ALABAMA A&M and AUBURN UNIVERSITIES
ALABAMA A&M and AUBURN UNIVERSITIES |
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contact Donna Reynolds, Extension Assistant Editor
AUBURN, Oct. 2---The pansy is a popular bedding plant throughout the country because it adds instant color to a garden and has a pleasing fragrance.
Pansies also are easy to grow and are resistant to most diseases and pest damage, says Dr. Dave Williams, Extension horticulturist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
A late fall and winter bloomer, the pansy is a small plant no more than 9 inches tall and width. The foliage is medium green with oval or heart-shaped leaves. Gardeners can grow pansies from seed or buy plants in flats at a local nursery.
Pansies come in a variety of colors including red, yellow, blue, violet, white and pink. Some have faces or dark blotches in the center. Yellow and blue flowers have the strongest scent. Pansy blooms can range in size from 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 inches, depending on the variety.
When choosing pansies from a nursery, select colors that suit your garden design, says Williams. Select plants that are stocky with dark-green foliage and have few blooms but many buds.
Choose a planting location that receives morning sun and drains well. Before planting, water plants while they are still in the containers.
To plant, dig a shallow but wide hole for each plant and space the holes 6-10 inches apart. Make sure holes are wide enough so roots of the plant will not be cramped. If necessary, add fertilizer to the soil before planting.
Place plants in the holes with the soil surrounding the roots still intact. Cover the plant roots with garden soil and thoroughly water the plants. Mulch around the plants to help conserve moisture and reduce weed growth.
By late fall, your plants should be filled with blooms for a colorful display throughout the winter.