Annuals

Water

• New plantings of annuals should be watered thoroughly. A liquid plant starter fertilizer may be used to help get the plants off to a faster start. Once established, waterings can be reduced to once a week or when the soil becomes dry.

Soil

• With few exceptions, annuals prefer a warm soil and should not be planted in the spring until the danger of frost is past, around May 15 in Minnesota. Pansies, alyssum and snapdragons are the exceptions and will tolerate light frosts and cool soil.
• Good soil preparation is essential to success with annuals. Till or spade the soil deeply and add a slow-release flower fertilizer at this time. If drainage is poor, you should consider raising the bed and improving drainage by adding topsoil, compost, peat or other organic matter to the bed. Planters, pots and hanging baskets must have drainage holes and a potting soil that drains well. After planting, mulch will help to control weeds and keep the soil uniformly moist and cool. Another way to prevent weeds is by using chemical weed preventers such as Preen before planting.

Fertilizer

• Fertilizing will provide extra nourishment resulting in improved plant performance. Since annuals produce more blooms than most plants, they require more frequent fertilization, every 10 days to two weeks. Use a regular fertilizer, like a 15-30-15 or a 10-10-10, which you can find here at Wagners.
• Always follow label directions when applying fertilizers. It is wise to incorporate both an immediate release and a slow release fertilizer when you are adding organic matter to the soil.

Pinching Back & Deheading

• Many annuals will benefit from being pinched back at planting time. Just pinch out the top half or so of the growing tip and this will make the plants bush out, producing more flowers through the growing season. Don’t be shy; even if you just purchased bedding plants that are in bloom, pinching the tips out will reward you in the long run.
• Deadheading, the practice of removing faded flowers and seed heads, is good for all annuals and it is especially beneficial for containers and hanging baskets.

Planting
Plant bulbs in the ground according to their shape:

• Plant tear-drop shaped bulbs with the pointed end up and the heavy end facing down.
• Plant bulbs with obviously flat ends so the flat end points up.
• Plant rooted bulbs with the roots pointed down.

Rules

• First remember, never to let your bulbs stand in water, or they will rot. While the bulbs are growing, be sure they have plenty of water; even when they are dormant, they should not be allowed to dry out entirely.
• Make sure that you plant them in rich, well-drained soil, in a place where they will have full sun while their leaves are green.
• For best results when planting add a bulb food, booster or bone meal to the soil. This will improve blooming.
• Mulch your bulbs in winter and allow the mulch to decompose in place, improving the soil. If you have problem visitors – squirrels, chipmunks – plant your bulbs, place chicken wire flat just below ground level and cover with soil; this will help keep the creatures out.

Seasonal Bulbs
Bulbs for spring planting and summer bloom time:
Asiatic lilies, Calla lily, Canna, Colocasia, Crocosmia (Elephant Ear), Dahlia, Gladiolus, Oriental lilies.

Bulbs for fall planting and spring bloom time:
Allium, Asiatic Lilies, Crocus, Daffodils, Hyacincth, Garlic, Muscari, Oriental lilies, Tulips

Bulbs for winter planting and indoor blooms:
Amarillys, Hyacinths, Paper White

Care

• These spring loving annuals come in a rainbow of delicious colors! Pansies and Violas are our most frost tolerant annuals and are among the first plants to be set out in the spring.
• They will survive in temperatures as low as -15°F. The blossoms could get damaged at temperatures lower then 40°F or if heavy frost occurs, so the plants need to be protected under these conditions.
• Blooming slows down as the temperatures rise, so savor these annuals in early spring and replace them with warm weather annuals in the summer.
• Plant your pansies in full sun to part shade and rich, well-drained soil. For better blooms add a water-soluble fertilizer like Miracle-Gro (available at Wagner’s).
• Encourage longer blooming by deadheading (removing the spent blooms). Violas are the small-faced members of the family. They may be more compact. but they like to be treated the same as pansies.
• Both Pansies and Violas are perfect in containers. Wagner’s offers colorful, pre-potted bowls and ovals to beautify your patio, deck or front steps.
• Our pansies, violas, and other cool weather plant selections are marked with a snowflake icon.