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?