Post by Editor on May 14, 2009 11:58:01 GMT -5
Gardening with Annuals Website
If you are looking to add color to your garden, University of Illinois Extension has a website that is just the place to start--“ Gardening with Annuals” (http://urbanext.illinois.edu/annuals/), said Jane Scherer, U of I Extension urban programs specialist and director of websites.
“Annuals are all about color, and this website can help you make the right decisions on selection, location, and care to get the best color effect in your garden,” Scherer said.
The website was developed by Greg Stack, U of I Extension horticulture educator, and Susan Grupp, U of I Extension environmental science educator.
“The term annual is applied to garden flowers that complete their life cycle in the span of one growing season,” said Scherer. “In our area, some of the plants we call annuals are perennials in milder climates. These include plants such as geranium, impatiens, vinca, coleus, and lantana.
“But if you want to save them in our region, you have to dig them up, pot them and bring them indoors.”
The website includes sections addressing which plants are annuals, how to plant them, preparing the soil for planting, after-planting care, specific uses and locations for annuals, annual vines, and a directory of annual plants.
“Most annuals will do well in Illinois if given the proper location and care,” she said. “But there are some annuals that do better in certain locations than others. The ‘Annuals for Specific Locations’ feature can help you make determinations for your own garden.”
If you are looking to add color to your garden, University of Illinois Extension has a website that is just the place to start--“ Gardening with Annuals” (http://urbanext.illinois.edu/annuals/), said Jane Scherer, U of I Extension urban programs specialist and director of websites.
“Annuals are all about color, and this website can help you make the right decisions on selection, location, and care to get the best color effect in your garden,” Scherer said.
The website was developed by Greg Stack, U of I Extension horticulture educator, and Susan Grupp, U of I Extension environmental science educator.
“The term annual is applied to garden flowers that complete their life cycle in the span of one growing season,” said Scherer. “In our area, some of the plants we call annuals are perennials in milder climates. These include plants such as geranium, impatiens, vinca, coleus, and lantana.
“But if you want to save them in our region, you have to dig them up, pot them and bring them indoors.”
The website includes sections addressing which plants are annuals, how to plant them, preparing the soil for planting, after-planting care, specific uses and locations for annuals, annual vines, and a directory of annual plants.
“Most annuals will do well in Illinois if given the proper location and care,” she said. “But there are some annuals that do better in certain locations than others. The ‘Annuals for Specific Locations’ feature can help you make determinations for your own garden.”