Find Great Garden Annuals and Garden Tips for any Flowerbed Design

South Flowerbed Garden

Check out the great garden annuals below for a flowerbed design and planting tips for the gardening season.

While the garden annuals for the 2009 gardening season in our zone 3 suffered through many cold snaps, the end result was still an outstanding display of color.

Gardening in a zone 3 is definitely a challenge, but not impossible. In a zone 3 climate, cold snaps, late frosts are common and gardeners adapt by planting resilient flowers.

A great tip:

This tip comes from a Master Gardener. Do not to plant garden annuals in the ground until the soil reaches at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 Celsius. For our zone 3, this can happen between May 21 - 27. This being said, the ground temperature also depends on the location of the flowerbed.

For instance: my mounded island flowerbed receives full sun all day and the ground heats up very quickly in the spring; while my south flowerbed receives only part sun and then filtered sun during the day and thus requires an extra week to warm up.

Well, against my better judgment I did some planting May 22nd. Low and behold about 4 days later the weather forecaster announced a frost warning.

Another great tip:

Should a frost be pending and covering plants is not an option, get out the garden hose and water the plants prior to going to bed. This leaves a wetness on the leaves and makes it more difficult for the frost to adhere. Or set your sprinkler system to 4:30am when Jack Frost is set to arrive. I usually just get up at 4:30am and water. I do double duty and look for slugs at the same time. Crazy, I know, but I really don't mind.

In order not be repetitive on information regarding garden annuals, please go to:

My Annuals for 2008 Page for additional information on planting annuals and more great gardening tips.

One last tip:

I always recommend adding MYKE growth supplement to your soil when planting and here is another good choice for a fertilizer, Osmocote.

If you can't find the Osmocote at your local garden center, please click here and order online: Fertilizer:Osmocote Vegetable & Bedding Plant Food Osmocote Vegetable & Bedding Plant Food is the original slow release plant food. With this plant food you can grow bountiful and gorgeous bedding plants in your garden.

Osmocote plant food will help your vegetables and garden beds flourish throughout their growth cycles by steadily releasing the vital nutrients they need when they need it. You can apply Osmocote with the enclosed spoon or use the convenient shaker top. Instructions on the side panel. 3 lb 14-14-14. Due to changes in shipping regulations, they cannot ship this item to California.

Check out the related pages below:

My 2009 Garden Annuals Plant List

Take a moment and watch my video on planting annuals and using landscaping fabric...

Image of my south flowerbed taken September 1, 2009

Related Pages:

Go back from my Garden Annuals Page to Gardening and Landscaping Makeover Home Page

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