Harnett County Center
CARE OF FLOWER BEDS, 6/19/98
What would summer be without flowers? Planting them is easy enough, but then what? Are they being engulfed by weeds? Suffering from the heat? Don't despair, with a little time and effort, they will be the pride of the neighborhood.
WATERING
How often should a flower bed be watered? As with so many gardening questions, the answer is "it depends". In general, most plants (including flowers, shrubs, and lawns) will be content with about an inch of water per week (a bit more for sandy soils).
The key is to be observant. Inspect for signs of wilting. Stick a finger in the soil to see how dry it is. Too much is just as bad as too little.
MULCHING
No flower bed would be complete without mulch. Not only is it attractive, it also helps conserve moisture and reduce weeds. Some choices include pine bark, pine straw, compost, and wood chips. Choose whichever you prefer.
FERTILIZING
Most flowers will benefit from a little boost of fertilizer mid- way through the growing season. The slow release forms have the advantage of providing a more continuous source of nutrients, as well as being more friendly to the environment. If foliar fertilizer is used, take care not to burn the plants. Follow the instructions carefully.
CLEANUP
Many flowers, such as coleus, marigolds, geraniums, and zinnias, will benefit from deadheading. It keeps the beds looking attractive, and encourages more blooms. With perennials and bulbs, as the plants begin to dieback, the foliage can be cut back and added to the compost pile. But don't cut them back if the foliage is still green and healthy, as this helps the plant build reserves for next year.
WEED CONTROL
I don't know about you, but this is what I spend the most time on. Remember that weeds are easiest to control when small. I scout my beds about three times a week, and try to pull out any new weeds before they set seed.
There are several herbicides available that can make the job easier. Since two different brands may contain the same chemical, I'll refer to the active ingredient (which is ALWAYS listed on the label).
Spot Spraying: Use a broad spectrum herbicide such as glyphosate, glufosinate, or diquat. These should be applied directly to the weed, without contacting the foliage of your flowers, since they will kill almost any plant they contact. Apply when there is no wind to prevent drift onto desirable plants.
Weed preventers: Treflan and pendimethalin will not kill existing weeds, but will prevent new weeds from germinating. For best results, apply early in the growing season. Read the label carefully to be sure it can be used on the plants you have.
Grass Weeds: Fluazifop and sethoxydim can be applied to many ornamentals for control of existing grass weeds. Again, read the label carefully to check for compatibility with the flowers you have.
I cannot stress enough the importance of reading the pesticide label from start to finish BEFORE you use it. You may discover why it didn't work so well last time. Also, consider this scenario. Would you rather read the first aid information before you open the package, or just after you have accidentally splashed some in your eye?
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