Impatiens is one of the top bedding plants used by Alabama gardeners. They are great for filling shady parts of the yard with color.

Shady areas can be a challenge to plant, says Dr. Dave Williams, a horticulturist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. There are so many more choices of plants for use in sunny areas.

Impatiens is a good selection for shady spots for a number of reasons -- the plants thrive in both beds and containers, they come in many bloom colors and there are types with variegated foliage. With proper care, impatiens will fill your flowerbeds with color until frost.

To ensure impatiens flourish, you need to do several things. First, plant impatiens in the right soil. The plants prefer well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0 or 6.5. Before planting, test the soil. If the test indicates a low pH, amend the soil with lime to raise the level.

After preparing the soil, you are ready to plant. Choose healthy transplants, free of disease and pests, from a local nursery or garden center. The more common impatiens -- the balsam type -- actually prefers shade, says Williams. The New Guinea impatiens with a variegated foliage, will tolerate morning sun. Take this into consideration when you select plants.

Once plants are in their containers or beds, provide them with ample water, says Williams. Impatiens need plenty of water during the hottest parts of the summer. Check plants regularly. You may need to water daily during extremely hot weather.

Impatiens respond well to fertilizing. Applying a water soluble fertilizer when you water encourages foliage and flower development. You can apply fertilizer every six to eight weeks. Apply 3 pounds of 13-13-13 fertilizer per 100 square feet. If phosphorus level is high, apply (15-0-15) fertilizer per 100 square feet.

When the summer really begins to bake the garden, impatiens may look spindly and leggy with only tufts of foliage at the top of long stems. There's an easy solution to that problem, says Williams. Pinch or cut back stems to within three inches of the plant's base. Impatiens have suppressed leaf buds along their stems. When you remove the upper growth, the plant responds by opening the suppressed buds. This pruning will encourage a new flush of growth and blooming for you to enjoy the rest of the season.