It is impossible to resist those flowering annuals at the
garden center this time of year—and why should you? Buy annuals early in the year so you can enjoy them all season
long. Here are a few tips:
Choose annuals that are not yet in full bloom. Those colorful flowers may lure you into the
nursery, but you want young plants with plenty of life still ahead.
Pinch off some blooms to encourage more green growth. This way, you’ll get larger, fuller plants
and more flowers later on.
Carefully slide one or two plants out of their pots to check
the root system. If the roots are
wrapped in a tight, dense ball, the plant is potbound and may not grow much
beyond its current size. Look for
sturdy, healthy roots that can easily spread out into the surrounding soil.
Use a premium planting mix like Fox Farm Original Planting
Mix or, in the case of containers, Ocean Forest Potting Soil. Flowering annuals need the very best soil in
order to keep looking good all season long.
Start with our Peace of Mind Starter or Happy Frog Jump Start fertilizer, working
into the soil according to package directions when you plant. Continue with
Peace of Mind Fruit & Flower throughout the growing season, scratching it
into the soil and watering well about once a month. If you’d rather use a liquid fertilizer, try our fabulous organic
Big Bloom.
Throughout the growing season, continue to pinch off spent
blooms to encourage more flowering, and make sure container plants get plenty
of sun on hot summer days.
What does seaweed have to do with your garden? Have you ever noticed how a free-floating
piece of kelp can regrow in the ocean? Powerful plant growth regulators and hormones give kelp the ability to
flourish and regenerate. 
