If you took the time to pot up hanging baskets and patio containers full of color earlier this spring, chances are they are bursting with blooms. And if you did not, well the nursery will provide you with colorful displays. The challenge this time of year is keeping the voluptuous beauties full of flowers and vitality until fall.
It is not always that easy, but it can be done. Here is what to do: WATER: Allowing color-filled baskets and containers to get to the point of wilting on a regular basis guarantees an early demise. Check plants often, even daily, if the weather is extra hot.
Water deeply when the top inch of soil becomes dry. Waiting any longer than this will make it difficult to thoroughly saturate the root mass. Even fog-bound gardeners must be vigilant about watering, especially when the sun suddenly appears after a few days of solid fog.
FERTILIZE: Maintaining a regular fertilizer schedule is vital to keeping pots of color healthy. Personally, I use a 16-16-16 mix that also contains kelp. It’s called Maxsea.
I liquid feed container plants on the patio and in the greenhouse with this fertilizer at least twice a month. KEEP IT TIDY: Trimming, deadheading and clearing out spent foliage will keep flowering displays nice. And if at this time you have pots of verbena, Calibrachoa or wave petunias that are beginning to fail, all you have to do is give them a good trimming and then feed regularly with Maxsea.
They will push out new growth and fresh color in a few short.