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Last Updated: Jan 10, 2007 - 10:15:57 AM |
By Gosia Wajchert
For color and beauty, it is hard to beat annuals. Annuals provide fast growth, beautiful colors at low cost. In addition, annuals are generally very hardy. Annuals remain one of the most popular types of flowers for the home garden, and with so many different varieties there is sure to be one that is perfect for you.
As with any other type of plant, however, there are some important factors that go into a landscape filled with beautiful annuals.
Soil
No plant will grow well in bad soil conditions. Annuals require good quality soil to strut their stuff. Dry soil, or soil with excessive clay, can be amended with good quality compost or aged manure.
pH Level
Most varieties of annuals will do well in a pH range from 6.0 to 7.4. While most soils fall within this range, soil which is too acidic or too alkaline can be amended with additives such as lime (for acidic soil) or aluminum sulfate (for alkaline soil).
Choosing the best plants
Most annuals grow well from seeds, but they can be grown from transplants as well. When choosing transplants, be sure to choose only the healthiest plants. Reject any plants that show signs of disease, and be sure to plant them as soon as possible.
Planting times
Tender annuals should only be planted after danger of frost has passed. Half hardy annuals can be planted when the nights are still cool, but not before danger of frost has passed. Hardy annuals can safely be planted in early spring as long as the soil is loose enough to work with.
Planting annuals
Annuals should be planted in the late afternoon. Watering the plants and the soil in the bed is a good idea. When transplanting seedlings, it is important to avoid disturbing the roots. The gardener should make a hole slightly larger than the root ball and place the seedling at the same level it was in the nursery container. After the seedling is in place, the soil around the roots should be carefully tamped down and the seedlings should be kept moist until the roots are firmly established.
Sunlight
Most annuals do best with at least six hours of sunlight each day. Other varieties of annuals, such as argeratum, browallia, coleus, fuschia, dianthus, pansy, and impatiens, are fine in partial shade or filtered sun, but few if any annuals will thrive in complete shade.
Fertilization
Most annuals do not require a lot of fertilization, but they do best with adequate levels of nutrients. A once or twice a season fertilization is generally sufficient for most annuals. Overuse of fertilizer can cause a buildup of soluble salts in the soil and lead to plant damage. As long as the soil has had compost added, it usually will not require additional fertilization.
Water
Most varieties of annuals need about one inch of water per week. If rainfall does not meet these needs, the gardener will need to supplement with additional watering. It is important to water deeply enough to reach the roots, and it is a good idea to keep the foliage as dry as possible when the plants are being watered.
Mulch
Mulching to a depth of two to three inches will help to reduce weeds. In addition, mulch helps to conserve soil and help the soil retain much needed moisture.
Weeding
Care should be exercised when weeding flower beds, as it is important not to disturb the delicate root system. Weeding is a good time for the gardener to check for insect and disease infestation, and to ensure that the plants are thriving and healthy.
Gosia Wajchert is a garden writer from the UK.
Website: Flowers
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