Annual Flowers - Bed Preparation, Maintenance and Design David Hillock Assistant Extension Specialist/ Consumer Horticulture

Advantages:  Versatile, sturdy, & relatively cheap  Easy to grow  Produce instant color  Provide season long color and interest!

Disadvantages:  Must be planted yearly involves some effort & expense  Must be dead-headed for continuous bloom  Some look disreputable by late summer

Uses:  Temporary ground covers,

Uses continued:  hanging baskets,  containers

Uses continued:  bedding plants,

Uses continued:  create interest or direct the eye,

Uses continued:  cutting gardens, dried flowers, etc.

Plant Selection Cultural Considerations:  hardiness  soil & moisture conditions  degree of sun or shade  maintenance

Aesthetic Considerations:  size  form: spreading, round or oval, vase, pyramidal, columnar  texture  color

Bed Preparation:  Choose a suitable site: i.e. - sun, shade, wet, dry close to water source away from shallow rooted trees and shrubs compete for water and nutrients

 Prepare site by: removing debris remove/control weeds glyphosate first season devoted to weed control check & adjust drainage Raised beds may be necessary

 Soil tests are recommended! determine proper amounts of fertilizer to apply incorporate P & K into bed if needed often need only nitrogen

 Amend soil with organic matter incorporate 3-4” of composted organic matter spade or till in 8-12” deep improves soil aeration improves drainage encourages healthier root system easier to plant and manage

 Shape bed by slightly raising or mounding towards the center or back provides better drainage positions plants so they can be viewed more easily

Planting  Plant while soil is moist - not saturated  Plant during cooler part of day - evening  Water in immediately  Apply light mulch inches thick shades out weed seed moderates soil temperatures holds moisture

Maintenance:  Water regularly  Fertilize based on soil tests  Daily walk through to monitor for problems  Remove pests by hand or mechanically  Use insecticides/fungicides only when needed

Maintenance cont.  Weed control is best done by: Use of mulch Hand pulling Shallow cultivation

Maintenance continued:  Weed control with herbicides Preemergence herbicides Treflan (trifluralin) – Preen Garden Weed Preventer, Miracle-Gro Garden Weed Preventer, Vegetable and Ornamental Weeder, others Oryzalin – Surflan, Weed Impede, others Benefin + Oryzalin – Amaze (Green Light) Post emergence for grassy weeds Sethoxydim – Poast, Grass-getter, Ferti-lome Over-the-Top II Grass Killer, others Fusilade (fluazifop-p-butyl) – Grass-b-Gone, Ferti-lome Over-the-Top Grass Killer

What to look for when buying:  The plant should be: rosette-like - short, stocky, leaves arranged in a rosette like pattern, vs. tall and leggy with leaves spaced out across stem healthy looking - deep/bright green, firm, lustrous; not yellow, brown, twisted, curling, sticky, etc.

 The plant should: have healthy roots - white, fuzzy, abundant; not brown, slimy, or wrapping in circles, or too few be moist - but not soggy; and not water stressed not be in flower - energy directed towards root formation

Design Concepts  Formal  Informal

Design Concept: A Tall Grass Prairie Effect – Informal  Do not worry about straight rows or spacing plant them where they land  Use other landscape plants as part of design shrubs, perennials, ground covers, etc.

Aesthetic Critique  Personality - Character Is it apt: exactly suitable to its surroundings?

 Spontaneity Is it free flowing; not labored, loose but confident, happy, buoyant? (negative example: solid lines and boarders)

 Color Do color combinations have crisp oppositions, smooth analogies?

 Color continued: Use white near patios - shows up well at night Use white and gray as separators of conflicting colors Warm colors – red, orange, yellow gives illusion of smaller space Cool colors – blue, green, violet gives impression of openness and space

 Structure, Form, & Texture Are there clear contrasts, effective relationships, harmonic rhythms?

 Neighborhood Does the flower bed integrate with neighboring flower arrangements?

 Natural Environment Are varieties used ecologically nested to the sun/shade, sand/clay, wet/dry, cool/hot, and endemic disease facts of life for location?

 Practical Maintenance: Is it maintainable? (dead-heading) % Risk: Experiment with less than 10% of entire commitment. Repeat past success! Execution: Can it be simply planted?

