Flowers Peak

Containers filled with annual flowers add beauty to our outdoor living areas, providing colour all summer long.  In our backyard we enjoy 15 containers, bringing lots of butterflies but fewer hummingbirds than last year. 

Here are tips to keep the flowers looking their best for the second half of summer and into the fall. 

Water faithfully. Mid-July till mid-August are the thirstiest 4 weeks for flowers.  When the sun shines high and temperatures are rising, our flowers might need water twice a day.  Smaller containers and hanging baskets have the greatest need for water.  Use your fingers to check moisture level and add water accordingly. 

When watering, err on the side of more.  Add water until the water begins to run out of the holes in the bottom of the container.  If the soil is bone dry, repeat the process so the entire pot of soil is moist. 

When the second half of August arrives, you will notice the flowers’ need for water begin to diminish.  Days become shorter, nights are cooler and heavy dew sustains plants through most mornings. 

Prune back flowers to promote lush growth.  If plants such as Coleus, Petunias or Verbenas begin to stretch and become leggy, go ahead and cut them back.  Within a week or two they will bounce back with renewed vigour. 

Almost all flowers benefit from dead-heading.  While it is true that so many annual flowers claim to not require dead heading, taking a few minutes to nip off the spent flowers will encourage more growth. 

Keep up with the fertilizer.  We use water soluble 20-20-20 or 15-30-15 added to the water every Friday.  In addition, we gave each container a feeding of controlled release plant food in late May and again in mid-summer.  Follow label directions and don’t feed when the soil is extra dry.

What to do if your flowers look awful because you forgot to water them for a spell?  Give them a severe pruning, put them in a slightly larger pot with new soil, water thoroughly, and wait for them to respond.  You may be surprised at the results.  

If you are leaving for the weekend, ask a neighbour or friend to water plants for you.  To reduce the need for water, move the plants together and give them partial shade.