Every spring, Wilson Garden Center Inc. Landscaping & Tree Service stocks a wide variety of attractive annuals in their Hamilton, OH, garden center. These flowers are a beautiful way to brighten up your landscaping, but some homeowners avoid them out of uncertainty. However, success with annuals is simple and usually comes down to just a few factors.

Planting Time

One of the key points with annuals is planting them at the right time, but sources can vary on when that is. This is generally because “annuals” refers to two groups of flowers. One group—true annuals—has a one-year life cycle no matter what. These tend to be a little hardy and can be planted in early spring. The other group is tender perennials—flowers which usually grow for multiple years, except in cold winter regions. These plants are more sensitive and should be planted in late spring, when there’s no danger of them being caught in an unexpected frost. 

Attentive Care

1. Extra Water

Most annuals need a lot of water right from the moment they’re planted. Start them out by soaking both the root balls of the young plants and the holes where you place them. Continue with frequent, generous watering daily to feed the beautiful blooms.

2. Frequent Grooming

To keep your annuals growing thick and blossoming for longer, groom the plants frequently. Remove dead flowers and leaves as often as they appear. Also, some varieties are prone to growing long; by pruning back straggling stems, you might slow the appearance of blossoms but encourage the main plant to grow extra thick and full.

3. No Manure

Not every fertilizer is right for every plant, and when it comes to most annuals, manure is the wrong type. This is because it’s too rich in nitrogen, which encourages the flowers to grow leaves instead of blossoms. When you pick up your gardening supplies, ask for a fertilizer intended specifically for flowering plants.

With care, attention, and preparation, you can avoid the pitfalls of planting annuals and enjoy their lush blooms all spring and summer. If you still have questions, the friendly staff at Wilson Garden Center Inc. Landscaping & Tree Service can help. They have the expertise and knowledge to keep your landscaping looking beautiful all year-round. Call the garden center today at (513) 863-5831 or online to learn more about their products.