Shape up, water and fertilize hanging baskets and other containers of flowering plants for a summer of color. Plants: fuschia- and purple-colored petunias, lilac-colored verbena and blue lobelia. Photo courtesy Proven Winners
As summer gears up, pay special attention to the hanging baskets, window boxes and pots you carefully purchased or planted a few weeks ago.
With just a little effort, these blooming containers can look beautiful all season. Here are some tips:
Water
Make sure the containers have adequate water, but are not over watered. Adequate water keeps plants blooming. Too much and the plants drown.
Depending on their construction, material, size, plants and location, some pots may need to be watered every day. Hanging baskets may need to be watered twice a day.
Stick your finger in the container and if the soil feels dry, water until the liquid flows from the drainage holes. If the water immediately pours through the pot, place it in a bucket or tub to allow it to wick up the moisture to saturate the soil.
Fertilizer
Ever week or two apply a water-soluble fertilizer. This may be necessary even when a potting mix with fertilizer or a slow-release encapsulated fertilizer was used at planting time. Too much rain can dilute those products.
Deadheading perennials and trimming back million bells, petunias and other annuals keeps plants blooming and containers looking tidy. Plants: yellow million bells, yellow perennial sunflower and reddish purple coleus. Photo courtesy Proven Winners.
For annuals, consider a fertilizer with a higher middle number. The three number fertilizer code indicates the percent of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), in that order. Nitrogen encourages foliage growth. P supports root and flower development. K promotes overall plant growth. Always read and follow the label directions on the product you use.
Tidiness
Although most plants in containers are self-cleaning, it doesn’t hurt to shape them up, especially in mid-summer if they get leggy. Trim back plants by one-half or more. This tidies up summer annuals, such as petunias, million bells (Calibrachoa), verbena and impatiens. Apply a water-soluble fertilizer and the plants will be blooming again within a few weeks. Perennials in pots should be deadheaded to keep them blooming.
