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Neil's tips for healthy summer bedding plants
The fantastic weather we have had recently has promoted the growth of summer bedding plants. Garden centres are bulging at the seams with an even wider choice than ever before to brighten up our gardens.
 Summer plants “I grow bedding plants that are reliable and proven to give a great show, even right on the coast.” Says Neil. This year I have a couple of new additions. The first is Million Bells, these are small petunia like flowers and very hardy and wind tolerant. They have a trailing habit and come in various colours including red (crackling fire) and lemon yellow.” The other is the Calibrachoa, also known as ‘Seashore Petunias’.” says Neil. “These plants have a similar growing pattern to the Million Bells and will thrive in the most open spaces. I am also stocking the favourites - lobelia, busy lizzie, geraniums, verbenas, begonias, fuchsias, marigolds, surfinias and osteospurmums, all of which are very well behaved in baskets or containers”. Neil’s tips for looking after bedding Neil has had a lot of experience with bedding plants and the baskets and containers in his garden centre are looking great. I asked him to share some of his secrets of success.
Young Bedding plant care
“When tending to young bedding plants make sure that the air circulation is good and that the plants are growing in a bright place. Spreading the plants out also help to keep down most fungal diseases that enjoy damp conditions. Try to keep the water from the hosepipe or watering can off of the plants, especially in sunshine; this could damage the flowers and leaves. The pH of tap water changes all of the time, which could have stunt young plant growth. If at all possible try to use water from a well or water butt. This will give the plants a far better chance of thriving”. Give them room Putting too many plants into hanging baskets might not be the best thing to do says Neil. “I don’t tend to put a plant in the centre of baskets. Too many plants in such a small area can mean that none of the plants do well,” he advises. “Don’t be tempted to cram them in too tightly. If you put anything into the centre of the basket, make it a plastic bottle. Cut off the bottom and push it down into the soil, this is then filled with water everyday to slowly wet the soil”. Focal point “If you do have containers that need a central focal point then Marguerites (Argyranthemum) can be very effective. These plants originated in the Canary Islands and Madeira, and are used to the coastal growing conditions. There are loads of different types of ornamental shrubs that can be used to good effect as well, such phormium, dwarf conifers, bay trees and cordylines”.
Wonder tonic Neil has been using a new product on the market called SB Plant Invigorator. This is a wonder tonic for bedding plants. “Someone recommended this biodegradable product as a great all rounder for plant health. It is a very concentrated, natural product and acts as a growth stimulant and pesticide, controlling pests such as whitefly, aphids, spider mite and mealy bug. It is also a plant wash, foliar feed and it also cleans the leaves! Not bad from one application” (The Co-op are looking to stock it). Neil stresses the importance of getting the right feed for your plants. “Different plants and shrubs need different nutrients. You don’t want a high nitrogen feed to promote leaf growth if you are looking for a show of flowers, check the labels before you buy”. Choosing the right compost Reading labels is also important when choosing the right compost. Neil explains. “When filling the pots and containers up with compost, pay particular attention to the type of compost you are using. Hanging baskets require a heavier, more soil based compost to ensure the containers don’t dry out too quickly and will take up water even when they have dried out. Pots will need another type of soil. There will ones to suit all types of planting”. Neil also advises a fresh start with compost. “Old containers and pots used last year will need emptying out and new compost added. Over wintering pests such as vine weevil will quickly eat the roots of new plants that are planted”. Deadheading Neil has one last piece of advice to give me before heading off to serve another happy customer “Deadheading the bedding plants is crucial to ensure a long flowering season. Taking off the dead flower heads, this stimulates the other buds into action and also thickens up the plant to make is bushier.”
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  written by alison, May 24, 2010 Here are a couple more tips * Water plants daily in the summer - plants in containers and hanging baskets may need watering twice a day during dry weather. If they dry out you might have to submerge them totally in a large barrel to soak up the water * Add organic liquid feed in your watering can and apply once a week. * Like you mentioned, remove dead flowers from bedding plants as they fade to keep them tidy and encourage new blooms.
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Here are a few I find extremely reliable in baskets
Trailing lobelia. Very well behaved around the sides of the basket.
Pansies. The summer varieties will last all summer. Deadhead often, but save a few seed heads for planting up next spring.
Verbena. Loads to choose from here. Pick the trailing type and plant near the centre of the basket so they fill out before going over the edge. They take really easily from cuttings too.
Busy Lizzie. Bright display all summer. Again they root easily from cuttings.
Geranium. We’re spoilt for choice again with these. Upright or trailing, take your pick.
Bidens. These are very fast growing. They have yellow flowers and trail very well. Buncrana council use them to very good effect in their displays. Cuttings take very easily as well so don’t buy too many of them.
Helichrysum. These are grown for their silvery foliage. They trail very well and can be over wintered.
Begonia. Again, these will flower until the first frosts. The tuberous types can be over wintered.