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Transplants will produce a display of flowers
several weeks earlier than direct-seeded plants.
This is especially true for annuals such as scarlet
sage and verbena, which germinate slowly or need
several months to bloom from seeds.
Annual flowers can be purchased at a variety of
retail businesses in the spring. Buy only healthy
plants, free of insects and diseases. Retailers
often purchase flowers from a wholesale grower
instead of growing the plants themselves. While
the quality of plants is often excellent when
they first arrive, some retailers are not plant
experts or are not equipped to properly care for
plants. Do not purchase plants that have not been
watered properly or that have been stored under
stressful conditions (hot, paved surfaces) for
extended periods. It is a good idea to ask when
the plants arrived or if a new shipment will be
arriving soon. Freshly stocked plants are preferable
to plants that have been held for several weeks.
Choose plants with compact foliage, side branches,
and good color. It may be tempting to select the
plants that are in bloom, but younger, nonflowering
plants are often a better choice, since they will
establish in the landscape more quickly.
Wait until the proper planting time to purchase
plants. Transplants are often available before
the correct planting time, but tender annuals
should not be planted before the danger of frost
has past. Hardy annuals, such as pansies, should
not be planted until the soil has cooled in the
fall. Planting too early can result in cold damage
in the spring or heat damage and disease in the
fall.
Sometimes new plants cannot be set out immediately
after purchase. Keep plants outdoors in a partially
shaded location and check them daily and water
as needed. Since the soil volume is limited in
the small containers, they will dry out quickly.
While plants may appear to recover fully, wilting
can stunt their potential growth.
Plants in cell packs or containers should be watered
thoroughly and allowed to drain before removal
from the container. A damp root ball is less likely
to fall apart. Do not pull plants from their containers.
Remove plants from individual containers by tipping
the container and tapping the bottom. To remove
plants from cell packs, turn the container upside
down and squeeze the bottom of the container to
force the root ball out of the pack . If the plants
are in fiber pots, remove the paper from the outside
of the root mass. When setting out plants in peat
pots remove the upper edges of the pot so that
the lip of the peat pot is not exposed above the
soil level where it will act as a wick and pull
water away from the plant.
Dig a hole for each plant large enough to accept
its root system comfortably. Set the plants at
the same depth or just slightly deeper than they
were growing in the container. When filling the
hole, firm the soil lightly and water thoroughly.
A starter solution made from 1 tablespoon of a
high grade phosphate fertilizer in 1 gallon of
water can be used to water transplants.
Space plants so that they will fill in but not
be crowded; crowding increases the likelihood
of disease development. Tall, upright plants such
as snapdragons should be spaced about one-fourth
as far apart as their mature height. Tall, bushy
plants should be spaced about one-half as far
apart as their mature height. Rounded, bushy annuals
should be spaced about as far apart as their mature
height. To make beds look more uniform, use a
staggered spacing plan instead of setting plants
in straight rows. Transplant in the cool part
of the day or on an overcast day to minimize stress
and check newly planted transplants for moisture
stress frequently until new roots have had time
to grow into the surrounding soil. Remember that
the root mass is initially only as large as the
original container, so apply irrigation water
toward the base of the plant until it becomes
established.
A mulch should be applied after planting. Mulches
help keep the soil surface from crusting, reduce
soil temperature, conserve moisture, and prevent
weed seed germination. Organic mulches can add
humus to the soil. Use a 2- to 3-inch layer of
material such as pine bark nuggets or pine straw.
Apply only 1/2 inch of mulch at the plant crown;
excessive mulching around the crown can create
disease problems.
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