Planting Annuals for the Best Results
 Annuals are among the most popular varieties of
flowers for both beginning and experienced gardeners. Annuals
are known for their hardiness, their ease of growing and, of
course, their bright and vibrant colors.
Also, annuals
are easy to start directly from seed, keeping planting costs
to a minimum. Most types of annuals can be started right from
seed by using seed boxes. The seeds should be started inside,
and it's important to provide them with plenty of light and
well drained soil as the seedlings are establishing
themselves. After the seedlings have gotten a good start
indoors, they're then replanted outside in the garden.
For
those who don't want to grow their annuals from seed,
seedlings can be bought directly and transplanted right
away. Doing this is usually more expensive, but it
provides a quicker time between planting your flowers and enjoying
them.
Whether you start your annuals from seed or buy
read made transplants, annuals should be planted to a
depth at which the tops of the roots are just below the
surface of the soil. If your're buying
seedlings, make sure that all fiber, paper, plastic pots
and other packing material are removed before the seedlings
are planted. If peat pots are used for transplantation, the
top edge of the pots should be removed before they are
planted. This will help prevent the pot from pulling precious
water away
from it's roots.
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's 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's also essential to provide adequate moisture to get the
plants off to a good start. Even after planting, most
annuals require from 1 to 11/2 inches of water every week to
thrive. Even more water may be needed in very hot
climates or during heat waves in cooler
climates.
Sufficient watering is a good way to
encourage the deep root system that annuals need in order to
thrive. By watering deeply and thoroughly the
gardener can encourage this deep root growth. 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.
Proper mulching
is important for annuals to grow properly as well.
Prior to planting, the flower bed should be mulched with a two
to three inch layer of pine straw or pine bark. 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.
Fertilization needs will vary between varieties
of annuals, so make sure you determine the needs of the
varieties you purchase. Some varieties of annuals require more
fertilization during their growing season, while others do
not.
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