Types of Garden Flowers: Annuals, Perennials, and Bulbs

2. OBJECTIVESThe student will be able to… • Identify five perennial flowers popular in the area.

3. OBJECTIVESThe student will be able to… • Be familiar with the main bulbs grown in the area. • Explain the difference between a summer and a winter bulb and give an example of each. • Know three different styles of flower gardens. • Describe the fall and spring maintenanceactivities of a flower garden. • Demonstrate how to divide a perennial into several plants.

4. TYPES OF GARDEN FLOWERS Flower • Flower gardening is a popular type of home gardening. • Many gardeners specialize strictly in growing annualand perennial ornamentals. • Closely allied to flower gardening are herb, shade,rock, and container gardening.

5. TYPES OF GARDEN FLOWERS Annuals Living one season, they more than justify their expense by flowering continuously and profusely with minimal care. Figure 11-1 Marigolds are among the most popular, dependable annuals.Courtesy of National Garden Bureau Downer’s Grove, Ill. • Each spring sees brisk sales of annual seedlings for home gardens.

6. TYPES OF GARDEN FLOWERS Annuals There is an annual for almost every garden situation: sun or shade, poor soil or good,3 inches or 3 feet tall. Figure 11-2 Petunias from a pony pack will boom continuously all summer. Figure 11-2 Impatiens, a favorite annual for shade.A double-flowered cultivar is shown on the left, an a single on the right. Photos courtesy of the National Garden Bureau, Downer’s Grove, Ill. • Commercial breeding of annuals for brighter colors, larger flowers, and different sizes is a continual process.

7. TYPES OF GARDEN FLOWERS Annuals Figure 11-4 Bachelor buttonscan be blue, white, pink, or red. • Those judged most valuable are given the All-America Selection (AAS) award for their beauty & adaptabilityto diverse climates.

8. TYPES OF GARDEN FLOWERS Annuals 11-5 11-6 Figure 11-5 Gaillardia, an annual with flowers ranging from yellow through red. Figure 11-6 Wax begonia, a short annual for shade. • Most annuals are purchased as greenhouse-grown transplants in packs of four, six, or eight plants. • Buying seedling plants saves weeks of growing time. • Puts nearly-mature plants into the garden for immediate bloom.

9. TYPES OF GARDEN FLOWERS Annuals Most annuals are not frost-tolerant, but a fewcool-season annuals are tolerant of light frostand grow best in the 50 to 60 deg F range. See the entire list on page 191 of your textbook.

10. TYPES OF GARDEN FLOWERS Perennials Most have a 2- to 3-week bloomperiod & flower less profusely. Figure 11-7 Shasta daisy, a perennial for full sun.Courtesy Perennial Plant Association, Hilliard, Oh. Figure 11-8 Iris, a perennial.Photo by the author. • Many garden flowers are herbaceous perennials. • Foliage dies yearly but crown & roots renew next season.

11. TYPES OF GARDEN FLOWERS Perennials Figure 11-9 Black-eyed Susan, a perennial.Perennial Plant Association, Hilliard, Ohio. • Perennials increase in size every year & in established clumps, create a massive display of flowers & foliage.

12. TYPES OF GARDEN FLOWERS Perennials Figure 11-10 Garden pinks, or Dianthus,an old-fashioned perennial favorite.National Garden Bureau. Figure 11-11 Daylily, a favorite perennial.Cristin Larson, The Garden Consultant. • Perennials, more expensive than annuals, are sold individually in containers, or ordered from mail-order nursery catalogs & shipped while dormant. • They are the mainstay of the flower garden.

13. TYPES OF GARDEN FLOWERS Perennials See the entire table on page 195 of your textbook. Annuals are replanted yearly, but perennials are permanent & flower every year with minimal care.

14. TYPES OF GARDEN FLOWERS Biennials • Only a few popular flowers are biennials, sold as one-year-old plants ready for blooming or can be grown from seed. • Two better-known examples are foxglove & sweet william.

15. TYPES OF GARDEN FLOWERS Cold-Hardy Bulbs • Spring-flowering tulips & summer-flowering liliesare two examples of cold-hardy bulbs. • Also includes plants that are not bulbs in a botanicalsense but function similarly, like crocus. • Move bulbs only in late summer & fall, when dormant. • Bulbs generate roots in fall & winter and flowerthe next year. • Bulb foliage dies in midsummer, leaving only the underground bulb through the latter part of summer. • The usual source of garden bulbs is a local nurseryor mail-order catalog.

