Each of us are subjected to stresses and pressures every day in our home, work, and living environment; plants are no different. Unfortunately, there is no "stressless" environment, and there is no totally stress-resistant bedding plant. Each site has its stress level and each plant has its tolerance level. There are steps that can be taken to reduce or avoid stress in the landscape. However, no program can prevent all problems, and the key to successful landscape color using bedding plants is to match the particular site with specific plant species. But before you can select plants to use, the site should be accurately analyzed and characterized, and preparations should be made to minimize stress conditions that may occur.

A site analysis for bedding plants should include

1. temperature averages for the color season,
2. amount of sunlight received daily,
3. rainfall averages and average intervals between rains, and,
4. soil characteristics such as drainage and moisture retention.

Each of these components should be further defined prior to plant selection.

Very few species look attractive and flower profusely from early spring through late fall, and rotational planting for continuous color should be considered (Table 1). Cool-season flowers such as dianthus, snapdragons, and pansies can be used early in the season. It is possible to extend the flowering season of cool-season annuals by placing them in a protected location, shaded from direct sunlight from 12:00 to 4:00 PM. Heat-loving flowers such as gaillardias, portulaca, sand verbena, and vinca do not begin to flower until early summer and should be used for summer color and high temperature situations. Heat tolerance is an advantageous characteristic, and bedding plant trials can offer cultivar suggestions to landscapers interested in plant performance in high temperatures (Table 2). Another temperature consideration is frost tolerance (Table 1). Avoid early planting of tender plants to prevent frost damage. Tender species also will be the first to be killed from frosts in the fall.

* Adapted from Armitage, A. 1988. 1988 heat tolerant annuals for the landscaper. Greenhouse Grower 6(13):54,56.

Light. Light and temperature are closely related, and plants listed as preferring lower light may tolerate more sun, if temperatures are moderate. When evaluating light exposure, note the duration and intensity of light the site receives. Four hours of full sun during the morning is much different than four hours of afternoon sun. Also, in a shaded location, the degree of light filtration can vary. In general, if the site receives more than 3 hours of unfiltered midday sun, it should be treated as a "full sun" site, with respect to plant selection (Table 1). "Partial shade" can be defined as receiving unfiltered morning sun, but shade during the afternoon hours, or moderate shading throughout the entire day. A "heavily shaded" site would receive very little direct midday light and less than 60% of the sun's intensity during the remainder of the day. A mismatch of plant and light can lead to reduced flowering, leggy growth habit, burning of plants, and stunting of growth.

Water. Water stress in North Carolina covers both extremities of the spectrum, even for the same landscape site. Bed preparation is essential for avoiding both moisture excess and drought conditions (see HIL-551, Bed Preparation and Fertilization Recommendations for Bedding Plants in the Landscape). For most situations, supplemental irrigation will be required at some point during the growing season. For minimal irrigation sites, select "drought tolerant" species (Table 1). The best insurance against excessive moisture is proper bed preparation and sufficient drainage. Keep in mind that the majority of over watering problems, assuming a well-prepared site, occur from too frequent irrigations rather than too much water applied at any one time. If supplemental irrigation is in place, apply enough water at every watering to assure complete bed coverage. Also, an irrigation schedule should take into account rainfall and be adjusted appropriately to be most effective.

Soil Characteristics. Plants depend on the soil for water, anchorage, and nutrients. Frequent heavy rains in combination with poorly drained beds will reduce plant performance and increase the chances of root rot problems. On the other hand, beds with excellent drainage combined with little water holding capacity could require irrigation as frequently as every other day. Nutrient deficiencies and toxicities are common in the landscape, although they are easily avoided if proper steps are taken. Do not guess at fertility levels--take a soil test and send it in for analysis. Follow proper bed preparation guidelines given in HIL-551, Bed Preparation and Fertilization Recommendations for Bedding Plants in the Landscape, to avoid water, pH, and nutrient stress situations. Again, stress prevention and avoidance is much easier than relying on stress tolerance.

Air Pollutants. Some landscape sites, especially in highly urbanized areas, are subjected to significant levels of air pollution. The most damaging of these pollutants are sulfur dioxide (SO₂), ozone (O₃), and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN). Symptoms of SO₂ injury include necrotic (dead) spots between the major veins, where the tissue turns light tan and papery in texture. The most common symptom of exposure to O₃ is the formation of tiny, light-colored flecks or spots on the upper surfaces of affected leaves, similar to spider mite damage. PAN injury is expressed as silvering, glazing, bronzing, and sometimes death of the lower leaf surfaces. Bedding plants do exhibit relative sensitivity and tolerance to these materials (Table 3), and if pollutants are a problem, plants should be selected accordingly.

*Adapted from Rogers, M.N. 1976. Air pollution, p. 441-481. In: J. Mastalerz (ed.).
Bedding Plants, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

Successful colorscaping accepts there is no perfect planting site and builds upon given parameters. Steps to follow include:

1. Site analysis for temperature, light, water, and soil characteristics.
2. Proper adjustment of beds to reduce/prevent nutrition and water stress.
3. Selection of proper plant species for specific sites, including rotation of plants for specific time periods.

Paybacks include more attractive color, less maintenance requirements, and more satisfied clients.

For square spacing, the distance between plants within rows (X) equals the distance between rows (Y).

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For square spacing, the distance between plants within rows (X) equals the distance between rows (Y).

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For triangular spacing, the distance between plants within rows and between rows both equal X and the distance between rows (Y) equals 0.886 times X.

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For triangular spacing, the distance between plants within rows and between rows both equal X and the distance between rows (Y) equals 0.886 times X.

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