Growing Beautiful Annuals

Annual flowers are unmatched in their ability to provide a plethora of blooms throughout the growing season. No matter what color, size or shape of flower you want there is likely an annual that will fit your need. Annuals are plants that sprout, grow, flower and set seed all in one growing season. Some plants that we consider annuals are actually perennials in other locations but that’s a conversation for another time. For some, growing annuals can be a frustrating task but with a few tips you can have beautiful blooms all summer long.

The first key is to pick the right plant for the right location. A sun loving plant will never be happy or perform well in a full shade location no matter what type of care you give. Be sure to check the tag to see what the growing requirements are for the plant before you buy it. It’s also important to check how much water the plants need before planting them in combination. Try not to plant water loving annuals with plants that prefer to stay dry. You will never make both happy and in turn you won’t be happy with the look.

The second tip is to encourage bushy plants. Annuals can become leggy and slow down on blooming if not trimmed, especially right when they are first planted. While it might seem harsh to remove flowers when planting annuals it’s important to encourage them to develop a root system and branch out so you have a larger healthier plant later. Another key to keeping annuals blooming is to deadhead the flowers. There are some annuals who no longer need deadheading such as petunias however they will bloom better if spent flowers are removed. Always use scissors to cut the old flowers off instead of pulling them to remove.

The third tip is to fertilize. Annuals are heavy feeders and need fertilizer throughout the growing season to keep up with the growth and blooms the produce. Plants in the ground should be fertilized every 4-6 weeks through the growing season with a general-purpose fertilizer while plant in pots should be fertilized weekly with a water-soluble fertilizer. Along with fertilizer, be sure the flowers are getting watered on a regular basis and don’t allow them to dry out for too long as this will reduce the bloom time. Some plants we consider annuals such as geraniums, hibiscus, mandevilla can be brought inside as houseplants to be moved back outdoors the next year. Just make sure to treat for bugs before bringing them inside.

Have questions? Contact our office where our Horticulture Extension Agent will assist you with questions.

Phone: (316) 321-9660

Email: callae@ksu.edu