Growing Annual and Perennial Flowers
Mar 31, 2015
Growing Annual and Perennial Flowers
Agenda
• Growing Perennials
• Growing Annuals
• Ohio State Video
• Plants that grow for more than one growing season
• Foliage dies during the winter
• Roots remain alive to produce a new plant that flowers the next year
What is a Perennial?
Biennials
• Biennials require 2 growing seasons to complete their life cycle
• Year 1 they are vegetative
• Year 2 they produce flowers, set seed & die
Remember bulbs are perennials and great for
adding early color to yards!
Advantages for Perennials• Plant one year and grow many years
• Offer wide range – Flower forms– Plant forms– Flowering seasons– Flower colors
• Require less maintenance than annuals
• Compete well with weeds
• Native species often available
Disadvantages with Perennials
• Relatively large area needed
• Many require division and replanting
• Many species need deadheading
• If weeds get established, hard to control
• Not as showy as annuals
When and What to Plant
• Plant as early as possible
• Use larger plants - gallon size or larger will give faster results
• Space appropriately
When and What to Plant
•Select the right plants for the right place
- plant hardiness – Zones 5 & 6
- sun exposure- water requirements
- plant height/width- bloom period and color
Perennial Garden Preparation
Site Selection• Well drained soil• Soil texture • Special features - accents (fountains,
patio, bench, etc.) • Sun exposure
Sun Exposure Terminology
• Full sun (six hours of sun)
• Part sun (four to six hours sun)
• Shade (no direct sunlight)
• Part shade (less than four hours of sun)
Obtaining Perennials
• Divisions from neighbors, relatives, friends
• Local nurseries (42 different sizes)
• Mass distribution centers (Be careful!)
• Mail order catalogs
Mail Order Perennials• Remove plant from package• Carefully remove all loose packing
material (peat moss and sawdust). • Soak roots in water for 5 to 10
minutes. • Examine the root system, and • Trim away any rotted, moldy, broken
or elongated roots with a sharp knife or your pruning shears.
Soil Preparation
• Soil test• Start with a clean bed – remove weeds
before planting• Organic matter – incorporate to at least six
to eight inches• Edging beds – steel, rubber, stone, natural
materials• Trench 6-8” deep, sloped 10-12” wide
Planting
• Dig a hole the same depth as container
• Remove plants from the container
• Butterfly or separate the root ball
• Place the plant in the hole and lightly pack the soil around the plant with the same soil that was removed from the hole
• Water gently and slowly
- Prevents soil temperature fluctuation
- Conserves moisture- Weed inhibitor- Erosion control
Mulch Benefits
Mulch
• Organic (wood chips, pine needles, etc.) • No fabric is placed underneath the mulch)
• Bio-degrade in one year• Can be tilled in for organic matter
Watering
• Water thoroughly and frequently during establishment (3-4 weeks)
• First year, water deeply, weekly to maintain adequate moisture (1”/wk)
• Wetting agent
Fertilizing
• Incorporate a slow release fertilizer at the time of planting
• Top dress with slow release at planting
• Liquid feed – more labor intensive; must do every two weeks
• Fertilize established perennials in the spring and fall (after dormant)
Weed Control - Preemergent
• Treflan - sold as Preen, Miracle Grow Weed Preventer and Monteray Vegetable and Ornamental Weeder
• Dacthal - sold as Gordon’s Garden Weed Preventer Granuals
• Re-apply every 3 months• Bed must be weed free before application
(only prevents weeds)
Pest Control
• Monitor plants for insects and diseases
• Treat specific pest appropriately
• Best prevention is a healthy plant
Perennial Maintenance
• Many perennials spend their first season establishing a strong root system and then begin maximum flower production in their second and third years.
• Deadheading – removing faded flowers to maintain plant vigor
Perennial Maintenance
• Each fall, cut back spent plants• Mulch to prevent alternate freezing and
thawing over winter months• Divide and replant many species on a 3-
4 year cycle (iris, hosta, etc.)
Prairie Bloom Collectionhttp://www.prairiestarflowers.com/prairie_bloom_perennials.htm
• Plants adapted to never-boring, always-changing, ever-challenging prairie climate
• Special flowers that add depth and breadth to our gardening palate
• Provide great interest and diversity in the landscape
• Collection based on multiple year (3 to 5 yr.) performance K-State bedding plant field research trials
“First year it sleeps, second year it creeps,
third year it leaps.”
Annuals
• Annual – a plant that completes its life cycle in one growing season
• Could botanically be perennial, but not hardy in colder zones
Advantages with Annuals
• Quick, long-lasting bloom - bright, showy colors
• Generally easy-to-grow• Wide selection• Opportunity to try new kinds of
flowers and change the color scheme each year
Annual Types
• Cool season
• Shade annuals
• Full sun
• Heat-tolerant
• Drought-tolerant
• Grasses
Annuals are Versatile
Plant Selection
• Colorswarm - reds, oranges, yellowscool – blue, green, violet
• Texture• Flower shapes• Heights
* ht = 2/3 width of bed (i.e. 4’ tall plant in 6’ wide
bed) * stair step approach
VISUAL IMPACT
Color guides to point of contact
Color
Color
White flowers• Near patios – show up well in the evening or at dusk
• Separator for conflicting colors (reds)
Texture & Shape
Plant Selection Considerations
• Who will view the beds?• Where or how will the bed be viewed? • Car and pedestrian traffic• Shape and size of the bed• Surroundings – buildings, drives, etc.• Formal or informal design
Casual Beds
• Parks, homeowners yards
• More variation of plants
• Unique or interesting plants
• Cool colors – blues, whites, pinks
Fast Beds
• 50 mph traffic, busy walk-way, office bldg’s, etc.
• Bold colors – “WOW”
• Simple design with solid color
• Massive planting
• Spike flowers draw attention
• Warm colors – reds, oranges, yellows
Preparing Flower Bed
• Fall preparation is best
• Add organic matter– Existing bed, compost good
– New bed, sphagnum peat
• Never add sand
• Soil test (every 3 three years)
Plant Selection Considerations
• Light needs – sun or shade
• Moisture requirements – moist or dry
• Maintenance – deadheadingmarigolds, geraniums,
ageratum, zinnia, etc.
Light
• More sun, more flowers• Afternoon sun often harsh
conditions• All shade not same (trees vs.
buildings)
Purchasing Annuals
• Short, compact, well-branched
• Best without flowers or even buds – Enjoy weekend, then cut existing
ones
• Source important
• Proven varieties
Planting
• Harden plants
• Plant same depth as container
• Space closer than 8-12”
• Mulch – Consistent temperature, moisture– Controls weeds– Not too thick (2-3” plenty on annuals)– Never use weed barrier, stone
Fertilizing
• Annuals bloom on new growth
• Nitrogen controls new growth
• Need constant supply of N
• Phosphorus not usually needed
• Snake oil products, root stimulators
Watering
• Plants need one inch per week
• Moisten bed thoroughly
• Allow soil to dry moderately before watering again
• Soaker hose works great, – no splashing– Efficient
• Sprinklers bad, nozzle worse
• Wetting Agent
Pest Control
• Weeds: pulling, light hoeing
• Diseases: Few problems
• Insects:– Insecticide only if necessary– Watch for spider mites, aphids, Japanese
beetles, lacebugs, thrips– Always follow label directions
Prairie Star Collectionhttp://www.prairiestarflowers.com/Prairie%20Star%202.htm
• Annual flowers that are best adapted to our ever changing, never boring, always challenging prairie climate
• Exhibit superior performance in KSU field trials across Kansas – Olathe, Wichita, Hays, Colby
Questions?