Bedding Plants
Bedding plants bring colour during Spring and Summer. Use to fill a whole bed or border, or in front of shrubs. Other uses are in tubs,troughs and hanging baskets.
Autumn Bedding
Plants such as Pansies, Forget-me-nots, Wallflowers and Polyanthus can be planted in the Autumn or early Spring for Spring Colour.
Spring Bedding
Can be planted out from late April to mid-June depending on location. Some can tolerate light frosts, such as Stocks, Alyssum and Antirrhinum. Others can be planted when the risk of frost has passed, such as Ageratum, Nemesia and French Marigold.
Preparation
Fork over the ground, adding general fertilizer eg Growmore at 2 oz. per square yard, and peat or, planting compost as required.
Look for sturdy plants which are green and healthy.
Buy your bedding plants in seed trays or packs and water well. Remove the plants carefully, dividing the plants so that each has equal root.
Larger bedding plants in pots offer instant colour.
Planting
Plant with a trowel at the same depth as they were in the container. Firm in and water well, using a rose to avoid splashing plants with soil.
Plant fairly close so that plants will touch each other when fully grown. As a general rule plant shorter growing plants 4-6 ins. apart and tall plants 9-12 ins. apart.
Tall plants should be towards the back of your beds or borders. Add a few slug pellets for protection.
Plants will require regular watering and feeding during Summer, and removal of dead flowers will encourage fresh ones to grow.
Secret of Success
Prepare a well fertilized bed. Feed and water regularly.
Shopping List
A good selection of flowering and foliage plants, General Fertilizer and Planting Compost, Slug Pellets.Tools Required
Fork, Trowel, Watering Can, Hose.
