Garden Angels.
For those patient gardeners, annuals are available in seed and need to be sewn into trays, or directly into allocated beds. The benefit of this method is the abundance of seed one small packets offers you; more seed equals more flowers! Remembering to water them daily is the challenge!
The second option is to purchase punnets of seedlings; again one must wait for the flowers.
The best approach to create an instant garden is using ‘Potted Colour’. It is an annual that is already in flower, nearly full size and can be purchased at your local garden centre, usually in 100mm pots for approximately $3.00 each.
Making the Bed
Deciding on where to create this instant garden, is no harder that choosing a spot that is exposed to lots of sun and then digging out the grass or weeds! Adding cow manure and mushroom compost or well rotted-compost into the soil is essential to promote prolific flowering, as annuals are heavy feeders. Planting them out with ten centimetre intervals is ideal, (25 plants per m/2) or closer together if your budget allows (50 per m/2).
Pots
Another brilliant way to add instant colour to your world, even when you don’t have the space, is using pots. Use a good quality potting mix and choose your favourite colour combinations.
Tip
To keep annuals looking their best, it is a good idea to remove any dead or spent flowers so that the plant will have more energy available to put into new ones! Also remembering to use a soluble fertiliser every fortnight will ensure a longer flowering season!
SUPPLIERS
www.colouroptions.com.au - (potted colour)
www.fiskars.com - (tools)
www.northcotepottery.com.au - (pots)
www.scottsaustralia.com.au - (potting mix, organic garden soil)
LOCATION
Colour Options Nursery, St Clair, NSW
