Plants Online

Summer bedding = Sumer colour!

Bedding plants are either once-flowering annual plants which are sown, grow and flower all in the same year, or biannual plants which are sown and grow in the first year and flower in the second year.

Bedding plants can be used in traditional flower beds, or as fillers and in pots and containers. The most amazing colour combinations can be created with monocrome or mixed colour displays.

The secret is to water and feed your bedding regularly through the summer months, from May to October they will provide you with exuberent colours!

As bedding plants are grown for one season only, they need to grow quickly and the soil in their permanent planting position must be well fed and moist. Plants should be inserted firmly at about 30 cm apart and watered well after planting.

Top tips for perfect blooms:

Sun or Shade – for most plants the ideal is at least a partly sunny position, and avoid strong winds.  

Watering – choose a compost to which water retaining granules have been added. A basket in full flower will typically require at least once a day in dry weather.  

Feeding - feed your baskets regularly. It is recommended to feed them about once a week, to produce baskets full of colour.  

Colour – in general it’s best not to use more than three distinct colours. A very successful basket can be made by using variations of a single colour theme. While it is not as common, a basket planted with a single variety can be very effective. (See Petunia basket picture below)

Foliage – the importance of foliage plants to a basket is often overlooked. They contribute to overall structure and balance, provide colour when there is a lull in flowering, and can be used to complement flower colour.

Dead-heading – Removal of dead flowers and  leaves once a week will lenghten the flowering period.

Experiment with different colours and plants, there are so many varieties of bedding available you can try out differnt displays every year!