Today’s Garden Ideas

It’s time to start thinking about your annuals. These are the gorgeous flowers that lighten up your flower bed with their amazing color range – geraniums, petunias, marigolds, sunflowers, snapdragons, you name it. And now that the final frost has come and gone for most of us, planting annuals is on everyone’s mind.

The beauty about annuals is that they will last one season and die off during the winter. For this reason they are fairly inexpensive, and they are enjoyed for their brightness and vibrancy that blooms all summer long. If you are a creative gardener, then you know the other advantage to annuals is that you can mix up your garden from one year to the next. As your personal tastes and styles change, so too will the face of your garden. Annuals are perfect for those creative types.

The life cycle of an annual will begin and end all in one season of growing, but the best part is, their bloom lasts the entire season. You want to purchase your annuals in the spring, and as soon as you have had your last frost, feel free to plant away.

Where to buy your favorite annuals will depend on where you like to shop. Annuals are available at most major garden centers, and even in centers like Home Depot and Lowe’s. You’ll find them in different packages. Some will come in pots, and others will come in tiny little containers that look like ice cube trays.

Before you go annual shopping, size up your garden area and determine just how much space you have. Bring these measurements with you when you go shopping. You can buy as many packages of annuals that you need, but read the instructions on the packages, and compare the sizing with your measurements to determine how far apart each plant needs to be.

How you plant them will depend on your plant variety. What you will need is a sunny area that contains well drained soil. Annuals do require soil that is warm and temperatures that are stable, so ensure that, even if the last frost has passed, that your spring is well underway to ensure that your ground is sufficiently warmed up and your flowers won’t be getting too cold.

It’s not a bad idea to moisten your soil before you plant. You then want to dig holes with enough depth to ensure that the base of the stem is even with the top of the dirt. Take the annual out of its original packaging, shake off the loose dirt, and place the plant in the hole. Fill up the rest of the hole with the dirt, and pat it in to ensure the plant is snug. Finish your plant with a healthy dose of water.

Your annuals will need to be watered every day, but not too much. Soaking the ground will be plenty for them. It’s a good idea to use fertilizer, and use a fertilizer that is specific to flowers as well. Maintain your annuals by inspecting regularly for wilt, leaves that are yellowed, or pests.

And you’re done! You’ve just planted your annuals. Now go and grab some lemonade and prepare to enjoy your beautiful garden.