As the summer season draws near, petunias are set to be in high demand as the favourite summer bedding plants, adored for their vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers and their ability to bloom consistently throughout the warmer months. However, ensuring they flourish can be a bit of a challenge. Yet, according to Martha Stewart’s website, one simple gardening task can help them keep blooming until “the first frost”.
Petunias are guaranteed to add a splash of joy and vivid colour to gardens, patios and balconies. However, many gardeners are unaware that performing one straightforward task once or twice a week can significantly boost the number of blooms! Despite being low maintenance, there are steps you can take to ensure they thrive. One such step is “deadheading”.
Deadheading involves removing wilted flowers from the plant. Regular deadheading encourages petunias to continue producing new blooms instead of focusing energy on seed production.
When a petunia flower wilts, the plant’s natural instinct is to start forming seeds. This indicates that its reproductive job is done, and it can begin to reduce flowering.
However, by removing the dying flowers before they go to seed, you’re essentially fooling the plant into thinking it still needs to bloom!
While there’s no set time for deadheading, you should get clipping when your blooms appear weary or drooping. “Regular deadheading helps keep traditional petunias blooming,” says gardening guru Angela Judd.
“When the flowers fade or begin to wilt, remove the spent blooms and seed pods (it’s just below the flower),” she advises on Martha Stewart online.
If you’re keen to spruce up your flower bed this summer with fresh additions, consider the unending allure of roses for an instant burst of vibrant colour to the quintessential British garden. Renowned not just for their rich fragrance but also for their plentiful flowering from late spring through to early autumn in the UK, roses are a true gem in any garden setting.
Proclaiming roses as the crown jewel for consistent floral display, David Austin Roses affirms that they can provide dashes of colour “right through the summer months and beyond”, with certain types even persevering till the first frosts.
For those searching for a standout choice, the RHS endorses Rosa Bonica ‘Meidomonac’, a delightful repeat-flowering shrub rose, wafting its sweet pink petals from July to September.
Happy to thrive in containers, roses can be planted throughout the year, allowing for strategic placement to fully enjoy their intoxicating aroma. When planting these beauties, ensure they bask in full sunshine and have plenty of room to flourish.
