Gardening Tips to Grow Pansies
Fill your garden with bright beautiful colorful plants by growing and caring for pansies, these cool-season annuals can bring that much-needed flavor that will make your garden area and landscapes so inviting. Pansies are a favorite of many homeowners.
There are many cultivars from which to choose to give you the choice to mix and match adding to your garden paradise. Pansies come in an array of colors with their heart shape flower petals.
When planting these garden beauties they should be spaced 6-12 feet apart to give them sufficient room to grow. For more on the growth and the care of pansies continue reading to get the know-how of having your landscapes and gardens blooming with colors.
Planting Location
The planting location of pansies should be in an area that gets the full sun although these garden beauties will perform best in partial shade. Pansies love the sun but too much can have an adverse effect, the morning sun and the late cool of the late evening will work wonders.
Soil Type
The soil type should be organic-rich well-drained soil with a ph of 6.0-6.2, the soil should be slightly acidic.
Water Methods
Giving your pansies the right amount of water is so important, insufficient water will cause pansies to fall back and too much water will lead to roots. To ensure that your pansies are getting the right amount of water the soil should be somewhat moist.
Fertilizing Methods
The use of a 10-10-10 balance fertilizer will keep your pansies in full bloom, simply sprinkle the fertilizer around your plants.
Garden insect pest of pansies
As beautiful as pansies are they do have their share of garden pests which includes
- Snails
- Slugs
- Aphids
Slugs and Snails
Snails and Slugs will do damage to pansies by feeding on the flower petals, this feeding will destroy the beauty of your pansy, therefore, quick action should be taken to bring these garden pests under control. The use of snail bait can be used or if you prefer handpicking which is known as mechanical control will help, also the use of eggshells will not only get rid of snails and slugs the safe way but will add nutrients to your garden soil which will be made available for your pansy. For more on the control of snails follow the links which have been provided.
Aphids
Aphids are pear-shaped insects that are tiny, these garden insect pests are tiny and can cause much damage by piercing the plant’s tissues with their piercing-sucking mouthparts feeding on the plant’s fluids. To bring these garden insect pests under control a strong spray of water from your garden hose will eliminate them but this stream of water can break the tender petals of your pansies so another alternative is the use of insecticidal soap. Before applying soap sprays read and follow the manufactures label because the label is the law.
Diseases of pansies
Keep an eye out for these diseases and treat them when spotted.
- Powdery Mildew
- Cercospora leaf spot
- Botrytis Blight
- Anthracnose
Anthracnose
Plants that are infected by this disease show up as the stems and foliage having pale white spots with black to dark brown rings around the edges. Control with a fungicide containing mancozeb, This application should be started in early spring and continue every two weeks or as directed by the manufacturer’s label.
Cercospora leaf spot
Cercospora Leafspot causes dark raised spots with a texture that appears feathery. Treat this disease by removing and disposing of the infected parts along with treating with a fungicide that contains mancozeb. The application should be started in early spring and continue every two weeks or as directed by the manufacturer’s label.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is a white powdery-looking substance that forms on the leaf surface, control this disease by watering plants early in the morning so that the leaves can have time to dry, applying baking soda to the plant’s leaves will offer some help also fungicide labeled to treat powdery mildew will help also.
Botrytis Blight
The beginning stage of this disease is a white growth on the leaves, fungal spores which are gray and tiny attach to the flower buds, and dark spots also develop on the leaves. Discolored streaks may also be seen along the base of the plant.
Rainy humid conditions encourage this disease. To keep your pansies free of botrytis blight or to at least bring this disease under control water in the morning because this will allow the plant to dry before dark sets in also water your pansies from the soil level and do not allow the water to splash on the leaves.
The removal of infected plant parts including spent or faded flowers and keeping the plant bed free of debris along with the use of a fungicide will offer some help.
Deadheading pansies
Deadheading is a great way to keep your pansies looking great, deadheading involves the removal of spent flowers and flowers which are faded. Also, pansies that are leggy should be pruned, move about a third of the plant, and ensure that your pansies are well watered during this process.
Growing Pansies in containers
Container gardening is a great way to grow and care for pansies, what I love about these types of gardens is that container-grown plants can always be moved around in adverse conditions for protection. When growing pansies in containers ensure that the containers have drain holes to allow excess water to drain after giving your plant a drink. The soil should be somewhat moist and not waterlogged.
The soil type for your container-grown pansy should be as was discussed above well-drained soil that is organic-rich. The use of a liquid feed fertilizer once a month is adequate, before applying fertilizers read and follow the manufactures label because the label is the law.
keeping an eye out for garden pests and diseases is so important, treat at first sighting to ensure that your pansies are growing healthy at all times.
Ideas on where to install pansies
These places are a great choice to install your pansies.
1. Installing pansies in your garden area as a front drop with their brightness and colors will work wonders.
2. Plant them along a garden walkway.
3. What about around your pool area?
4. Installing them on either side of your front door in masses will look so great.
5. Plant them alongside your patio.
6. Install them along a wall.
7. What about alongside a fenced area?
The final word
Installing pansies in your garden area and landscape can work wonders bringing much color and brightness. Join the many homeowners that are enjoying these garden beauties as you connect with nature outdoors.
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About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.