GARDENING IN SMALL SPACES FLOWERS: Annuals and Perennials IT ALL STARTED IN A GARDEN… Flowers are God’s gift of beauty and wonder which soothe the soul and replenish the spirit. No matter where you live, successful gardeners know soil preparation is the key to success. The following are soil types found throughout the world - SANDY, SILTY, CLAY, PEATY and SALINE. The most ideal soil is LOAM. Gardeners love it because it contains a balance of all three soil materials, silt, sand and clay plus humus that leaves it dark brown, and is mealy, soft and dry becoming crumbly in your hands. It has higher levels of pH and calcium because of its organic matter such as volcanic rock and ash. It has a tight hold on water and plant food but drains well and air moves freely between soil particles down to the roots. Feeding all plants requires 3 important ingredients: NPK on packaging 1. NITROGEN – (N) promotes plant growth, leafy vegetative growth, part of every protein in the plant from growing new leaves to defending against pests. It is part of the chlorophyll molecule giving plants their green color, providing food for the plant through photosynthesis. A lack of nitrogen shows yellowing. 2. PHOSPHORUS (P) - involved in the metabolic process for transferring energy from one point to the other in a plant. Critical in root development and flowering. It moves slowly through soil, therefore, it’s important to work it into the soil near the roots. 3. POTASSIUM (K) - regulates plant metabolism and affects water pressure regulation inside and outside plant cells. It is important for good root development and critical for plant stress tolerance. Therefore, fertilizer along with water and air contain the 16 elements to feed mother earth and make plants abundant and healthy - carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, copper, zinc, molybdenum, chlorine, boron, and iron. Organic fertilizers come from animal wastes. They are slow acting and don’t burn 1 unless a lot is placed on the plants. Nitrogen is the predominant nutrient. Only as the material decays does the plan get its nutrients, hence it is needed to add in the fall. They are slow acting and long lasting. Inorganic fertilizers are chemicals such as potassium, ammonium nitrates and ammonium phosphates. They are very water soluble, quickly available to plants, but can burn and leach quickly. Keep away from direct contact with the roots and foliage so they don’t burn or kill the plants. For further education on preparing and learning about garden soil go to: https://www.planetnatural.com/gardensoil https://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/preparng-soil-spring ANNUALS - flowers with one year of life Planting annuals is the best way to achieve instant color and beauty. When perennials are in between blooming time, annuals give you consistent color. Lighting is highly important. Note how much light each area receives before you purchase your flowers. Color - All bright colors such as yellow, red, orange (hot colors) make your garden appear smaller. Cool colors such as blues, grays and purples create a soothing atmosphere and give the feeling of distance which is ideal when gardening in small spaces. White, pale pinks and light yellows usually act like hot colors because they catch your eye from a distance. They are perfect near a deck or patio while relaxing on a summer evening and show up well in the pale moonlight. While purchasing your bedded plants check the information regarding full sun/part shade - a seasoned English gardening expert usually prefers to plant part sun/part shade, always looking for plants that have the longest blooming time. After planting, use mulch around your flowers in hot climates or where you need to hold moisture. 2 Here are the more popular annuals to pick from and their recommended uses: Sunny Borders Under 12” (Edgings) Ageratum, Alyssum, Celosia, Jewel Box, Dianthus, Marigold (petite), Petunia, Phlox, drummondi &Twinkle, Portulaca, Salvia, Scarlet Pygmy, Snapdragon, Carpet Verbena, Zinnia,Thumbelina Sunny Borders Under 12” to 18” Calendula, Celosia,Floradale, Coreopsis,Cornflower, Dahlia (dwarf), Geranium (carefree), Salvia (intermediates), Snapdragon (bedding), Zinnia (Pompon) 18” to 36” + Backgrounds Amaranthus, Celosia, Golden Triumph, Clome, Dahlia (flowered), Gloriosa Daisy, Larkspur, Marigolds (Tall African), Jubilee (Crackerjack), Nicotiana, Salvia Splendens, Snapdragon (Rocket) Zinnia, Giant Cactus Light Shade Ageratum, Balsam, Begonia, Browallia,Carnation, Forget-Me-Not, Impatiens, Matricaria, Pansy,Periwinkle, Snapdragon,Torenia For Poor (light) Soil Alyssum, Calliopsis,Coreopsis, Cornflowers, Four 0’Clock, Gaillardia, Gomphrena, Nasturtium, Poppy, Sand Verbena Note: Use alyssum as a perfect fill in flower in sunny spots, especially near a front entrance as it has a delightful scent. Lobelia is a perfect fill in flower in shady spots. PERENNIALS - (Flowers that come back year after year) Year after year, perennials