Annuals

If you want, you can have a different garden every year.

Whether you want to create a complete annual bed from scratch, or fill in some bare spots in the perennial garden, annuals are always up to the task. All you have to do is drop in to your local garden center, load up a cart, drive home and start planting... right?

Well, it can be that easy, especially if you're just plugging some holes in an established garden or filling a container. But for truly spectacular results on a complete annual garden it's best to work out a plan in advance. When you do head out to look for plants, here are a few tips to help you make sure you get full value for your budget.

Buy the healthiest plants you can find, with deep green colour and compact, bushy growth.
Choose plants that haven't begun to bloom yet. Plants with unopened buds will establish faster.
Avoid stressed plants. Bargain-priced plants displayed on a hot sidewalk or parking lot can suffer from wilt or damaged roots that will inhibit their growth.
Watch for signs of insect or disease damage. If you see them, don't buy.

Buying from a reputable grower or garden center is your best assurance of good quality bedding plants. And when you get them home, regular watering and feeding with a quality fertilizer will keep them in the "Pink" of health.

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