Seasonal Bedding & Hardy Annuals

Question 1

What is the meaning of edging in seasonal bedding? And give two examples of edging plants.

Answer 1

A single or double row of plants positioned to frame a display of seasonal bedding which are usually lower in height than the main groundwork.

• Lobelia erinus ‘Cambridge Blue’
• Myosotis ‘Blue Basket’

Question 2

What is the meaning of groundwork in seasonal bedding? And give two examples.

Answer 2

Also called infill.

The main planting within the scheme. Uniform in height, which is greater than the edging. Plants are grown for the colour of their flowers.

• Pelargonium zonale
• Erysimum cheiri

Question 3

What is the meaning of dot plants in seasonal bedding? And give two examples.

Answer 3

Plants that are usually positioned to break up the effect of the groundwork, which are usually taller in height. They are often foliage plants or have architectural interest.

• Canna indica
• Grevillea robusta
• Fatsia japonica
• Cordyline australis
• Miscanthus sinensis.

Question 4

What are the planting times for spring and summer seasonal bedding?

Answer 4

• Spring bedding is planted out in October and removed in May (plants used in spring bedding must be hardy and able to withstand -10C)
• Summer bedding is planted out from late May and removed in October (plants used in summer bedding are usually half hardy and able to withstand -5C).

Question 5

What is tropical bedding? And give two plant examples.

Answer 5

An informal type of summer bedding which usuaing species that are perceived as tropical in appearance, even if they’re not truly tropical. Often have flamboyant foliage or flowers. Usually mass planted for impact.

• Musa basjoo
• Grevillea robusta
• Dicksonia antarctica
• Canna indica
• Trachycarpus fortuneii.

Question 6

Explain bed preparation for seasonal bedding.

Answer 6

• Before cultivation old bedding plants are removed. Some are saved and grown on, majority are shredded
• Beds then cultivated, usually by single digging but should be double dug every three years to prevent panning. Add organic matter in October.
• After cultivation soil should be consolidated (firmed by shuffling over the area with flat feet to eliminate air pockets)
• The bed is leveled (should have a flat top and sloping sides) using a landscape rake.
• Add a base dressing of fertiliser at the recommended rate (Growmore would be 100g/sqm) in May. Lightly rake in.

Question 7

Explain the sowing of summer bedding.

Answer 7

• Can grow from seeds or cuttings but seed sowing takes place in January in a glasshouse or polytunnel
• Aim is to have all the plants ready at the same time - the first week of June - for planting out
• So varieties are sown at different times according to growth rate to get timing right. For example:
  
  • Begonia semperflorens is sown in January
  • Lobelia erinus is sown in mid March
  • Lobularia maritima is sown in mid April.
• Plants must be hardened off before planting out.

Question 8

Describe the planting out of seasonal bedding.

Answer 8

• Before planting all plants must be thoroughly watered and picked over
• Many will require pinching out in order to make them bush out
• Plants are pushed out of their containers and placed at the planting stations before being planted
• Planting stations are 15-30cm apart, depending on species.
• Plants are often planted without any walking on the soil, to avoid compaction, so the gardener may be laying on their stomach on a structure slightly above ground level.

Question 9

List the maintenance tasks of seasonal bedding displays.

Answer 9

• Feeding
• Deadheading
• Irrigation
• Gapping up (replacing dead plants)
• Edging the surrounding lawn
• Checking for P&D and treating accordingly.

Question 10

Name three pests that affect seasonal bedding, the symptoms and control methods.

Answer 10

Peach potato aphid (common greenfly)

• Sucking insect causes leaves to curl and distort, discolour. Leaves sticky honeydew. Sooty mould.
• Wash of; remove by hand.

Slugs & snails

• Molluscs feed above ground during spring, summer and autumn, rasping soft tissue with their mouths, leaving irregular holes.
• Use traps; Nematodes; Ferric phosphate pellets.

Vine weevil

• Beetle-like insect when adult but it’s the larvae that cause the main problem, eating roots of plants. (Although adults eat evergreens like bergenia)
• Stunted growth, wilting, chlorosis
• Purchase clean plants; hand picking of larvae; nematode; soil drench using thiacloprid to control larvae.

Question 11

Name two diseases that affect seasonal bedding, including symptoms and control methods.

Answer 11

Botrytis (grey mould)

• Fungus affects soft tissue. Fuzzy grey mould.
• Remove infected material; improve ventilation.

Powdery mildew

• Fungal disease affecting soft tissue. Grey-white fungal bloom with a dry/powdery appearance, mainly on upper surface of leaves, then red blotches and curling.
• Choose less susceptible cultivars; Cut out early signs of infection; Apply systemic fungicide during growing season.