Caring For Annuals
After all threat of frost has passed, local gardeners rush to their gardening center to buy annuals for the garden.
These plants that must be planted each year are a mainstay in most gardens and come in a huge variety of color, size and shape. Unlike perennials, annuals bloom all year long making them a favorite among gardeners for many years.
With so many different annuals on the market, their ability to resist common plant diseases and insect infestations can vary quite a bit. While some types of annuals are virtually impervious to disease and insects, others require much more care to remain trouble free. When choosing varieties of annuals, it is always best to choose disease and insect resistant varieties when ever you can. Doing so will allow you to use less pesticides, and they will generally be less trouble in the long run as well.
When picking out annuals, make sure you choose ones that are well suited for your zone or climate. Some annuals need lots of water while others can get by with just a bit. Knowing your local conditions and buying plants that will thrive in it are keys to a lush garden. Your local garden center will most likely carry only plants that are suited for your general area and the staff can help you with any specific requirements for your particular garden.
It is also important to look for signs of disease or insect infestation every time you work in the garden. For instance, as you are pulling weeds, look at the plants. Are the stems intact, or are they showing signs of cracks or other damage? Is the foliage leafy, green and free of holes and spots? Catching problems early is the best way to cure them.
Overhead watering can cause splashing which can contribute to disease so it is best to water your plants with a soaker hose. Plant diseases thrive on moisture and standing water can spread a disease throught your garden so make sure you water only enough so that there is no standing water left.
A combination of drip irrigation and soaker hoses is usually the best choice for watering the garden. These methods allow for greater control over the amount of water each plant receives, and they generally allow for deeper, more thorough, watering as well. No matter which method you use, however, it is generally best to water in the morning, since this allows the plants to dry before the hottest part of the day.
When working with annuals in the garden, it is important to be on the lookout for signs of insect problems. The most common insects that trouble annuals include spider mites, aphids, caterpillars and white flies. Any possible infestation should be attacked at the first sign of trouble. The best way to control any outbreak, be it insects or disease, is to control it early before it has the opportunity to spread.
There are a number of products on the market to treat problems with insects and disease. Of course, no treatment regimen can be effective until the problem is identified, so if you are unsure what is causing the problem be sure to consult with a more experienced gardener. In addition, it is important to always follow the package instructions of any insect or disease control product you use, to dispose of unused products properly, and to wear protection gear like gloves and masks when applying the product.
More Gardening Tips:
Choosing Roses
The rose is a favorite garden flower and has been for decades. They have many uses other than just in flower beds as they are great for cutting and adding to bouquets and keeping in vases.
Planting Perennials
Perennials are a mainstay of many gardens and can be enjoyed for many seasons without replanting. In addition to their longevity they also present the gardener with many choices in coloration as well as size and shape.
Choosing And Planting Bulbs
Bulbs are great to plant in your garden and have the added benefit of blooming again and again for many years. Although many beginner gardeners are a bit put off about planting them, they are actually quite easy to plant and very hardy too.
Popular Bulbs
Read about some popular bulbs and their planting requirements.
Fungicides
Relaxing and rewarding, there is nothing like planting flowers and watching them thrive under your green thumb. But this soothing hobby can become stressful if your garden becomes infected with disease or pests. You can minimize the damage and your stress with a keen eye and proper use of commercial fungicides.
Dividing Bulbs Properly
Bulbs come in different types and therefore the methods of dividing them differ. There are 5 types of bulbs corms, tubers, true bulbs, rhizomes, and tuberous roots. If you plan to divide your bulbs, you need to identify which type you have so that you can divide them properly.
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