Plant Care Information
Bedding Plant Basics One of the real highlights of summer has to be the sight of containers and hanging baskets overflowing with their stunning combinations of vibrant colour. It is during the hottest months of the year that we turn to summer bedding to provide us with this show-stopping display. These include some of the most flamboyant flowers, such as busy Lizzies and petunias, which have the potential to bloom non-stop from June through to the first frosts. However, to ensure that flowering lasts as long as possible proper care is needed. Simply follow our advice to ensure that your display will be the envy of your friends and neighbors this summer. Planting Density Summer bedding plants are often treated as being relatively short-lived. This makes it possible to plant them closer together than you would with more permanent plantings. The increased planting density creates a much more colorful display. However, for them to thrive and flower well in these conditions it's important that watering and feeding are carried out on a regular basis. Essential Watering Advice Always ensure that your plants are kept well watered otherwise they'll begin to wilt and may possibly die. Also, plants lacking sufficient water will tend to flower less and may stop blooming altogether. During really hot weather, plants will need to be watered every day. If planting density is high or when they are growing in containers, you may even need to water them twice a day. In borders, aim to give a good soaking once or twice a week rather than frequent trickles of water. Avoid splashing water on the foliage, as the droplets of water can act as magnifying glasses and scorch the leaves. The best time to water your bedding plants is early in the morning or in the evening, as this minimises the amount of water lost through evaporation. Late evening watering is a good idea, as the water pressure is often higher at that time of day, which should allow you to get the job finished more quickly. You can also add water-retaining granules to your pots and containers. These swell when wet and hold water until the plant roots need it, which means you can water slightly less frequently. Water-retaining granules are especially useful in containers that are awkward to reach such as hanging baskets. Feeding your bedding plants. Throughout the growing season plants will benefit from applications of plant food. Those plants growing in containers of ordinary compost will have only enough nutrients to keep them happy for about four weeks. After this time, the plants will require feeding on a regular basis. Some composts, however, are specifically formulated for bedding plants. They incorporate a slow-release fertilizer, a wetting agent and water-retaining gel, which makes them perfect for use in containers. Where extra feeding is required, you should use a liquid fertilizer, as this will be taken up quickly by the plant. Apply it at the intervals indicated on the label, usually every week or two. Before you plant up your borders, sprinkle a granular fertilizer all over the soil surface and lightly fork it in. Once the bedding is established, all that should be required is a liquid feed once or twice during the summer months. Maintenance through the summer. Deadheading: The term deadheading simply means the removal of flowers that have faded. Old flower-heads can look unsightly in a display, so cutting them off will ensure your plants look fresh and tidy. Also, by preventing the flowers wasting energy by producing seeds, extra resources can be put towards producing even more flowers. Pinching out: This refers to the removal of the growing tips of young plants such as fuchsias. It stimulates the growth of more side-shoots, which in turn encourages the plants to produce more flowers. Weed problems: The best way to keep weeds at bay is to plant densely. This effectively crowds out the weeds, leaving them nowhere to grow. If weeds do become a problem, hoe them off in hot weather or apply a mulch around the plants to smother annual weeds. Pests and diseases: Although relatively trouble-free, summer bedding is subject to common garden pests and diseases. However, with careful attention to tidiness and a good eye to spot trouble early on, you shouldn't find that your bedding suffers any lasting effects. In hotter, drier weather, you may find that powdery mildew and pests generally thought of as greenhouse inhabitants, such as whitefly and red spider mite, take a liking to your bedding. Check your plants regularly and treat any infestation as soon as you see it. This way your plants should remain healthy for the duration of the summer. Holiday-care Checklist Stand your pots in a tray of water before you go away on holiday and ask a neighbour to top it up every day or so if the weather is hot. Stand any large flowerpots in saucers, as this will help to retain a little extra moisture after watering. Add water-retaining granules to the compost of smaller pots and tubs. Ask a neighbor to baby-sit any thirsty plants in containers, such as hanging baskets which always seem to require copious watering. If plants have to stay in your garden while you're away, try to group them together in a cooler spot out of the heat of the midday sun. Apply a liquid feed to all your bedding before you go away or push a slow-release fertilizer pellet into each of your pots and hanging baskets. Consider installing an automatic watering system. These can be bought in kit form. A fairly standard system consists or a run of semi-rigid pipe work that is attached to your mains water supply.
Along the length of the pipe work, thinner flexible pipes can be attached. These can be inserted into the compost of pots and hanging baskets. Most pipes are fitted with a drip nozzle so that the right amount of water reaches the plant. A timing device can be fitted to the tap to turn the water supply on and off at set times while you're on holiday.
|