16. TYPES OF GARDEN FLOWERS Cold-Hardy Bulbs See the entire table on pages 195 - 196 of your textbook. Many less well known bulbs, called minor bulbs, are easily grown and a worthwhile addition to any garden.

17. TYPES OF GARDEN FLOWERS Summer or Nonhardy Bulbs Tuberous begonias, dahlias, cannas, and gladiolus are included in this group. Figure 11-12 Tuberous begonia, a well-knownsummer bulb for shade. Courtesy All-AmericanSelections, the National Garden Bureau. • Perennial in mild climates, nonhardy or summer bulbs cannot survive winter in most of the country. • Spring planted for summer flowering & stored in fall for replanting the following yearor discarded.

18. TYPES OF GARDEN FLOWERS Summer or Nonhardy Bulbs Figure 11-13 Dahlia, a summer bulb in much ofthe country, but a perennial in USDA zones 9–11. Courtesy National Garden Bureau. • Bulbs should be dug from the garden immediatelyafter the first killing frost, dried in the shade, and stored in dry peat mossin a 50 to 60 deg F area.

19. PLANNING THE FLOWER GARDEN Site Selection • Good soil drainage important—if questionable, a raised bed is a solution that will aid drainage and also elevate the flowers for better viewing. • The site chosen for a flower bed should be viewable. • Full-sun is preferable for the greatest flower variety. • Many flowers grow in partially or fully shaded locations, but bloom less profusely and produce more foliage. • Others weaken from the lack of light and die.

20. PLANNING THE FLOWER GARDEN Site Selection See the entire table on page 198 of your textbook. If a shady location is chosen for a flower garden,plant selection must be made carefully, and limitedto species adapted to shade

21. PLANNING THE FLOWER GARDEN Flower Bed Styles A border can be asmuch as 10 feet wideand is designed to beviewed only one side. Tall plants are used inrear, moderate-sizedin the center & short ones along the front. Figure 11-14 A flower border. Photo courtesy of the Perennial Plant Association, Hilliard, Ohio. • A border of flowers with shrubs or a fence used asa background is a popular, traditional bed style.

22. PLANNING THE FLOWER GARDEN Flower Bed Styles Place tall plants in the centerof the bed & step gradually shorter plants to the edge. If a curving style is used, a garden hose can be movedin different ways to createa pleasing outline, and the edge of the bed is markedby spading along the hose. Figure 11-15 A freestanding flower bed. Author photo. • A freestanding or island flower bed is well adapted to modern landscape design, meant to be viewed from all directions.

23. PLANNING THE FLOWER GARDEN Flower Bed Styles A tightly restricted,symmetrical style,not commonly usedtoday. Many gardeners preferformal beds for herbgardening. Compact annuals caneasily be included also. Figure 11-16 A formal flower border. National Garden Bureau, Downer’s Grove, Ill. • The formal bed or border originated in Europe and was used for flowers and herbs around palaces and large manor houses.

24. PLANNING THE FLOWER GARDEN Flower Bed Styles • The cottage garden style is an informal massingof flowers of many species and sizes. • Sometimes herbs & small vegetables. • To achieve a profusion of color & variety of form. • Originally English, it is popular in North America, where many people have limited gardening space. • Frequently includes benches & paths for viewing flowers. • Plants are normally traditional, old-fashioned species such as hollyhock, foxglove, and iris. • Taller, less compact cultivars amplify informality.

25. PLANNING THE FLOWER GARDEN Plant Selection • A mix of herbaceous/woody perennials, bulbs, annuals & sometimes herbs combines virtues: • Dependability of perennials; floriferousness of annuals; the earliness of the hardy bulbs. • Knowing the ultimate size of the flowers enables selection of plants in a variety of heights. • And locate them in the correct place in the bed. • A few versatile flowers grow in any light level but most are restricted to either shade or sun. • Choose proven performers under light available.

26. PLANNING THE FLOWER GARDEN Plant Selection • Planning for continual bloom involves a variety of plants, so flowers appear in succession all season. • Bulbs are the usual choice for early spring, and chrysanthemums for fall blossoming. • Other perennials generally have 2- to 3-week blooming periods from late spring through summer. • Flowering sequences relative to each other can befound in reference books on flower gardening. • Because annuals flower continually, they tie togetherthe bloom periods of perennials.

27. PLANNING THE FLOWER GARDEN Plant Selection • Flower gardens nearly always require more maintenance than shrubs and groundcovers. • Flowers require frequent, plentiful watering to bloom well. • By carefully selecting species, it is possible to avoidall need to spray pesticides. • People in areas with water shortages can landscape with flowers, using the right plants. • Xeroscaping or xeriscaping, with drought-resistant plants is practical, environmentally conscious, and beautiful. • It is not landscaping with cacti and rocks, as some believe.

