How to Care for Annuals in Winter
Annuals look beautiful in lawns. Although they have a limited life, they make sure they leave an impact during that with their bloom and robust growth. These colourful flowers can be accommodated in flowerbeds, pots, raised beds and anywhere else with soil base. These flowers do not require much attention because of their hardy and tough nature. But harsh winters make everyone vulnerable including Annuals. You will have to pay little bit extra attention to them during the cold. Make a routine of regularly spending a little bit of time with your plants every day and you will end up with a blooming healthy lawn. For a gardening enthusiast, the process can be simply relieving and a great hobby. For others, it is work towards the delightful goal of a beautiful garden.
Instructions
-
1
Water:
Annuals love water and need it to support the lovely show that they put up for us. Water them regularly following a regular schedule. Water frequently and soak them up so that the plant can concentrate on growing instead of searching for water.
Image courtesy: johnston.ces.ncsu.edu
-
2
Fertilize:
Use of plant food can make the plant healthier and robust. A slow release plant food can do wonders. A general purpose fertilizer can also be used to encourage healthy growth. A layer of mulch over the top soil layer not only increases soil fertility but also helps in water retention. The mulch also replenishes any top layer of soil and nutrients and protects the soil from wind and water erosion. It also prevents weed from growing.
Image courtesy: bloomiq.com
-
3
Deadheading:
Much that it seem cruel, deadheading helps annuals remain compact but strong. The idea is to simply cut off fading weak flowers so that the plant can concentrate on growing newer ones. Taking off the old flowers also gives the plants a better look. Deadheading stops the plant from seeding because most of the work now goes into re-growing flowers. This is good for those who do not want widespread flower growth in their garden. Deadheading keeps your plant in shape and strong on the inside.
Image courtesy: johnston.ces.ncsu.edu
-
4
Pinching:
Pinching is to simply pinch off the top of any growing stem. Do it a couple of times during the winter. This prevents the plant from growing leggy and stays in shape. Pinching is usually done using your fingers and thumb but your gardening scissors are going to make work much easier. Remember, the larger your plant grows, the weaker it is and the harder it is to care for it.
Image courtesy: lancaster.unl.edu
