Bedding Plants are a prime choice for anyone after vibrant and exciting splashes of colour throughout their garden – especially in borders. A strong Summer bed can bring an area to life, attracting an abundance of wildlife. Whether you’re new to gardening or just need a reminder, this guide will demystify gardening lingo and teach you how to grow and care for your own bedding plants.
What are Bedding Plants?
Bedding Plants are typically chosen for their eye-catching colours and attractive foliage to fill in any empty gaps. Many varieties are chosen as complementary plants, growing them alongside others to attract our pollinating pals.
Some of the more popular bedding plants include: Begonias, Marigolds, Pansies and Petunias – just to name a few. Most Bedding plants are annuals, meaning they will grow and flower in one year. These are a great way to get started with growing, as the time commitment to bedding plants is not that long.
Is my garden suitable for Bedding Plants?
When deciding where to plant, remember that most bedding plants need full sun to thrive. Some can grow in dappled shade: but check the back of the seed packet first for specifics. Bedding Plants require a lot of nutrients to flourish so you will need fresh, organic compost and for best results some slow-release fertiliser.
A big killer of bedding plants is frost, you need to monitor temperatures as even a light frost can damage and kill roots. If a cold spell is en-route, it can be beneficial to have a horticultural fleece on standby.
Always check if your plant prefers acidic or a more alkaline soil. Is your soil rich in nutrients, will you need to purchase feed to keep the plant thriving? If you are unsure, check out our Beginners Guide to checking your soils Ph.
Check where your plant likes to be planted on either the plant label or seed packet. Most will love being in full sun but if you don’t have space left for that others can still thrive in dappled shade. Particularly evergreen varieties will need a sheltered spot for protection from chilly winter winds. You may find an exposed evergreen with “wind scorch”, causing spots of faded colour.
How to care for growing Bedding Plants
These are some of the hungriest and thirstiest plants you can grow. Bedding plants need plenty of nutrients and a lot of water. In the summer months they need watering almost every day, however, be careful with overwatering as this can hinder their growth just as much. A great way to keep them going strong is slow-release fertiliser. These require much less hassle to use and can last several weeks. Pop in-store or shop online to find one that best suits your borders.
A good practice to get into later in their growth is deadheading. Deadheading is simply removing any old, wilting flowers by either pinching or cutting off the flower stems below the drooping blooms. This will encourage new flowers to bloom and replace the wilting ones, giving you much longer lasting colour.
You may find some of your plants with little nibbles. If you suspect a slug problem, there are plenty of organic ways to deal with these invaders. Pellets are a common choice for both ease of use and effectiveness. Find some in your local British Garden Centre and enjoy the vibrant colour bedding plants bring along.