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Tips for Planting Bedding Plants

1. Prepare your soil

Dig up the dirt before you plant. This will loosen the ground, break up old plant roots and aerate the soil. It also gives you a chance to inspect your soil.

The dirt should not be too fine: if it feels more like dust than soil, you should add some organic matter. If it feels solid or clay-like, then break it up with a combination of sand and vermiculite/perilite. Generally, you should add a little organic matter every year.

2. Plan your plants

Work out where you want to have tall plants, where you want them to trail, and where you need groundcover. If you really want a colour scheme, then decide on that first, too... But consider picking plants because you like them, rather than because they fit your colour scheme. As a rule of thumb, put the taller plants at the back (or in the centre), and the trailing plants at the edge.

3. Get planting

Lay out your plants - still in pots - where you think you want them. Step back, and make sure you are happy with how it looks.

When you are satisfied, take the plants out of their pots, and lay them as you designed. Starting with the centre plant, part the soil with one hand and push the plant roots into the gap with your other hand. There should be little to no pressure put on the roots using this "part-then-plant" technique. Continue planting until your garden is full and colourful.

4. Root Enhancement

Water your new plants in thoroughly with water mixed with a rooting hormone. A product like Later's Root Booster contains both a rooting hormone and fertiliser. The rooting hormone helps prevent transplant shock and pushes the growth of new roots. The fertiliser provides strength and nutrition to the whole plant, but concentrates on the root development. After this, don't worry about fertilising for a week or so.

5. Maintain

Fertilise your plants with 20-20-20 for general plants, or Miracle-Gro for flowery plants. Do so at least once a week, but not more than three times. (Other times, just use plain water as needed.) Try to keep your watering to evening time, when the heat of the afternoon sun has subsided.

Some plants need to be pruned through the summer, and some should have old blooms removed when they have flowered, to let them bloom again. Read the tags provided with the plants to see if you need to.