Preparing Annual Flower Beds

After you have decided which annuals you want to use for decorating your landscaping this summer, you'll want to have a plan to highlight them while they continue to grow all summer long. Annuals get their name because you have to replace them annually. Each season, you can tailor your flowers to match or complement the rest of your landscaping. And since you can change it up every year, you have the room to be creative year in and year out! To really get the most of your annuals;no matter which ones you choose;there are a few tips you'll want to stick with. In this post, we are going to share some tried and true tips to help you prepare your annual flower beds for success!

Planting Times
The first thing you want to make sure of is that you choose annuals that can stand the summer heat. Ideally, you'll want to plant them as soon as you pick them up and get them some water as soon as possible, particularly if it's hot out. It's tempting to jump the gun and buy summer annuals in spring and plant them too soon. Late April and early May are notorious for giving false hope for planting, and if the weather is too cool, it can really stunt their growth if it doesn't kill them outright.

Arranging
Prior to actually planting your annuals, you should have a plan in place. One way to do this is to arrange them in pots first to make sure they set right for you before you put them in the ground. You'll want to keep in mind that different annuals will mature to different sizes. As a result, some will need more space than others. A good idea is to arrange your annuals by colors first in a pattern that you like, then arrange them by size. If you put the tall plants in the front, it won't matter how beautiful the rest are because you won't be able to see them.

Prepping the Flower Beds
It's time to roll up your sleeves and grab some gloves and tools! You'll want to start by loosening up the soil in the area where you intend to plant, then use a spade to dig a hole deep enough to cover the entire root ball. Once you place the annual in the hole, fill in the rest of the hole with loose soil and gently tamp it down so that is securely anchors your plant in place.

Fertilizing
For maximum growth, you'll certainly want to fertilize your annuals. Two common ways to fertilize are to sprinkle an all-purpose fertilizer around your annuals once you have them in the ground or combine the fertilizer with the soil before you plant your annuals. Whichever method you opt for, you'll want to first check the labels on fertilizers to ensure they are correct for your annuals and that you are following recommended application doses.

Watering
When you have all of your plants in the ground, it is critical that you water them right away. You should also add some mulch across the top of the soil. This will help retain the water, especially during those dog days of summer. Watering during the first few weeks is absolutely crucial. That is when the roots grow and take hold and the plants start to bloom. If you have spent the time and money to get the flowers you want in the places you want, it would be a total disappointment to lose them because they don't have enough water.

In Conclusion
One of the greatest ways to exercise your creativity and add some variety to your landscaping to implement annuals. With proper placement, fertilization, and watering, you can bring plenty of pop to your yard year after year.

To get the most out of your landscaping, E.P.M. Lawnscape and Supply offers professional landscaping services in the Jackson, MI area. Feel free to contact us online or call us today at (517) 990-0110.

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