How to Care for Annuals
Annuals are a delightful burst of color for your garden. Here's how to tend to these plants after you've planted them. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
