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Show Photo by Robert Regan TO7 Page IB Lakeside Review z I Wednesday, May 9, 1984 Learn to Design With Plants Annuals Add Touch of Color to Landscape Utahs varied climate pro- - vides home gardeners the oppor- tunity to enjoy spring and summer color in the garden. A garden can be much more than a mere collection of flower- ing specimens. A garden can grow into a breathtaking exam- pie of mans ability to improve upon nature. Every gardener be- comes a designer of sorts as soon as plant material is placed and combined for colorful dis- plays in the landscape. Garden beds are exciting be- cause they can be changed in de- sign, texture, form and color. Color has the largest influence in the garden with design and form running a close second. Without some kind of color plan the garden may appear un- interesting, gaudy or too bland, losing the effect the gardener tried to capture. Designing with color is especially exciting and the finished work is a living art. Too many colors may distract from the overall design. Like- wise, the wrong colors together make two extremes in contrasts; or the use of one color becomes in the landscape. Build the color of the garden display around one or more ex- citing features. These features may include the exterior of the apartment, or mobile home, colors of walls or furnish- ings that may overlook a garden, or colors of fences, patio floors, views of streams, lakes, woods. rock areas. Another item would be to set off existing or- namental trees or shrubs in the landscape. Developments of annuals in recent years have been rather numerous-dwar- f strains have be- come more true, flower colors deepened and hues brightened, and the flower form has even changed in some species. Vigor, size, doubling of flow- ers, ruffling, and disease resist- ence have added big changes in the plant world which have their way to home gar- dens. Annuals are plants, which grow from seeds, attain maturi- ty, flower, and produce seeds, then die, all in one season, There are a few hardy annuals that may carry over from year to year but, usually, it is very un- : . : . , - likely. There is no plant more versa- - tile than annuals. Annuals adapt well for use as borders, fillers or background plantings to add a spot of color in the landscape. Annuals may be purchased in seed packs, but home gardeners usually purchase starts or plants to put in the garden. This saves time and is more convenient, Annuals are available in cell packs, pony packs or flats.' Cell packs contain six individual i plants. The pony pack may be pur- chased with 12 individual plants and the flats usually range from 52 to 90 single plants. Cultivate the flower bed by turning the soil with a spade, This allows for good aeration, Then, after two or three days, roto-ti- ll the bed at which time fertilizer or mulch may be added and incorporated into the soil. Some gardeners raise the flow- er beds to provide for a more showy display. The third step is to level with a rake and plant. Annuals in the Salt Lake area and some higher elevations, are. generally planted after the last frost in late May. In Utahs Dix- ie, planting two to three weeks earlier is desirable. Nursery plants should be lected on the basis of dark leaves and sturdy, side-branchi- them off encourages new heads to form, more blossoms and a fuller color display. After growth occurs, annuals do best if the soil surface dries out slightly between waterings, This stimulates the roots to spread out and grow deeply. Wa- ter until the soil is thoroughly moistened for several inches be- low the surface. If water is applied by over- head sprinkling, care should be taken not to allow breakage of the foliage. The use of a fine spray mist will help. Try and avoid moistening plants during midday or near sunset. Excessive moisture during the evenings may cause fungus dis- ease in plants. Hot midday sun can blister wet foliage. Repeat watering when the first inch of soil is dry. Color has a high priority in the garden.' The second largest . concern is the correct combina- tions of annual flowers that ere- ate the right effect. For example, to give the garden a feeling of movement, plant low growing plants in front of taller ones. Another suggestion, combin- ing spreading plants with more upright types adds to