Sunflowers are one of summer’s most treasured plants, and Central Floridians can enjoy them practically year-round because they have the necessary sunshine, heat, and soil to make these beauties thrive.
Standing tall with their radiant faces atop thick green stalks, they make for brilliant garden specimens and attract wildlife to your yard. Although most people are familiar with the traditional statuesque type, there are several varieties. Dwarf sunflowers only grow to be a foot tall while other types have stems covered in small golden flower clusters, and then there are those that aren’t yellow at all as they flaunt petals in shades of red, orange, maroon, cream, and brown.
No matter the style or color, sunflowers are especially fascinating because they are heliotropic, which means their flowers follow the sun as it travels from east to west across the sky. In the evenings, they return to face the east and await the morning sun.
Want to Create a Fancy Sunflower Garden? Follow These Helpful Tips.
Step 1: Choose a spot that’s bright and sheltered. A sunny location that is protected from the wind is ideal for sunflowers. However, be ready to stake taller specimens once their heads become heavy with seeds and when storms threaten.
Step 2: Enrich your soil. Add organic fertilizer to the garden such as compost.
Step 3: Give ‘em room to grow. Sunflowers prefer soil that’s non-constricting. Dig a hole that is twelve inches in diameter, then loosely cover the seed or the seedling’s roots with loamy or sandy soil.
Step 4: Combine annuals and perennials. Sunflower gardens become exceptionally beautiful over time when they boast a full range of sizes and colors. Annual sunflowers have both small and large seed heads, while perennial varieties have only small seed heads. Keep in mind that perennials grow in clumps with deep roots and take two years to produce flowers; however, annual varieties have shallow roots and show off their blossoms on tall stems during the first year. Even though they are late bloomers, perennials are awesome because the same plant comes back year after year. When it comes to annual sunflowers, you may have to replant them each year since birds, squirrels, and other wildlife love their seeds and will devour them before they can get worked into the soil. It’s smart to collect some of the seeds to store in a cool, dry place, so you can plant them later.
Step 5: Quench their thirst. Water your sunflower garden every day if possible, but do not overwater. They grow best in well-draining soil and will die if the ground becomes waterlogged. It is best to keep the soil evenly moist, which is why you want to make sure your sprinklers can span the entire garden.
As an added precaution, be sure to check your irrigation system every so often to make sure it’s working properly. If you’re not sure your system is running like it should, call us or complete our request service form and we’ll come take a look.
Celebrate Summer Year-Round with Sunflowers
Now that you know how to create a garden full of sunshine, it will be easy to keep it looking brilliant month after month. Not only will your sunflowers brighten grey cloudy days, you are making your landscape a welcome sight for wildlife.
Remember, if you ever need assistance with sprinkler repair or irrigation in the Orlando area, make sure and give us a ring!