28. PREPARING AND PLANTING THE BED • Recently gardened soils may only need fertilizer. • Areas uncultivated or in turf will require more work. • Spade to a depth of about 18”, average root depth for perennials, incorporating a large volume of amendment such as compost or peat moss. • 1/2 cup balanced fertilizer per 10 ft2 into the spaded layer. • Sow annuals grown from seed according to package directions & thin to final spacing before crowding • Only the largest, most vigorous plants should be kept.

29. PREPARING AND PLANTING THE BED • Edging material outlining the perimeter will reduce invasion by grass if the bed adjoins a lawn area. • A row of bricks or ornamental concrete set flush with the ground level or slightly higher is an attractive edging. Thin edging boards (bender boards) or plastic edging isalso satisfactory. Figure 11-17 Ornamental concrete used as an edging for a flower bed.

30. PREPARING AND PLANTING THE BED Mark bulb areas with stakesto avoid disturbing them when working in the bed. Figure 11-18 Suggested planting depthsfor common bulbs, rhizomes, corms & tubers. Bulbs should be planted according this chart, or by following package directions.

31. FLOWER GARDEN MAINTENANCE Watering • When natural rainfall is not sufficient, watering will be a frequent part of flower garden maintenance. • Soak root zones as often as necessary to prevent wilting. • Due to shallow-roots, annual beds will require more frequent but shallower irrigation than perennials/bulbs. • In mixed beds, watering should be deep enough to soak the most deeply rooted plants.

32. FLOWER GARDEN MAINTENANCE Mulching • Mulch with compost, grass clippings, or other organic materials to conserve water, reduce weed problems, and give a neat appearance to the bed. • Apply in spring as soon as annuals have been transplanted and new growth of perennials appears. • Reapply over summer as old mulch decays underneath. • In cold-winter areas an additional layer can be laiddown over the bed after the cold weather begins. • To reduce bed freezing/thawing, a common cause of winterkill. • Mulch should be pulled back from crowns of perennial plants in spring as growth starts.

33. FLOWER GARDEN MAINTENANCE Fertilizing • Fast-growing annuals benefit from topdressing every 4 to 6 weeks, starting at transplanting. • Yearly spring fertilization is sufficient for perennial beds in cold-winter climates with loam to clay soils. • On sandy soils, fertilization should be more frequent. • Bulb fertilizing can be done at planting or when the bulb is growing actively. • Some mix about 1 tsp of phosphorus-rich granular fertilizer or bone meal into soil beneath each bulb at planting. • Others wait until foliage appears and fertilize by topdressing.

34. FLOWER GARDEN MAINTENANCE Pruning • Pruning of annuals, perennials, bulbs & herbs, and encourages maximum bloom & keeps gardens neat. • Pinching/clipping dead flowers should be a routine. • Dead leaves should be removed to improve appearanceof the garden and to eliminate a source of disease. • Leaves of hardy bulbs that yellow & die naturally in midsummer can be cut off at ground level at that time. • Leaves should never be cut back until almost fully yellow. • To do otherwise removes the energy source of energyfor next year’s blooms.

35. FLOWER GARDEN MAINTENANCE Division • Crowns of herbaceous perennials increase in size every year, overcrowding after several years, • As bloom size and number may decrease, the clump should be divided into several smaller pieces and replanted.

36. FLOWER GARDEN MAINTENANCE Staking and Supporting Secure the plant tothe stake with twine,strips of cloth, orcovered-wire twist tabs. Figure 11-19 Two methodsof staking to support a flower.Author Photo. • Tall flowers & plants with profuse or heavy flowers may need staking to prevent breaking or falling over. • Especially where frequent rainsweight the blooms or where windis common.

37. SPECIALTY GARDENSRose Gardens Floribundas bloom in clusters through summer & have blooms generally smaller than those of teas. Figure 11-20 A hybrid tea rose.Photo by Susan McKessar. Auckland, New Zealand. • Roses are the most popular garden flower, with gardens devoted to them exclusively very common. • Hybrid tea roses produce largeblossoms singly on moderate-sized, bushy plants. • Favorites for cut-flower use, most prone to disease &not always reliably cold-hardy.

38. SPECIALTY GARDENSRose Gardens Figure 11-21 A grandiflora rose.Photo courtesy the Rose Garden,New Zealand Gardens Online • Grandiflora is the name given to roses that are crosses between floribundas and hybrid teas. • Produce fewer blooms per cluster than floribundas, but each blossom is nearly as large as a hybrid tea bloom.

