Flowering Annuals In The Landscape

Nothing compares to flowering annuals’ burst of color in our landscapes. They are the perfect complement in garden beds with trees and shrubs. This video highlights many different flower combinations used in containers, how we get started early and avoid freezing weather, and tips on filling those heavy ceramic pots without moving them.

My wife, Angie, deserves all the credit for putting together beautiful flowering annual pots each season. I dig some of the old roots from last year’s pots and move the heavier ones into place, but beyond that, it’s her.

I’ve always had a hard time spending the money on annuals. I’d much rather spend money on a tree, shrub, or perennial that will likely be here for generations. But when I look back on photographs we’ve taken over the years. I’m so glad flowering annuals have always been a part of our landscape and gardens. I can’t imagine a summer without them.

Since our growing season here in the northern Great Plains is so short, only about four months of frost-free weather, we pack the containers full! We want them to look “in show” immediately; this may lead to certain varieties choking out less vigorous ones, but that’s ok; it’s only money 😊.

It’s a bit of trial and error each season. You can’t always get the plants you want, so substitutions are necessary. And that’s where one can get in trouble, or a better way to say it is, that is how we learn what works and what doesn’t.

Before we look at some of the photos highlighted in the video, here are some key points to consider when growing annuals:

• Buy early to get the best selection, but have a plan to protect your plants from frost and provide daily sunlight.
• For annuals in containers, be ready to water frequently. Daily watering becomes the norm as the plants become more root-bound as the season progresses.
• Deadhead flowers weekly if possible. Pinching off dead flowers signals the plant to bloom and keeps your flowering containers fresh all season.
• I know many gardeners who fertilize every time they water, but that is excessive and suggest weekly or, at a minimum, monthly.
• For heavy ceramic pots that are difficult to move, use liners or “drop-ins.” I keep most of my old plastic tree containers on hand for this purpose. They work great for many years due to the many sizes available and the rigid nature of the plastic.

Angie and I show the process of potting up several containers in these videos, here and here.

Don’t be afraid to break the “rules”. We have used various shrubs in many combinations over the years and enjoyed the results. Something different!

Then, transplant the shrub into the landscape at the end of the season.

For your enjoyment, this video shows a closeup of dozens of annual blooming flowers:

Many garden centers offer custom potting if you don’t have the time but love the idea of flowering annuals in your landscape. But don’t underestimate how enjoyable taking on this project yourself is. Easy for me to say!

Thanks for stopping by Garden Hike!

Kevin

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