offer an enchanting framework of color and texture. Most will grow and bloom for many years without a lot of 3 pampering. Because most plants blossom for just a few weeks, you must plant a variety of perennials that bloom at successive intervals. To have constant bloom, assign each perennial to a spot where it will provide color at a special period during the season. When buying perennials, keep in mind color, height and length of blooming time. As you garden in limited space, keep in mind that perennials can grow to be quite large when mature. Allow space for expansion. Blooms Early Spring to Mid May Tall: Lupine, Iris, Peony, Doronicum, Jacob’s Ladder Medium: Bluebell, Adonis, Candytuft, Hyacinth (bulb), Tulip (bulb), Bleeding Heart Low: Golden Alyssum, Primrose, Moss Phlox, English Daisy, Viola Blooms Mid May to Early August Tall: Hardy Lily, Delphinium, Foxglove, Globe Thistle Medium: Coneflower, Hardy Ageratum, Balloon flower Low: Lamb’s Ear, Sweet William, Thrift, Veronica, Painted Daisy Blooms Early August to Frost Tall: Aster, Mum, Hybrid goldenrod, Salvia Medium: Coneflower, Hardy Ageratum, Balloon Flower Low: Artemisia, Leadwort, Sedum, Fall Daylilies, Monkshood, Llatris Deadheading flowers is important - pinching or snipping dead blooms will help promote new blooms. Sources: Year-Round Bloomers by Jerry Baker, The Impatient Gardener by Jerry Baker and Better Homes and Gardens Successful Gardening NOTE: It is important to consult a zone chart as climate is a huge factor in growing plants. As you become familiar with the type of soil in your area 4 and garden, you can change it and make it highly productive by adding organic matter. Where there is extreme heat or cold, certain plants can’t survive. It’s very important to understand when to plant and how to prepare your soil. Water, air and organic matter are needed to create the rich humus or dark brown, loamy soil needed for productive gardens. Since we are addressing container gardening or gardening in small spaces, an excellent web site for this is found at: https://themicrogardener.com/whatto-plant-when/ pH Levels Having made soil improvements, it’s important to understand the pH of your soil. What is pH? It measures how the soil fits on the acidic-basic scale by the number between 0 and 14. 0 is the most acidic and 14 the most basic. 7 is neutral. The pH is important because nutrient availability, soil organisms, and solubility of toxins depend on it. Although some plants like a low pH, most prefer a pH between 6 and 7. You can purchase a simple kit or have a sample of your soil evaluated at some garden centers. If you need to change the pH and know your soil type, add dolomitic limestone to raise the pH level and sulfur to lower it. For instance, clay soil will need more materials to change the pH level because it is more resistant to pH changes than sandy type soil particles. Water for best root growth Clay soils hold three times as much water as sandy soils which won’t need to be watered as frequently. Newly planted starts and seedlings need more frequent watering than established plants. Roots develop and grow in the presence of water, air and nutrients. Water deeply but not too often. Light and frequent watering uses more water and encourages shallow roots, making your plants more vulnerable to damage from drought, weeds and diseases. Deep, less frequent watering leads to desirable long roots. Early morning watering is ideal because it lets foliage dry before evening which prevents fungus diseases. A drip system uses 30% less water and the water travels underground through tubes with tiny holes exactly to the plant roots, and this method minimizes weeds. 5 VEGETABLES: CONTAINER GARDENING Vegetables grown in a container do best to have at least 6 hours of full sun a day. Tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables that often get diseases but stay healthiest in a sunny spot with plenty of air circulation. In colder climates, give your vegetables a head start by placing the pots near a south-facing wall. In a warmer climate, be cautious about setting your vegetables on a cement patio which may grow too warm for best growth. You can purchase soil especially formulated for container gardens from your local garden center. For more information about the best home made recipe for container gardening visit: https:getbusygardening.com/potting-soil-for-container-gardening/ (Most likely you will be instructed on using equal parts of peat moss, potting soil, vermiculite, perlite or clean sand. Make sure you fill your containers within two inches of the rim. Be sure the bottom of your containers have enough holes for water drainage). FERTILIZING VEGETABLE GARDENS: For vegetable gardening, organic and inorganic fertilizers are good in combination. Adding leaves and other mulch into the soil in the fall and then adding inorganic fertilizer as they grow, supplies the plants with long lasting nutrients as well as the readily available short term nutrients.