flower heads encourages vigorous flowering to continue. Even if the spent flowers aren’t removed, the new flower buds will keep on coming; a blooming pattern described as cut-and-come again, making zinnias an ever-blooming annual throughout the summer. Having a selection of zinnias in your garden, or even just a few to highlight a sunny area, is a smart way to ensure constant flower display through the slow weeks of summer. Zinnias are native to the climates of Mexico and Central America, and want to bask in warm sun. They are easily grown from seed directly sown in garden soil, or started indoors and transplanted to the garden. Zinnias are among the easiest specimens for plant breeders to work with, resulting in a broad colour palette (with the exception of blue), staggered height selections, and several novel flower styles and sizes so different from each other that you might not recognize them as the same flower family. Single flowers such as the Profusion and Zahara Sunburst Series stand up to rain, humidity and poor soil, while pumping out vibrant orange and red flowers. Lilliput zinnias are the shortest (18 inches) and have round button-headed blooms. Peppermint Stick andWhirligig zinnias have striped, zoned and speckled bicoloured petals. Cactus-flowered zinnias have distinctive petals curving under along their long edges, making them into large spiked blooms in vibrant colours. Zinderella and Candy Series have lush pom-pom centres, and the regal dahlia-flowered zinnias reach 24 to 48 inches tall in both intense jewel tones and soft pastel colours. With so much colour, size and style variety, only a few zinnias are needed to highlight a garden, although it’s smart to load up on these useful and versatile flowers in every sunny space. Nectar-rich zinnias are magnets for butterflies and hummingbirds, so prepare for a lively show! Gardening ExperienceFountainHills.org Enjoy small town charm within the Greater Phoenix Metro Area. Close proximity to: • Six of Arizona’s finest 18-hole public golf courses • Scenic vistas and trails including McDowell Mountain Regional Park • Saguaro Lake and Canyon Lake • Fort McDowell Casino & Resort • Many unique dining experiences M FOUNTAIN HILLS WELCOMES CANADIAN VISITORS! Fertilizing garden annuals Plants take organic nutrients from garden soil and convert them into carbohydrate energy to fuel their growth. But if you expect 16 weeks of constant bloom, that might require a fertilizer boost. Controlled-release dry fertilizer pellets can be mixed into containers, soils or garden beds where annuals grow, and will provide a gradual release of nutrients over a period of time. A water-soluble fertilizer product (in crystal or concentrated liquid form, mixed in a watering can) allows you to deliver nutrients when you determine that plants need them. If plants have pale green or yellow leaves, or a lack of flowering performance, that will alert you to a nutrient deficiency. To continue at top performance, healthy and vigorously growing annuals growing in garden beds will benefit from a fertilizer feeding every 21 days. A balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 (or numbers near to these) will best meet flowering plant needs. If plants are slow to grow and bloom, choose a fertilizer with a higher middle number, such as 10-15-10. The middle number indicates the potassium content which will influence root growth and blossom production. Fertilizer for plants growing in hanging baskets and patio containers should be mixed in lower proportions. When fertilizer is delivered into containers, none of it can run away or be flushed into surrounding soil. Plant roots get a full dose remaining permanently in their soil. Mix fertilizer at half strength and watch how plants react to this level of nutrients. Fertilizers mixed at the lower proportion can be given to container plants every 14 days. CSANews | SUMMER 2020 | 59
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