How to Take Care of a Marigold Flower

Sunny, happy marigolds will bloom until the first hard frost.

There are a lot of good reasons marigolds are among the most popular summer annuals. Marigolds are cheery plants that are available in solids, bi-colors and stripes. The come in shades from yellow to orange, red to mahogany, and creamy white. Marigolds are available in miniature plants no taller than 6 inches, 3-foot giants and sizes in-between. The blooms sit atop sturdy stems and attractive, lacy foliage. With very little care, marigolds will continue to brighten the landscape until the first hard frost.

Things You'll Need

• Planting container with drainage hole (optional)
• All-purpose potting mixture (optional)
• Time-release granular fertilizer
• Stakes (for tall varieties)
• Soft ties

Instructions

1. Plant marigolds in full sun and well-drained soil.

2. Keep the soil moist but don't water excessively.

3. Spread 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch such as pine chips or dry grass around the marigold plants.

4. Fertilize marigold plants when the seedlings are planted in spring. Give each plant about 1 tsp. of a time-release granular fertilizer. No additional fertilizer is required, as marigolds are light feeders

5. Pinch or deadhead spent marigold blooms.

6. Stake tall varieties of marigold to protect them against wind breakage. Drive a stake into the ground next to the marigold. Attach the plant to the stake using soft ties. Make the stakes less noticeable by using green stakes that are slightly shorter than the plant.

Tips & Warnings

• Marigolds also do well in containers will with an all-purpose potting mixture. Be sure the container has a hole in the bottom for drainage.

• Marigold is a drought-tolerant plant and won't do well in soggy soil. Marigolds planted in containers should be checked daily, as the soil in containers dries out quickly.

• Mulch will prevent moisture evaporation, control weeds, keep the soil cool on hot days, and will enrich the soil as the mulch decomposes.

• Without deadheading, the marigolds will stop blooming early and go to seed. Regular deadheading will encourage the plants to continue blooming as long as possible.

References

• Clemson University: Marigold
• Cornell University: French Marigold
• Yardener: Caring for Marigolds