How To Plant Annuals For Perfect Flowers
Annuals provide season long color to your garden and can be started from seed or purchased pre-grown from your local garden center.
Most types of annuals can be started right from seed by using seed boxes. Start your seeds indoors in well drained soil and make sure they have plenty of light as well as enough water. After the seedlings have gotten a good start indoors, they are then replanted outside in the garden.
For those who do not want to grow their annuals from seed, seedlings can be bought directly and transplanted immediately. This approach is generally more expensive, but it provides a quicker time between planting your flowers and enjoying them.
When it comes to putting our annuals in the garden, make sure they are planted with the tops of the roots just below the soil surface. If you have bought pre grown plants, make sure that the entire container is removed along with any paper or plastic. If our seedlings are in peat pots, the remove the top edge of the pot before planting.
If the seedlings have any buds or flowers on them, they should be pinched off when the seedlings are planted. This will promote greater branching and help the plant grow stronger. After the seedlings have been transplanted, the plants should be given a good watering. It is particularly important to provide lots of water in the first few weeks, since the plants are still developing their root structure during this time. It is essential to provide adequate moisture to get the plants off to a good start. Even after planting, most annuals require from 1 to 1½ inches of water every week to thrive. Even more water may be needed in very hot climates or during heat waves in cooler climates.
Annuals need to establish a deep root system and they can only do this if they receive sufficient amounts of water. Deep root growth comes from thourough and deep watering and will produce lush thriving plants. The best methods for achieving this deep and thorough watering are soaker hoses and drip irrigation. In addition, these methods of watering avoid water splashes on the foliage, which can serve as pathways to fungal infections.
Another important aspect to healthy annuals is proper mulching. Mulch the bed before you put the plants in with 2 to 3 inches of pine bark or pine straw. Mulching serves to conserve the moisture contained in the soil and to reduce the growth of weeds. A good layer of mulch will shade the seeds of weeds and prevent them from sprouting. Mulch provides a natural form of weed control and thereby eliminates the need for hand weeding or harsh chemicals to control the growth of weeds.
Different annuals have different fertilization needs. When you buy your seeds or plants, find out what those are and make note. Then during the growing season make sure you provide the fertilization that is necessary for each type of plant.
More Gardening Tips:
Hot Climate Annuals
Annuals add splashes of color to your garden all year long,
but you must choose plants that are suited to your climate in order to have lush thriving flowers.
Starting Your Annuals Off Properly
Annuals are among the most popular plants with gardeners everywhere and are much loved for their hardiness, color and variety. In order to get vibrant annuals in your garden you need to make sure you start them out properly.
Pest Control For Perennials
Perennials are great to have in the garden because they bloom season after season. This continuous blooming makes them special but also insure the need to be vigilant about garden pests.
How Insects Help Gardens
You might think of insects as garden pests, but may insects and birds play a vital role in pollinating plants and distributing seeds for new plant growth. In fact, without these animal and insect helpers, most plants would be unable to reproduce.
Preparing Proper Soil
Good soil is the key to growing healthy and vibrant flowers and should be the first thing you tend to when planning a new garden. You must make sure you soil has the right mixture of PH and nutrients before planting.
About Daffodils and Tulips
Bulbs are popular in gardens for their ability to bloom season after season, and perhaps the most popular bulbs of all are daffodils and tulips.
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