Flower Species from A to Z

Acmella oleracea ‘Peek-a-boo’ – Spilanthes  Flower Colors: yellow with red eye  Habit: 12-15” tall, 24-30” wide  Culture: full sun to part shade; moist, well-drained soil  Utilization: groundcover, container, bedding; also known as toothache plant; purplish foliage

Solanum quitoense Bed of Nails Agave desmettiana ‘Variegata’ – Dwarf Variegated Smooth Agave Flower Colors: yellow, flowers at end of life cycle; foliage striking feature with golden-yellow edges Habit: 2-3’ tall, 3-4’ wide Culture: full sun to part shade; well-drained soil; very drought tolerant Utilization: accent plant, container

Alternanthera ficoidea – Joseph's coat, garden alternanthera  Flower Colors: ns, colorful leaves – green, yellow, red, pink, purple  Habit: 6-12” rounded  Culture: sun, almost any soil, can shear  Utilization: carpet, edging

Amaranthus tricolor – Joseph's coat amaranth, fountain plant  Flower Colors: color provided by foliage and flowers – scarlet, crimson, orange, yellow  Habit: 1 ½-5’  Culture: sun, average to dry soil, water sparingly  Utilization: background, specimen

Illumination

Angelonia angustifolia – summer snapdragon, angel flower  Flower Colors: purple, white, or pink  Habit: 18-24”, upright, slightly cascading, airy  Culture: sun, heat loving  Utilization: cut, border, bed, mass, specimen

Angelonia blue Angelonia blue bicolor

Angelface Blue

Basella alba – Malabar spinach  Flower Colors: ns  Habit: trailing vine  Culture: sun, hot humid weather  Utilization: trellis, arbor

Calibrachoa – Million Bells  Flower Colors: white, reds, pinks, violet, yellow, or orange  Habit: 3-12” tall, 6-24” spread  Culture: full sun, well- drained moist soil  Utilization: planters, edging, border

Capsicum annuum – Ornamental Pepper  Flower Colors: ns, valued for colorful fruits and sometimes foliage  Habit: 10-20”, rounded  Culture: sun, moist, good organic matter  Utilization: bed, edging, border, carpet beds

Purple Flash

Catharanthus roseus – Madagascar periwinkle, rose periwinkle  Flower Colors: rose- pink, mauve, white  Habit: 3-18”, prostrate to upright  Culture: sun, part shade, moist well-drained soil, heat tolerant  Utilization: border, bed, ground cover

Celosia cristata – crested cockscomb  Flower Colors: red, yellow, gold, orange, pink  Habit: 6-24”  Culture: sun, tolerates dry, porous soil  Utilization: cut, border, edging, bed, dried

Cleome hasslerana – cleome, spider flower  Flower Colors: cherry, pink, rose, violet, white, rose-purple  Habit: 3-4’  Culture: sun, part shade  Utilization: background, cut Senorita Rosalita

Coleus x hybridus – coleus  Flower Colors: grown for foliage colors –chartreuse, yellow, pink, white, red, maroon, green  Habit: 9-16”  Culture: sun or light shade, well-drained moist soil  Utilization: edging, border, planter boxes, hanging basket, bed, carpet

Tilt-a-whirl Japanese Giant Alabama Sunset Rattlesnake Rustic Orange

Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’  Flower Colors: ns  Habit: mat forming; 2” tall, 3-4’ wide  Culture: sun, well- drained; very drought tolerant  Utilization: groundcover, containers, edging

Euphorbia ‘Inneuphdia’ – Diamond Frost ® euphorbia  Flower Colors: white  Habit: mounded, 12-18”  Culture: dry to normal; sun to part shade  Utilization: rock garden, container, bed, heat and drought tolerant

Euphorbia marginata – Snow-on-the-Mountain  Flower Colors: white margined bracts  Bloom time: July-Oct.  Habit: mounded, 1-4’  Culture: dry to normal; sun  Utilization: bed, native, heat and drought tolerant

Gomphrena globosa – globe amaranth  Flower Colors: purple, white, pink, yellow  Habit: 9-24” rounded  Culture: sun, well- drained soil, tolerates heat, wind, rain  Utilization: cut, dried, bed, edging, mass G. haageana ‘Strawberry Fields’

Hamelia patens – firebush  Flower Colors: orange- red  Habit: 3-4’  Culture: sun, tolerates heat, humidity, dry conditions, almost any soil  Utilization: background, hummingbird, specimen

Helenium amarum ‘Dakota Gold’ – Yellow bitterweed  Flower Color: yellow  Habit: 6-8”  Culture: sun, tolerates heat, dry conditions, almost any soil (well- drained)  Utilization: bedding, containers, rock garden, border, accent

Helianthus annuus – common sunflower  Flower Colors: white, yellow, lemon-yellow, apricot-orange, red, purple, orange-yellow  Habit: 2-10’  Culture: sun, tolerates heat, dry conditions, almost any soil  Utilization: background, winter bird food

Impatiens wallerana – sultana, impatiens  Flower Colors: all colors, bicolors  Habit: 6-18”, compact, mounded  Culture: shade, part shade, sun if moist  Utilization: shaded areas, planters, hanging baskets

Fusion

Ipomoea batatas – ornamental sweet potato  Flower Colors: ns, foliage dark purple, chartreuse, cream and pink  Habit: 4-6’, vine, spreading  Culture: sun  Utilization: ground cover, hanging basket, container

‘Margarita’ ‘Blackberry Heart’ ‘Emerald Lace’

Bewitched Purple

Juncus effusus ‘Big Twister’ – corkscrew rush  Flower Colors: ns  Habit: Upright curly, twisted stems to ” high and wide.  Culture: Grows in wet soils, even submerged in water.  Utilization: water garden, container

