Annuals! Zinnias!
Boulder, Colorado area landscapes {Monthly Series}
Annuals are a great way to supplement a lot of color in a flower garden or landscape. And Zinnias fit the bill! Everyone says it’s easy. Buy seeds, sow in ground, water. Yep. But this is Colorado. The first two are easy, as long as you buy fresh seeds (mostly), and if you are planting in healthy soil. Although for Zinnias, they don’t need much in terms of soil amendments. In fact, they will self-seed into areas where there is moisture present in the worst of soils. They are showing up late in the summer in the garden nooks as full blooming flowers. See the pictures.
These were not planted, but self-seeded instead. So, the key to large and healthy-looking Zinnias? It is the water. Consistent watering week after week to keep the soil moist with good mulch for water retention is the key. These Zinnias self-seeded into an area where Maxijet irrigation stakes irrigate up to 5 times per week in the heat of summer. That kept a consistent moisture content in the soil, near the surface where the seeds had self-sowed into. The best annual beds will be top watered, not drip irrigated and can thrive if the watering is right. This year, in Colorado, due to water restrictions, many annual beds went unplanted because they are more water intensive than having a more xeriscaped landscape. Consider annuals sparingly in Colorado. However, chosen wisely, they can add just a splash of color where needed.
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