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How to Care for Annuals

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer

Annuals are a delightful burst of color for your garden. Here's how to tend to these plants after you've planted them.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  1. Step 1

    Mulch most annuals. Use a mulch such as grass clippings, wood chips or pine needles. Mulch suppresses weeds, conserves moisture and prevents some soil-borne diseases. Apply a layer 1 to 2 inches thick.

  2. Step 2

    Keep annuals appropriately watered. Refer to the label. Most annuals are fairly thirsty - they'll need about 1 inch of water per week, either as rainfall or watering. It's better to water them deeply and well occasionally rather than giving them just a little water here and there.

  3. Step 3

    Deadhead them regularly (see Related eHows). Nearly all annuals do best if their spent blooms are trimmed or pinched off every few days. This not only keeps the plant tidy-looking, it also encourages the plant to produce more flowers.

  4. Step 4

    Tear out annuals when they're spent. For cool-season annuals, this usually means that hot or very cold weather has hit. For warm-season annuals, this usually means a heavy frost has blackened their leaves. Dispose of healthy annuals in a compost heap. If disease has been a problem, put them in a separate area or in the garbage.

Tips & Warnings
  • Never let annuals wilt. Instead, feel the soil to see if it's dry or water whenever the glossy leaves lose their sheen.
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eHow Article: How to Care for Annuals

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