Lantana hybrids  Flower Colors: yellow, orange, red, magenta, pink, purple  Habit: 1 ½-4’  Culture: full sun  Utilization: beds, planters, hanging baskets Patriot cowboy

Mecardonia hybrids – Mecardonia Golddust™, Axilflower  Flower Colors: yellow, (sp. white)  Habit: 2-5” h, 16-20” w (trailer)  Culture: full sun  Utilization: beds, planters, hanging baskets

Melampodium paludosum – blackfoot daisy  Flower Colors: yellow  Habit: 12”  Culture: sun, well- drained soil  Utilization: bed

 Flower Colors: ruby- pink; bluegreen foliage  Habit: 18-24”, clump forming  Culture: sun, hot and dry  Utilization: beds, mixed border, containers, rock garden; good cut flower Melinus nerviglumis ‘Savannah’ – Pink Crystals Ruby grass

Pennisetum setaceum – annual fountain grass  Flower Colors: pink or purple  Habit: 2-4’, mound to upright arching  Culture: sun, part shade  Utilization: border, background, specimen, fresh flower arrangements

Prince Princess Fireworks

Graceful Grasses Series – Vertigo

Pentas lanceolata – pentas, star clusters  Flower Colors: white, pink, lilac, red  Habit: 2-3’  Culture: sun, ample water, fertilizer  Utilization: bed, border, butterfly plant

Perilla frutescens Magilla™  Flower Colors: ns, leaves hot pink, dark purple and green  Habit: 18-24”  Culture: sun, ample water, fertilizer  Utilization: bed, border, containers

Petunia x hybrida – petunia  Flower Colors: many colors, striped or star-like  Habit: 8-15”, round, trailing  Culture: sun, part shade, light well-drained soil  Utilization: beds, borders, flower boxes, containers

Supertunia Lavender PinkSupertunia Priscilla Supertunia Giant Pink

Pretty Much Picasso Petunia

Supertunia Vista Bubblegum

Supertunia Sangria Charm

Petchoa – Petunia x Calibrachoa hybrid  SuperCal ®  Greater mildew resistance  Heavy feeder  No sticky foliage  Best in containers  Best in cooler temperatures

Plumbago auriculata – Cape Plumbago  Flower Colors: clear light blue, white  Habit: 2’ tall, spreading just as wide or wider; semi-evergreen shrub or vine in temperate climates  Culture: sun, hot and dry; well drained soil  Utilization: ground cover, retaining wall, container.

Portulaca grandiflora – moss rose Portulaca oleracea – purslane  Flower Colors: rose, red, yellow, white, orange, cream, striped  Habit: 6-8”, spreading  Culture: sun, hot and dry  Utilization: rock garden, ground cover, edging

Salvia farinacea – blue salvia, mealycup sage  Flower Colors: blue, violet-blue, white  Habit: 2-3’, erect  Culture: sun, prefers well-drained, moist soil  Utilization: cut, border, bed

Scaevola aemula – fan flower  Flower Colors: lilac mauve  Habit: 4-6”, spreading to 3’  Culture: sun, part shade  Utilization: bed, edging, hanging basket, ground cover, rock garden New! Suntastic

Solanum quitoense – Bed-of-Nails, naranjilla

Tecoma stans – yellow bells  Flower Colors: yellow or orange  Habit: 2-4’, bushy  Culture: sun, thrives in heat, prefers moist soil  Utilization: background, border, bed, container

Torenia – Wishbone flower  Flower Colors: pink, purple, blue  Habit: 6” high by 12” wide mound  Culture: partial shade  Utilization: shady locations, borders and beds, containers

Verbena bonariensis – Brazilian verbena, verbena-on-a-stick  Flower Colors: rose- violet  Habit: 3-4’, upright  Culture: sun, tolerates dry soil; tender perennial, will reseed  Utilization: background, border, butterfly garden

Verbena x hybrida – garden verbena  Flower Colors: white, pink, red, blue, lavender, purple  Habit: 12”, upright or spreading  Culture: sun, well- drained soil  Utilization: ground cover, bed, edging, rock garden, window box, hanging basket

Viola x wittrockiana – pansy  Flower Colors: purple, white, blue, dark red, rose, sienna, apricot, brown, yellow, combinations  Habit: 4-8”  Culture: sun, part shade; cool moist well-drained soil  Utilization: border, edging, window box, cut, bed

Zinnia angustifolia – narrow-leaf zinnia, Mexican zinnia  Flower Colors: white, gold, orange  Habit: 6-12”, spreading  Culture: sun, well- drained soil  Utilization: ground cover, edging, border

Zinnia elegans – garden zinnia  Flower Colors: rose, apricot, red, white, violet, pale yellow, green, orange, bicolors  Habit: 10-36”  Culture: sun, hot, dry  Utilization: border, edging, cut, bed Oklahoma

Zinnia marylandica Zahara Fire

Zinnia marylandica Zahara Scarlet