39. SPECIALTY GARDENSRose Gardens Figure 11-22 A climbing rose.Photo by the author. • Climbing & Rambling Roses have long canes that grow very large, from the base of the plant, trained along fences and garden arches called pergolas.

40. SPECIALTY GARDENSRose Gardens • Tree roses can be hybrid tea, grandiflora, or floribunda roses, grafted onto long-cane hardy species to achieve a tree form. • Frequently grown in pots for patio decoration in summer. • Miniature roses, cold-hardy despite a frail look, produce thumbnail-sized blooms singly/in clusters. • Can be raised indoors in winter on a sunny windowsill.

41. SPECIALTY GARDENSRose Gardens • Roses are often high-maintenance, requiring regular spraying for diseases/insects & annual pruning. • Quick- and thorough-draining soil is essential. • Soil should be kept moist to a 2-foot depth. • Work to 20” - 24” deep, adding large quantities of amendment if soil contains a large percentage of clay. • pH should be slightly acidic, in the range of 6.5 to 7.0. • Granular, balanced fertilizer should be applied in spring and after each bloom flush. • Foliage should not be wet as this encourages spread of fungus diseases such as blackspot, rust, and mildew.

42. SPECIALTY GARDENSRose Gardens • Woody rose canes live over the winter & renew in spring, though some are not reliably cold-hardy. • Bush roses should be mounded with soil to 1 foot deep where temperatures drop below 10 deg F. • Rambler and climber canes may be pinned to the ground and covered with soil in areas where they are not reliably winter-hardy.

43. SPECIALTY GARDENSRose Gardens • Prune to remove only dead wood, weak canes, and crossing branches—unless a rose is very vigorous, pruning should be minimal. • Death of top portions of canes during winter is common problem & necessitates shortening canes to living woodin spring. • The removal of large quantities of wood will slow growth and reduce the number of flowers produced.

44. SPECIALTY GARDENS Rock Gardens Some gardeners make use of naturally rocky land with some reorganization of available rocks. More often large rocks must be brought & arranged artisticallyto give the appearance of anatural formation. Most rock garden plants are small compared to othergarden plants. Shrubs or trees are generally dwarf cultivars. Figure 11-23 A rock garden. Photo by the author. • Rock gardening combines rocks & plants to create a natural-appearing area for the cultivation of species native to rocky or alpine regions.

45. SPECIALTY GARDENS Rock Gardens Herbaceous perennials, succulents, bulbs, annuals,and even shrubs & trees are then planted in the small crevices and soil pockets formed between the rocks. See the entire table on page 204 of your textbook.

46. SPECIALTY GARDENS Rock Gardens • If acid-loving plants are to be grown, pockets between rocks can be amended with peat moss. • Care of a rock garden consists of weeding, dividing large plants, & watering as needed when soil is dry. • In general, rock garden plants will need little moisture. • Fall care in very cold-winter areas consists of covering the area with a mulch layer of hay orother material • Minimizes heaving of the ground & uprooting of plants.

47. SPECIALTY GARDENS Container Gardens Almost any plant can be grownin a pot, including trees, vines, vegetables, flowers, and shrubs. Because of the limited volumeof soil available for root growthin containers, the soil should be of the best possible quality. Figure 11-24 Containers of cacti & succulentsgrace the entrance to a home. Author photo. • Container gardens are a popular way of growing flowers and vegetables without land.

48. SPECIALTY GARDENS Container Gardens • Daily watering will be necessary during hot weather or when clay or small pots are used. • Automatic irrigation systems for pots are available. • Frequent fertilization is essential for container-grown plants, with a soluble fertilizer applied in irrigation water is a good solution. • Topdressing with slow-release/granular fertilizer is also satisfactory.

49. SPECIALTY GARDENS Container Gardens • Overwintering perennials, trees, and shrubs in the North in containers may need winter protection. • If possible, the pots should be planted in the groundin fall and mulched heavily. • If not practical, they can overwinter in a garageor a sheltered location next to a building.

50. SPECIALTY GARDENS Cut- and Dried-Flower Gardens • A cut-flower garden is usually located in the service area of the landscape out of view. • Includes varied, tall annual and perennial cultivars that lend themselves to arrangement and last well when cut. • Flower preservatives to lengthen the life of cut flowers are an effective and worthwhile investment. • More economical is a mix 1/3 tonic water & 2/3 water. • Supplies sugar for respiration. • Preservative to slow growth of bacteria in the water • Acid to lower the pH of the water.