We have finally made it past Mother’s Day and everyone is ready to start planting their annual flower displays. There are so many different colors and sizes of plants to choose from that it can be overwhelming. Knowing your garden and where you want to plant annual flowers is your first step. Knowing how much sunlight and how much water they will receive is also a major component to what you choose. Here are some great ideas for you to consider before you buy your flowers this year.
Where are you going to plant your flowers?
Do you plan on installing annuals in pots? Do you enjoy annuals in your landscape beds? It may seem simple but you need to make sure you are planting annuals in good soil. If you are using pots, make sure to update your potting mix. Use fresh new potting soil so your plants can thrive. If you plan on installing flowers in your landscape beds, make sure to till up and loosen the soil. Add bonemeal, peat or comtil and amend with the current soil. This will help your annuals grow quickly through the soil medium to establish deep roots.
How much sunlight will your flowers receive?
If you are receiving more than 6 hours of sunlight there are an abundance of annuals to choose from. Any full sun flower will do great. These would include petunias, cannas, marigolds, etc.
If you receive 4 hours of sunlight you may want to consider a part shade annual flower. Impatiens, coleus and fuchsia are just a few that love a little shade in the afternoon.
If you have a very shady area you may want to try coleus and impatiens. They seem to do well in dappled sun and shadier locations. If you like the look of caladium they are a great upright plant. Wax begonias are also a great choice for shade. One of our favorite shade annuals is torenia. Little bellflowers form on this plant and flow over pots similar to wave petunias.
What colors should I choose?
Sometimes a bold color is perfect. Other times, a mix of colors works out great. It really comes down to preference and style of your home. If you like the cottage garden look, a mix of bright yellows, pinks, reds and purples will blend nicely with the landscape. If you have a basic foundation planting of evergreens and spring flowering shrubs, you may want to consider one bold color of red to really pop out of the landscape. Layering annuals can also have a dramatic effect. Make sure to put your larger growing annuals in the back and install your lower growing flowers in front. Nice color combinations include red/yellow, purple/white and red/purple/yellow.
