10-Minute Ideas to Get the Most Out of Your Annuals
Last updated September 7, 2023
Planting brightly colored annuals adds instant color and variety to your landscape. Whether planted in planters or in the ground, begonias, petunias, impatiens, marigolds and geraniums are known for bright, saturated colors and nonstop blooms until frost. Even better, annuals are low maintenance. This guide highlights how you can take 10 minutes every now and then to keep your annuals looking bright and healthy.
Table of Contents
Choose the Best Soil
Boost the Soil
Cover with Mulch
Pinch and Prune
Create a Cut Flower Arrangement
Plan for Garden Care While You're Away
Choose the Best Soil
If you are just beginning your planting project, take a minute to choose the best soil for annuals. If planting in a pot or basket, choose a high-quality potting mix designed specifically for annuals. If you are planting in a garden bed, have compost on hand. New research says that it's best not to amend the soil, but instead, to plant your annuals in the ground and then add a layer of compost on top of the ground.
Boost the Soil
If you are planting annuals in a basket or pot from last year, amend the existing soil with new potting mix or compost and then add plant food. This is an easy way to give your annuals a headstart on a healthy blooming season.
Cover with Mulch
Dress flower beds with mulch and containers with a layer of sheet moss. Mulch not only gives your flower bed a finished look, but it actually helps the bed maintain moisture and acts as a weed barrier. For planters, add a layer of sheet moss to give the planter polish.
Pinch and Prune
Taking time to deadhead annuals will keep them flowering for much longer throughout the season. To do this, simply pinch off dead flowers, wily stems and wilted leaves, taking care to leave the main stems in tact. It also focuses growth on the stems, making them stronger. If needed, use pruning snips to make the job easier.
Create a Cut Flower Arrangement
If your garden is full of blooms, it takes only a few minutes to clip several and arrange them in a pretty vase. Choose colors that contrast each other. Select only one type of flower. Or mix-and-match flowers that drape with flowers that stand tall. Zinnias, marigolds, calendula, asters, scabiosa, salvia, snapdragon and California poppy are good choices for cut-flower arrangements.
Plan for Garden Care While You're Away
If you plan to go on vacation and your garden is in full bloom, ask a friend or neighbor to check on your plants while you're away. Watering is especially important in the heat of the summer. Leave a watering can near a hose to make care easy.
Annuals add color and variety to your landscape, and they're easy to plant and maintain. The Home Depot always has a vareity of annuals for you to choose from. You can also use The Home Depot Mobile App to mix-and-match varieties so you can create the flower bed of your dreams.
