Annuals – Salt Box Nursery (2024)

FAQs

How far apart do you plant annuals? ›

If you want a little less maintenance, space annual flowers on a more typical 8-12” on center planting pattern Kole says. That allows room for plants to spread, and they'll look better and better as summer goes on.

Before placing your annuals in the planting hole, gently break apart the root mass; this encourages roots to spread quickly into the surrounding soil. Fertilize at planting time with an organic or slow-release fertilizer. Drop the plant into the hole, firming the soil around the plant with your fingers.

Slip the annual from its container and drop it into the hole, firming soil around the plant. This method works best with loose soil. Always water annuals after planting. Use a watering can or hose-end sprayer or watering wand that delivers a gentle shower of water.

Putting plants too close together in a garden can stress them out, which limits their growth, beauty, and overall health.

Water Annuals Every Day

Many annuals need water every day, especially if they are in the sun. Don't wait for your annuals to wilt before you water. Instead, look for signs such as loss of gloss on leaves. You can also tell if your plants need water by sticking your finger into the soil to see if it's dry.

Contrast Light and Dark Colors

The deep, velvety tones of 'Storm Blue' petunia seem to make the clean white flowers of 'Maverick White' geranium really pop out. This easy-to-grow annual flower combination makes a bold contrast in both garden beds and container gardens.

Tender annuals are usually planted in late spring or early summer, when the nights are warmer. The most common tender annuals are: Marigolds, Zinnias, Impatiens, Alyssum, Coleus, Geraniums, Ageratum, Petunias, and Salvia.

The easiest annuals to start from seed (see list at right) usually come into flower very quickly, often blooming just 50 to 70 days after planting.

How deep should you plant annuals? ›

When digging your bed, loosen the soil to at least a depth of eight to 12 inches. By taking the time to loosen the soil, your plants will grow and bloom much more quickly. Dig the holes for your annual plants at the same depth they were growing in their containers. Planting too deep can rot the plant.

Alyssum, bachelor's buttons, calendula, cleome, delphinium, foxgloves, larkspur, lisianthus, pansies, and rudbeckia—these gorgeous flowers are all easy-to-grow, hardy annuals that thrive in the colder temperatures in spring and fall.

Here are general guidelines for spacing perennials: Small perennials – 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm.) Medium perennials – 12 to 18 inches (30 to 46 cm.) Large perennials – 18 to 36 inches (46 to 91 cm.)

Space grandifloras and multifloras about 12 inches apart in full sunlight, or several inches closer together when planted in a shadier location. Milliflora petunias can be spaced as close as 4 to 6 inches. The spreading ground-cover types of petunias should be planted at least 1 1/2 feet apart.

In planting beds, space African marigolds 10 to 12 inches apart, while French marigolds should be 8 to 10 inches apart. If you're planting marigolds into containers, use a pot that's at least 10 inches across for African and larger French types.