Colour Me Spring

A framework of perennials

The best way to get colour into your garden is to plant flowering perennials that come back year after year. Perennials are the backbone of any garden, and because they last, they are also cost-effective. The lifespan of a perennial is around 3-5 years, but many self-seed to give you new plants, or they can be lifted and divided in the cooler season. They often need to be pruned to keep them looking good, but a sharp pair of pruners will get the job done, and otherwise they are low maintenance.

In the nursery section, you will find a range of perennials like nemesia, diascia, felicia, SunPatiens, New Guinea impatiens, and fuchsia, to name just a few, that will be in nursery bags. Some of these in the spring season will also be available as smaller plants in six or four-packs, which will make them even more cost-effective.

Planting and care

When planting perennial or annual seedlings or colour bags, the most important process is the preparation of the soil. By making sure you feed the soil every time you plant, you are building a healthy garden, and the plants will thank you for it, blooming more and for longer. Always add bags of compost to your shopping list. The more, the better.

To prepare the soil in a garden bed for planting, rake the area and dig in a mixture of compost, a few handfuls of bonemeal and a few handfuls of slow-release fertiliser.

Gently release the plants from their containers and plant them at the same level as they were in the nursery bags.

Water them in well and keep them well watered until established. Some perennials can be very drought-resistant, but they need water at the planting to get their roots settled.

Feeding your garden beds will also help extend the flowering season and keep plants and soil healthy. This also goes a long way to avoiding pests and diseases. Use a fruit and flower fertiliser that will encourage flowering every 4-6 weeks.

Pots and hanging baskets

When it comes to instant colour, there is nothing easier than buying an already-planted hanging basket with a colourful petunia in it to bring home and hang up. Make up your own mixed pots and containers by buying a mix of annuals and perennials and planting them up with a good potting soil, mixed with compost, a slow-release fertiliser or root builder and a handful of bonemeal to get the plants started. The combinations are endless.

Caring for pots and hanging baskets

Being contained, they will need regular watering, sometimes once or twice a day in hot weather. To keep them flowering well, they also need to be fed. A liquid fertiliser added to water every two weeks will keep them looking good.

Deadheading

Most flowering plants need spent flowers to be cut off to make space for new flowers. This also gives plants renewed energy to flower rather than putting energy into setting seed. Use a sharp secateurs or pruners to snip off the flowers.

All the products mentioned are available in-store and online at builders.co.za.