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Effortless Annuals
Plant spring-to-summer flowers.
By Ellen Ruoff Riley / photography Van Chaplin, Joseph De Sciose
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above: A container of tiny Twinkles Hybrid impatiens mirrors the larger, more common selection in the pots above it for a cohesive display.
left: Petunias ooze old-fashioned charm and boast spicy fragrance.
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They provide dependable color for months with only occasional attention. What's not to love about annuals? "For Southern gardens in
particular, where summer lasts so long, annuals are indispensable," says Troy Marden, garden designer and flower expert with Moore & Moore
West Garden Center in Nashville.
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TOP PICKS
Troy Marden recommends these vigorous annuals.
For Sun
lantana: "I particularly love lavender popcorn," Troy says.
coleus: The foliage is as colorful as any flower.
Star Hybrid zinnias: Mounds of blooms soften border edges.
melampodium: "People forget about this plant, but it doesn't quit," says Troy.
salvia: "The old-fashioned blue 'Victoria' salvia is a great addition to a flowerbed," says Troy.
For Shade
impatiens: "Try new miniature selections such as the Firefly and Twinkles Hybrids," says Troy.
caladium: "Tuck a few in with your impatiens, and turn a shady spot into a great garden," Troy says.
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Tell Me Why
Consistent color and texture are a few of the virtues of annuals. Some tough-as-nails plants last the entire summer, while others, such as
petunias, may go only to the halfway mark but are well worth it. "You don't have to plant your annuals 5,000 deep like a mall parking
lot," Troy says. "They're just as effective in small groups throughout the garden." Here are some ideas to get you started.
Plant annuals by your front door for curb appeal. Accent path entrances with a mass planting, or draw attention to a special place in
the garden.
Use them to bridge the gap between perennial bloom cycles in borders.
Try them in containers and hanging baskets to put color where you want it.
Easy To Grow
Loosen the roots with your fingers, especially if they are in a tight mass.
Plant annuals in well-drained soil.
Sprinkle a timed-release, granular fertilizer such as 14-14-14 under each annual when planting.
Surround new plants with a light layer of mulch.
Water every few days until roots become established--within a few weeks. Then continue on an as-needed basis.
Give them a thorough trim in July. Cut your annuals back by half, and feed them twice over the next 10 days with a liquid,
blossom-boosting fertilizer such as 15-30-15.
This article is from the March 2005 issue of Southern Living.
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