the style and flow of soft lines and move- - I- - Booklets 1 Can Help Gardener i nias throughout the display, Purple sweet alyssum edging around a wide band of dwarf yellow marigolds, the center to FARMINGTON The be filled with white petunias or lowing gardening publications zinnias, peter pan are available from the USU Da-Celosia plumosa, in a round vis Extension office, 50'X bed, surrounded by orange or EastCounty State Street, Farmington, with outlined yellow marigolds Utah 84025. Some are free.X, blue ageratum. ment. is limited while others require a small cost.' This list of ideas FRUIT: PNW 62, Grafting'; Following are suggestions for and there are many more ideas, annual flower combinations that By experimenting and visiting Fruit Trees, $1; PNW 156, PrunPear 50 and Trees, ing Apple may enhance any Utah garden, local nurseries, Utah gardenersThese combinations may be may select color combinations cents; PNW 637, Trellising and used for containers usually from a variety of annual flowers, Training Grapes, 75 cents; HFX Or-:- ;: as accents around garA color wheel is ideal to use GF, Fertilizing the Home placed HF Home Orchard X' chard; GF, dens. in selecting colors which will Pest HF GF, Control; Coryneum Rose colored cosmos used in, complement the home, fences, Bor-- X the background, edged with pink or other existing surroundings. A Blight; HF GF, Peach Tree er HF Gooseberries. GF, Control; ; and white petunias. color wheel shows the relation- Currants; Dwarf yellow marigolds as a ships between colors, SOILS, FERTILIZER, IRRIGborder for magenta globe ama- The primary colors are red, HF GF, Solarization ATION: ranth. yellow and blue. Other colors are of Soil; HF GF, Controlling Iron A bed of white petunias with created by mixing the primary Chlorosis; HF GF, Soil Tests; X-H-F islands of pink or purple petu- - colors, fol'; w X ;X X X X nd X X X GF, Fertilizing the Vegetable.X Garden; HF GF, Making and Using Compost; HF GF, Ma- - ; nure; HF MC, Water Saving Irri- -' ; X gation Techniques, 30 cents. VEGETABLES: PA, Identify- ing Diseases of Vegetables, $4.50; NRAE7, Home Storage ot Fruits and Vegetables, $2; 170, Propagating Plant4 X from seed, 75 cents; OR FS220,X Collecting and Storing Garden; Seed, 10 cents; HF GF, Green- house Vegetable Production; HFX; GF, Raised Bed Gardening; HFX; GF, Close Row Planting Guide; for Vegetables; HF GF, Sug-;;gested Vegetable Varieties; USU-UPDC10, Powdery Mildew of X; Tomatoes; USU UPDC16, To-mato Mildew Control. FRUITS: HF GF, Planting;;: Raspberries; HF GF, RaspberX-- V ries; HF GF, Grapes; HF GF,:p Application to Harvest Periods. XX INSECTS AND RODENTS:;": USDA F2193, Grasshopper Con-;trol; HF GF, Cooley Spruce Gall Aphid; HF GF, Protecting Insect Pollinators; HF GF, Application to Harvest Periods; HF GFiPl? Common Garden Pesticides'; XT USU MIN, Some Insect and XV ' Mite Problems of Woody Plants; USU EL46R, Skunk Control;, USU EL202, Mouse Control;; USU EL203, Gopher Control;-- ; V EPA Pesticide Safety. LAWNS: NCR 26, Lawn X; Weeds and Their Control. 50 V V cents; HF CF, Lawn Billbugs;. ; HF CF, Sod Webworms; HF CF, V V , Hclminthosporium Melting Out; HF GF, Lawn Care; USUX; p X X X . X X-PN- plants. Tall spindly plants may lack vigor, bushiness, and leave the garden with a somewhat cant look. For fast, vigorous, healthy plants, be sure roots are moist when they are set out in the ground, Transplanting is crucial be-cause the plants and roots must adjust to a new environment composed of soil, temperature, sun and water. Remember, it takes a while for the plants to' adjust, take hold and begin growing after transplanting. Transplant in early morning or evening when temperatures are va-hou- or cooler, Make sure to water plants af-ter planting to reduce wilting, Too severe wilting could cause the loss of the plant. Keep the soil moist for about one week ter initial planting or until the root system establishes and top growth is observed, Cultivate the soil between plants to break the surface crust at weekly intervals until plants fill in or cover the ground. This helps week problems and allows the roots to spread in the soil, Apply fertilizer approximately two weeks after planting and again at four week intervals. One note of interest, remember to pick off dead blossoms. Picking af-fou- ; X X X X; X X ;;; X UPDC1 7, Turf Diseases. ; |