March is the time for bedding plants

By LSU AgCenter Horticulturists Dan Gill, Kyle Huffstickler and Allen Owings

Invite a rainbow into your yard this summer by planting a flower garden.

Warm-season bedding plants grow and flower best during April through October and we can begin planting them as early as late March.

Tender perennials, such as impatiens, periwinkles, blue daze, pentas and begonias, are used as bedding plants along with true annuals, but these plants have far more stamina and “staying power” in the summer flower garden.

While most annuals need full sun (at least eight hours of direct sun) to partial sun (about six hours of direct sun), some thrive in partial shade (about four hours of direct sun) or shade (about two hours of direct sun). Caladiums, planted from tubers or as growing plants, are one of the best choices for color in full shade.

Prepare your beds carefully. First, eliminate any weeds or unwanted plants. Next, turn the soil to a depth of at least 8 inches. Spread a 2-to-4-inch layer of compost, rotted leaves, aged manure, finely ground pine bark or peat moss over the bed and evenly sprinkle a light application of an all-purpose fertilizer. Blend the organic matter and fertilizer into the bed and rake it smooth.

Make sure you plant the transplants no deeper than they were growing in the original containers and at the proper spacing. Mulch will reduce problems with weeds, but regular weeding will still be necessary. Regular watering, pest control and grooming will keep them looking their best. In containers, hanging baskets and window boxes, annuals need regular watering and fertilization.

Good examples of warm-season bedding plants for sun to partial sun are abelmoschus, ageratum, amaranthus, angelonia, balsam, blue daze, celosia, cleome, coleus, coreopsis, cosmos, dahlberg daisy, dusty miller, gaillardia, gomphrena, lantana, lisianthus, marigold, melampodium, narrow-leaf zinnia, ornamental pepper, periwinkle, pentas, portulaca, purslane, rudbeckia, salvia, scaevola, sunflower, tithonia, torenia, perennial verbena and zinnia.
Warm-season bedding plants for partial shade to shade are balsam, begonia, browallia, caladium, cleome, coleus, impatiens, pentas, salvia and torenia.

Visit LaHouse in Baton Rouge to see sustainable landscape practices in action. For more information, go to www.LSUAgCenter.com/lahouse and www.LSUAgCenter.com/lyn.