Growing Amazing Annuals

When you're looking for a welcome splash of color for your garden or patio, there's nothing quicker or better than annuals.  Even the smallest of courtyards or balconies can find room for a hanging basket, a window box or container filled with annuals.   Annuals are defined as plants which complete their life cycle in one season. Annuals will sprout, grow, bloom and die in a single season. Perennials on the other hand, are plants that come back year after year. 

Geraniums, petunias, marigolds, zinnias are sun-loving annuals that will produce uncommon colors through our gardening season. If you’re wanting to add color to a shady spot, consider begonias and impatiens, fuchsia and caladium.  

Once you’ve chosen the annuals you want for your landscape, it’s time to plant. Choose the right soil to plant your new annuals in. If you're planting in a container, use a quality potting soil. High grade potting soils are light and airy, do not contain clay or garden soil or water retention crystals. If you're planting in a garden bed, take time to amend your soil with compost and peat moss. Your plants will root out better and thrive when the weather gets warmer. When taking your plants out of their plastic containers, loosen up the roots so they’ll spread out. Plant them so the base of the plant is even with the soil. Next, water them well. Hanging basket and container gardens need to be checked daily to make sure they don't dry out. 

Once your plants become established, water as needed when the soil feels dry. To keep their color going strong, annuals need to be fed on a regular basis. Fertilome 20-20-20 is a balanced fertilizer designed to feed your annuals just what they need to keep them healthy and flowering throughout the season. Plan to fertilize every twelve to fourteen days. When you're looking for plants that will add color to your garden beds or containers, look no further than annuals. Annuals add instant color to your garden and patio and with a little care, these amazing plants will provide color and interest all season long.