I recently read a Southern Living article with author Pamela Crawford about potted annuals. Crawford has written a slew of books on the topic and so, I decided to list several potted annuals that work well on the Western Slope. Even if your backyard clay soil won’t grow more than Russian Sage and chokeweed, you can still create a beautiful yard for butterflies, bees, and your friends and family to enjoy.
First, a few basics:
- Stone or clay pots are cooler than plastic pots.
- Flowers need to be planted in loose, fluffy soil. Look specifically for a soil for “potted plants.”
- I often find it easier to take my supplies to the pots rather than trying to move pots after adding soil and plants to them.
- Group your pots in odd numbers. Include a variety of sizes but consider keeping like pots together, or at least choosing complimentary colors or styles.
- Finally, consider your yard and the types of plants you’ll need to buy. Do you have more sun or shade?
First, a favorite, are petunias. Petunias are hardy annuals that will bring a ton of cheer and color to your yard. They love sun and come in a variety of colors. Here you can see cream colored petunias with yellow centers and also pink and white striped petunias in the background. They don’t require much beyond water and deadheading. They get along well with other flowers and will flow over the side to create a “spiller” effect for you.
Next, zinnias (the pretty pink flowers in the forefront above) are a great addition. You can cut them, which will help them to grow, and add them to beautiful bouquets for your home. Even if you just let them be, they will be a strong and prolific addition to your summer potted garden.
African Daisies (you can see 2 above on the right; they are yellow daisies with white and purple centers), if kept pruned, will bloom all summer long with pretty white and purple, and sometimes yellow, flowers. Deadhead and prune if they get too bushy (like the one above).
Consider geraniums for a different flower; the bigger the variety of flowers you have, the bigger the variety of birds and butterflies you’ll see. Geraniums are available in several colors When the blooms are spent just snip them off.
Don’t discount “green” plants like the sweet potato vine (above) or others, like creeping jenny or coleus. These, as you can see, add more pops of color and variety to your pots. It is 100% fine to mix and match as long as the plants you’re mixing have the same water and sunlight needs.
Finally, if you need a few flowers for the shadier parts of your yard, consider Coral Bells (they’re a perennial!) and a mix of impatiens or pink polka dot plant. Hydrangeas are also a great option for shade. They’ll bloom blue if you have acidic soil and pink if you have alkaline soil.
Need help getting your yard in shape? Contact us! We’d love to help with your Western Colorado Landscaping needs.