Keep Your Annuals Growing
May 2019 by Shelley Corey, Owner of The Mum Farm
I’m hoping that by the time you read this, the lawns have finally dried out enough to allow us to mow at a normal pace and that you have at least started to plant flowers and your vegetable garden!
Maintaining your annual plantings takes some work. It’s not just a plant and walk away kind of deal. If properly cared for your annuals should last well into the fall, or at least until mum time when you want to switch seasons.
First off, let's once again review the watering…it’s best to thoroughly soak the root zone and then let it dry, but not to the point of wilt. If we allow our plants to wilt repeatedly, they will be weak and not have the bushy robust habit that is optimum. They will also be more prone to be attacked by insects and diseases. Let me repeat that fact; weakened plants are more likely to attract pests! This point alone should make you want to water your plants properly. Remember…not a small amount of water everyday…a thorough soaking when needed is best.
Nothing will kill plants quicker than having their roots in standing water. Always remember to check that the drainage hole is not plugged in your pot, or if it's a new pot, that you remembered to “punch” out the drainage holes or remove the plug. Roots require air and water to thrive and you need the correct balance to have a healthy plant.
Fertilizing is a must. Now is the time to start fertilizing weekly with a water soluble fertilizer. Remember to fertilize even if the weather has been nothing but rain. You would think that it would make sense to wait until the soil dries out and then fertilize, but you really should fertilize the first sunny day after a rain…the soil in your container can only hold so much moisture….if you add more, the extra will come out the drain holes. If you add fertilizer, you will be forcing rain water out the drainage hole so that the roots will immediately begin sucking up much needed nutrients from the soil. The key is simply to remember to fertilize. You need proper nutrition, and so do your plants!
Yellowing leaves are a sign of either; too wet, too dry, too much fertilizer, or not enough fertilizer. When I tell customers this, they usually can tell me which one they suspect it is… they know what they have done!
Most annuals will benefit from a “haircut” or trimming to promote lush, bushy, new growth. This can be as simple as a “pinch”, as what a coleus plant might need to keep the flowers from forming or as drastic as pruning back around a hanging basket because you are no longer able to keep it watered even with watering twice a day. Remember…if that hanging basket gets to be too much to maintain…simply replant it into a bigger pot and use it as a statement planter next to your front door or wherever you need a huge “splash” of color!
Keeping your annual plants strong and healthy will make them last the entire season and make them so worth their initial investment. The small amount of time that you invest in caring for your plantings will reward you with constant color. Remember to stop, take time to admire individual flowers, breathe deeply and smile….it's our time to garden once again!