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Spring is a prime planting season because soil and air temperatures are above freezing. In addition, the spring sun is not as harsh as the summer sun, giving seedlings time to adjust to the stress of sunlight.
Bedding plants, also known as annual flowering plants, are often planted in the spring. The bedding plant sector of the floriculture industry has increased in popularity over the past few years as more people realize how indispensable these plants are in landscaping homes and public buildings. Bedding plants provide plentiful and colorful blooms that are sure to add to the beauty of any landscape.
Shopping for the right variety of bedding plants can be a thrilling adventure for experienced gardeners and novices alike if they know what to look for. Therefore, finding quality annuals should not be a challenge! The plants can be purchased at a professional greenhouse or at your local farmers market or grocery store. With the proper care, inexpensive plants can thrive just as well as expensive greenhouse varieties!
Choosing the Right Plants
There are a number of issues to consider when choosing plants. First, be sure to pick the healthiest plants possible. Check to make sure that the roots of each plant are not tangled or overcrowded. Shriveled leaves or visible insect damage can also indicate signs of a sick plant. An additional point to consider is whether or not the plant is in bloom or not. Normally, annuals are sold before the flowers bloom, so do not be disenchanted with plants that have not yet bloomed. Be sure to plan enough room between plants for the flowers to bloom when you plant them.
Planting Tips
Once you have finally chosen the perfect bedding plants for your garden, it is now time to plant! Choose a day that is not too sunny, hot, or windy to do your planting. This helps protect the young plants from harsh environmental conditions that may affect their growth. Gardening company Blooms of Bressingham offers the following tips for planting:
Dig a hole as deep and about twice as wide as the clump of dirt surrounding the roots of the plant.
Remove the plant from the bed or pot. Using a gardening trowel to make gentle cuts into the dirt ball to loosen the roots.
Place the plant in the hole with the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil. Fill the hole halfway with dirt before filling the rest with water.
Once the water has drained into the soil, fill the rest of the hole with dirt. Add a small amount of additional water and pat the soil down. If you would like, add a few inches of mulch around the new plants to discourage weed growth and to increase moisture retention.
Now that your bedding plants have been planted, you need to take care of them to ensure proper growth and development. You may consider applying herbicides or other pest control measures to stop insects from destroying your lovely flowers. Also, be sure to give the plants at least one inch of water (rain or your garden hose) per week.
Don't forget to pull those weeds! Mulch may help prevent the spread of some weeds. If necessary, you can use fertilizer to encourage early growth in the bedding plants.
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