Gardening Tips Newsletter - Gardening Tips November
Written by <a href='/your-profile?userid=71'>Chris Noland</a> Thursday, November 01 2007 00:00
A Bounty of Winter Color from Calloway's
Brighten up your fall and winter landscape with annual flowers. Go ahead and add those tired, bloomed out summer flowers to your compost piles and replace them with fresh, colorful plants.
Pansies are by far the most popular winter color. Big blooms, a wide selection of colors and good cold tolerance make them a favorite in the winter garden. Dianthus, Snapdragons, Cyclamen, Violas and the fragrant Alyssum are also good choices for cold tolerant annuals. Ornamental Cabbage and Kale provide striking foliage forms for the landscape as well as color. For best effect, limit your planting to two or three colors per bed.
The key to growing beautiful annual flowers is soil preparation. Select a well drained flowerbed and add lots of organic matter such as Calloway's Organic Compost or Bedding Plant Mix. Add either Calloway's Flower Food or Blood and Bone Meal to the soil at planting to provide the extra nutrients for growth and blooms. Mulch well to reduce moisture loss and to insulate the soil.
These same annuals can be used in patio containers. Fill your containers with fresh potting soil and plant food. Keep them watered as necessary. Pinching off faded blooms will encourage repeat blooming. Now sit back and enjoy this instant transformation to your landscape!
For questions or assistance, please visit our local Calloway's Nursery at 423 East FM 3040, near Vista Ridge Mall, or call one of the Texas Certified Nursery Professionals at 972.315.3133.
The Brookstone Architectural Control Committee encourages you to bring your special Brookstone coupon found online at brookstonehoa.com. Happy Gardening!