Annuals are popular flowering plants that complete their entire lifecycle in one growing season. With proper care, they provide nonstop color from spring through fall frost. Follow this comprehensive guide to learn the key techniques for keeping your annuals thriving all season long.
Watering Annuals
Frequent watering is crucial for annuals to look their best. Established annual beds need about 1-1.5 inches of water per week, either from rain or irrigation. More is needed in hot, dry, or windy conditions.
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Check soil moisture daily, Water when the top few inches become dry
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Morning watering lets plants absorb moisture before hot afternoons
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Avoid wetting foliage, which can promote diseases. Water at soil level.
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Use soaker hoses, drip irrigation, or watering wands for targeted watering.
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Container plants may need daily watering. Allow pots to dry slightly between waterings.
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Newly planted annuals require more frequent watering until their root systems develop.
Fertilizing Annuals
Annuals are heavy feeders and require regular fertilizer for continual flowering. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every 7-14 days per label directions. Slow-release granular fertilizer at planting time provides season-long nutrients.
If using granular fertilizer, scratch it lightly into the soil surface around plants. Liquid fertilizer can be applied directly to leaves and flowers. Avoid fertilizing during hot, dry weather or plants may suffer leaf burn.
When planting annuals in flower beds, mixing 1-2 inches of compost into soil provides nutrients plus improves drainage and moisture retention. Replenish compost yearly.
Deadheading Spent Blooms
Deadheading spent flowers promotes more continuous blooming versus allowing plants to go to seed. Use scissors or pruners to snip off faded blooms just above a leaf node or bud.
Some annuals that benefit greatly from regular deadheading include:
- Petunias
- Calibrachoa
- Geraniums
- Marigolds
- Salvia
- Verbena
Let the last flower blooms of the season remain to go to seed before frost. This allows self-sowing for next year.
Controlling Weeds
Weeds compete with annuals for water, light, and nutrients. Options for preventing weeds include:
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Apply 2-3 inches of mulch like wood chips or pine straw around annuals after planting. Replenish as needed.
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Lay down landscape fabric or weed barrier before planting. Cut holes for annuals.
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Carefully hand pull emerging weeds, especially after rains.
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For flower beds, spray pre-emergent herbicide early in the season. Avoid contact with foliage.
Keep the inside of container plantings weed-free by hand pulling. Scratching the soil surface can also deter weed seed germination.
Staking and Supporting Flowers
Tall annuals often require staking or other structural supports to prevent flopping and breakage, especially in windy or rainy conditions. Insert stakes at planting time or install supports early in the season before plants get top heavy.
Some annuals like these may need staking:
- Sunflowers
- Zinnias
- Dahlias
- Cosmos
- Marigolds
- Snapdragon
Use plant ties, soft twine, or mesh trellises to gently secure plants without damaging stems. Avoid using stiff wire or nylon ties.
Preventing Pests and Diseases
Certain pests like aphids, Japanese beetles, and caterpillars may attack annual flowers. Diseases such as mildew and blights can also be problematic. Take these preventive measures:
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Remove spent blooms and debris which can harbor pests.
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Use drip irrigation to keep foliage dry and prevent mildew.
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Space plants adequately for good air circulation.
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Scout for pests daily and treat early before infestations escalate.
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Apply organic pesticides like neem oil instead of harsh chemicals if needed.
With proper planting, ample moisture, fertilization, and timely care, your annuals will thrive all season long to provide color. Follow these best practices for annual flower care from the first sprouts of spring until fall frost!
Choosing the Best Types of Annual Plants for Your Garden
Before you get started buying annual plants, ask yourself these questions:
- Do you want annuals that you can grow in pots or in the ground?
- Will your annuals be growing in sun or shade?
- How often will you be able to water them?
- Can you commit to feeding your annuals throughout the summer?
- What color schemes do you want to use this year in your garden?
Containers v. Landscapes – Generally, larger sized annual plants are most often grown in landscapes or large containers. Smaller sized and trailing ones are typically grown in containers. Bedding plants, tropical vines and annual ornamental grasses are grown in both containers and landscapes.
Sun v. Shade – Before you buy your annual plants, decide where in your garden you plan to plant them. Is that spot mostly sunny or mostly shady? Use our handy search tool to find varieties that do well in those conditions. Don’t skip this step! It’s an important one.
How Often Should You Water Your Annuals? If you plan to water your annuals by hand every day or with a drip irrigation system like WaterWise®, you might choose annuals that like soil that stays damp, like these If you don’t have much time to water, like when you go on trips over the summer weekends, or forget to water some days, you should choose annuals that do well in dry to moderate soils.
Giving your annuals food—All of them will grow and bloom better if you do, but some will eat more than others. Plan to feed your Supertunia® petunias and Superbells® calibrachoa water-soluble plant food every third time you water them if you love their lots of blooms. It takes a lot of energy to make all those flowers, so most annual plants that are grown for their flowers like to be fed often. Annuals grown mostly for their foliage, like coleus and ornamental grasses, typically require less feeding.
Which Color Goes With Your Style?—No matter what color you like, there’s an annual plant that will go with it! One of the best things about annuals is that they come in every color of the rainbow. You can easily make a space feel either lively and bright with bright colors or calm and soothing with cool pastels by using annual plants.
What to Do When Your Shipment Arrives
Handling your plants correctly the day they arrive is a critical step in their success. Here are five steps you’ll want to follow as soon as your plants arrive.
- Right away, open the shipping box, take out the containers, and carefully take out all of the packing materials.
- But don’t knock the pots over too far, or some of the soil will fall out. If it does, carefully pick it up again and press it back into the container.
- To make sure your plants get enough water, poke your finger into the soil and make sure the plants feel light for their size.
- If you can, plant your new annual plants within three days of getting them.
- Set them outside in a bright spot that is out of the way of strong winds and afternoon sun until you are ready to plant them. If it’s still too cold to plant outside when you get your shipment, you can keep your annuals near a bright window inside for a short time until you can move them outside.
How to Care for Annual Flower Pots
FAQ
Should you water annuals every day?
How do I get my annuals to bloom again?
How long do potted annuals last?
What should I consider when planting annuals?
Regardless, the first thing to do is to consider where you’re planting your annuals. When taking care of annual plants, it is vital to consider two main environmental types. The most common environment for annuals is potted plants, such as hanging baskets, raised garden beds, and other containers.
What should I do if aneurysm keeps growing?
Aneurysm belongs to a kind of benign tumor in clinic. Generally, if it cannot affect the function of organs or tissue, there is no necessary to treat it. But when finding it increase during a period, you should pay more attention to it or go hospital for help.
Should you care for annual plants?
Caring for them is similar to caring for other plants. However, your mindset has to shift: anything you do will only keep them alive and healthy for that growing year. Once winter hits, they won’t return. Annual plants are a must-have for any garden! Their striking appearance adds a distinctive touch and is perfect for pots or flower beds.
Do annuals need a lot of water?
Many annuals need water every day, especially if they are in the sun. Don’t wait for your annuals to wilt before you water. Instead, look for signs such as loss of gloss on leaves. You can also tell if your plants need water by sticking your finger into the soil to see if it’s dry.