DIY Network

Planning and Planting From "Weekend Gardening" episode WKG-105

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Figure A Figure B Figure C

One of the ways professional garden designers boost the intensity of their plantings is by grouping colors together in large masses. Remember that colors lose impact if they're spread far apart.

Instructions:

1. Position your plants before planting to determine the desired layout. Always plant from back to front to avoid having to walk over plantings.

2. Space plants tightly, nearly root-ball to root-ball. This is usually an unorthodox approach, but annuals don't live long enough for their growth to be a concern. Tight spacing also allows for one plant to die without leaving a noticeable gap.

3. Offset the rows of plants to avoid any appearance of a grid design. The design should be natural and flowing.

FYI:

• When planting, be sure to dig a deep enough hole so that the entire root ball is covered (figure A).

• Before you buy your annuals, be sure to check the condition of the roots. For example , this six-pack of pansies looks colorful and healthy (figure B), but closer inspection of the root-ball reveals an aging plant. If you find individual or fleshy roots around the outside of the root-ball, don't buy the plant. By comparison, check out the root-ball of a younger plant next to the pansy (figure C). The younger plant's root-ball is still mostly dirt.

  Expert tip (Bart O'Brien, horticulturist): To get great color in the Northeast , plant bulbs early around October or November. Always plant your flowers in large drifts of color.

RESOURCES :
Plants from Ball Horticultural Company
Various plant material
Ball Horticulture Company
Website: www.simplybeautifulgardens.com

GUESTS :
Bart O'Brien
Director of Horticulture, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens
E-mail: bart.obrien@cgu.edu
Website: www.rsabg.org