Colorful Annuals, Continuous Bloom

Annual flowers—also called bedding plants—take center
stage between the striking, but brief, flower shows of individual perennials like
iris, peony and day lily. As spring turns to summer, show-stopping annuals such
as impatiens, begonias, marigolds, lantana, verbena, petunias, calibrachoa, salvia,
snapdragons, zinnia, and ageratum, among others, can be picked up at bargain
prices.

These bargain plants may be root-bound after growing in small
nursery pots, but a bit of transplant love will help them grow into garden spotlights.

Tease open crowded root balls and set into a soil-loosened
planting hole. Gently firm soil around loose root balls so all roots are
covered. Water deeply. Snip off all spent and, if you can stand it, open
blossoms, leaving just a few buds.

These steps will give your bargains a solid stage for their
season-long performance.

For other Connecticut-style
gardening tidbits visit http://www.joenesgarden.com.