Annual Flowers & other Bedding Plants
"Bedding plants" generally refers to plants, annual or perennial, employed in short term displays. Perennials used in this way might include cannas, pelargoniums, salvias, coleus and other coloured foliage plants, massed in garden beds to create stunning effects over a period of weeks or months, after which the beds are cleared and prepared for fresh planting.
Few home gardeners in Queensland are using annuals and other bedding plants as major features of their gardens these days. After all, they are a lot of work. Furthermore, hot and/or dry weather conditions can mean dissappointing results, especially from flowers.
While carpets of colour today are mainly limited to the more high-profile municipal locations, special festivals and garden competitions, bedding plants still have a place in the modern garden.
For a few dollars, you can dress up high impact areas like entranceways, and fill in temporary bare spots while you're waiting for your more permanent plantings to grow. Annuals. especially the advanced plants, are also good for decorating the garden for special occasions like a parties or garden weddings.
Container gardens are a great way to have fun and be creative with annuals and bedding plants. Your chances of success are also increased with the many specialised potting mixes, fertilisers and pots on the market, helping you overcome the local environmental conditions.
Annuals are often heavily used in garden competitions. A page has been set up on this site to post information about garden competitions in Queensland as it comes to hand:
Garden Competitions
With seed you can get a lot of plants very cheaply. Seed is the most successful and practical way to grow many of the more robust annuals. For the busy or inexperienced gardener, punnets are generally much easier and faster, especially for some of the more delicate species, and not much more expensive if you only need a few plants anyway.
Many traditional annuals are only suitable for the cooler months of the year here in Qld. Look out for new types, heat and drought tolerant varieties, and perennial or semi-perennial species (even if you only grow them as annuals) for a prolonged display.
Any good garden centre will sell a selection of popular annuals and bedding plants suitable for most domestic landscaping applications in punnets or pots
If you require very large quanitities for a special application, whether as seedlings or at blooming stage, you may find it worthwhile ordering from a wholesale grower. Be sure to organise your order in plenty of time.
Large quantities of plants can be raised more cheaply from seed, but requires more time and effort and a certain amount of skill. Seed might be the only way to obtain unusual or heritage varieties (this goes for herbs and vegetable, too). Mail order suppliers are usually the best places to look for unusual varieties. However, many chain stores offer popular lines in packets which are reasonably priced and ideal for beginners.
Links
These groups are covered on separate pages:
The following are for general information, research and ideas - some species or cultivars referred to in links may be unavailable in Australia or unsuitable for Queensland conditions
General
Chrysanthemum
Pansies and Violas
Pansy Care University of North Carolina Wilmingtom
Petunias
Petunias NebGuide from University of Nebraska
"Spreading" Petunias in Ornamental Horticulture Monthly Newsletter, Volume 3 No. 1, February 2000. Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences.
Sweet peas
Lisianthus
Zinnias
Others
Santolina Encyclopedia of Stanford Trees, Shrubs & Vines (PDF)
More to come in future updates
|
