Annual Bedding Plants

What are Annuals? Annuals are plants that complete their life cycle in one year. The plant starts from seed, grows, blooms, sets seed, and dies in one season. Both vegetable plants and flower plants can be classified as annuals.

Uses of Annuals Professional landscapers are making more use of annuals in residential, public, and commercial landscapes. Marketing for annuals occurs at roadside markets, department stores, garden centers, and grocery stores.

What to Look For When purchasing annuals, it is important to look for the labels. These tell you: The Price Required Light Exposure Planting Instructions Care Instructions

Flowering Annuals Easy to grow and lend color to landscapes. Usually started from seeds indoors early in the spring and transplanted to the garden.

Flowering Annuals The Most popular flowering annuals include: Marigolds Petunias

Flowering Annuals Zinnias Ageratums

Flowering Annuals Celosias Coleus

Flowering Annuals Portulaca Pansies

Flowering Annuals Snapdragons

Uses of Flowering Annuals Provide a mass of color around a house foundation in flower beds in front of evergreens

Uses of Flowering Annuals Fill spaces between shrub plantings or other perennials and give color when these plants are not blooming.

Uses of Flowering Annuals Provide color in bulb beds after the bulbs have bloomed

Uses of Flowering Annuals Supply Cut Flowers

Uses of Flowering Annuals Plant along fences or walks

Uses of Flowering Annuals Cover bare spots between or in front of larger shrubs

Uses of Flowering Annuals Create seasonal color.

Selecting Flowering Annuals You need to consider the following: Where are you planting the annuals? How tall are the plants going to get? Shorter plants need to go in front! What colors will blend well together? Do you want some annuals in hanging baskets or are you planting them all in the ground?

Hanging Baskets Hanging baskets come in various sizes and shapes All baskets used must have proper drainage.

Hanging Baskets Rule of thumb for planting baskets: use one less flower than the size of the pot. If an 8 in. basket, plant 7 flowers. Use a good source of medium (potting soil).

Hanging Baskets Proper care includes: Watering Fertilizing Deadheading (removal of dead and faded flowers)

Planning & Designing Flower Beds Flower beds range in size and design according to individual needs and preferences. If planting along a wall, fence, or house, the shortest plants are in the front, then medium, and the tallest ones are in back.

Planning & Designing Flower Beds If planting out in the open, the shortest plants are on the outside of the bed, with medium height in the next, and tallest in the middle of the bed.

Flower Bed Set Up and Care Prepare the soil Till or spade to loosen it. Add amendments if needed. Peat moss Pine shavings Fertilize the soil

Flower Bed Set Up and Care Mulch the flower bed Aesthetics Helps to Control Weeds Conserves Moisture Promotes Even Ground Temperatures Mulches Hardwood Bark, Pine Bark, Cocoa Bean Hulls, Buckwheat Hulls, Pine Needles, Well-rotted Sawdust, and Leafmold.

Flower Bed Set Up and Care Seeding: Most annuals are seeded indoors and set outside as plants. Plant after the danger of frost has past. Space plants according to their requirements. Remember that placing plants according to expected height is very important!