelia grow best in shade and licorice plant grows best in full sun. Providing the correct amount of light for flowers is crucial to their success. Many of us live very busy lives. If this is the case then choosing plants that are a bit tolerant may be in your best interest. Lantana, purple fountain grass and Livingston daisies are very forgiving plants. Figuring out ahead of time how many containers you have or where in the ground you want to plant the annual flowers prior to going to the local garden center will help you be better prepared. Some plants look best when scene from a distance and others have to be viewed up close in order to be appreciated.
If planting in a container, there is a flower design guideline titled âSpiller, Thriller and Filler.â This encourages gardeners to choose some plants that spill over the sides of the containers, others that fill in the middle of the containers and at least one plant that acts as a focal point or âthriller.â Tall Zinnias may be used as a thriller. Bacopa can be successfully used as a spiller. With its colorful leaves, coleus makes a perfect filler.
Potting soil that is used in annual flower containers should be light and fluffy. Most high-quality potting soils include peat moss, perlite and vermiculite. When choosing a container in which to plant, make sure that container has drainage holes. Annual flowers arenât particularly picking as to the type of container they will grow in but do consider the color, shape, size and type of material that is used to construct your containers prior to purchasing them.
Watering flowers, while it seems simple, is actually quite complex. Annuals should never be allowed to dry out completely, yet they do not like sitting in soggy soil either. How often you need to water your containers depends on many factors, including container size, sun and wind exposure and weather conditions. A small pot in full sun may need water two or three times a day when the weather is really hot, while a medium or large pot on a shady porch may only require water every two to three days during the same weather. It is critical that you look and feel the soil each day to see if the plants need to be watered. Generally speaking, most pots will need water at least once a day. Deep thorough soakings encourage healthy plant growth.
Annual flowers are considered heavy feeders. They do much better if they are fertilized on a regular basis. A granular fertilizer, such as Osmocote, can be incorporated when planting. Water soluble fertilizers such as Miracle-Gro can be used through the growing season. Liquid fertilizers can be applied every two weeks. Of course, as with any plant care product, please make sure to follow the label directions.
Deadheading a flower refers to the act of removing spent or old flowers. This is an important task to keep up with in the garden throughout the growing season. As flowers shed their petals and begin to form seed heads, energy is focused into the development of the seeds, rather than the flowers. Regular deadheading channels the energy into the flowers, resulting in healthier plants and a continued bloom time. Snapping or cutting dead flower heads can enhance the flowering performance of many annuals. Although most plants benefit from deadheading, some plants, such as callibrachoa, do not require deadheading.
The beautiful blooms of annual flowers bring much joy. I hope that this summer, you are able to nurture your annual flowers and perhaps also some of those relationships with people that are important to you.
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc., a landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or emailing her at Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
