Simple gardening practices recommended by Michigan State University Extension can be done with annuals and perennials to prevent them from become top-heavy or leggy and allowing them to flower for a longer period.
* Pruning back top-heavy perennials will encourage branching, will delay blooming and will allow new side shoots to emerge.
* Pinching the stem tips of leggy annuals like begonia, celosia and coleus enables dormant buds along stems to open and makes the plant look full and robust. A hard pruning of annuals like petunias causes plants to branch out with improved flowering.
* Removal of dead flowers from plants improves their appearance and prevents the plants from wasting valuable energy resources producing seed.
* Over-fertilization and over-watering may cause some plants to become leggy and topple over with heavy flowers. Individual stems can be supported with commercial wire stakes and a soft string tie.
* Pruning back top-heavy perennials will encourage branching, will delay blooming and will allow new side shoots to emerge.
* Pinching the stem tips of leggy annuals like begonia, celosia and coleus enables dormant buds along stems to open and makes the plant look full and robust. A hard pruning of annuals like petunias causes plants to branch out with improved flowering.
* Removal of dead flowers from plants improves their appearance and prevents the plants from wasting valuable energy resources producing seed.
* Over-fertilization and over-watering may cause some plants to become leggy and topple over with heavy flowers. Individual stems can be supported with commercial wire stakes and a soft string tie.
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| To prevent annuals like the petunia from becoming too "leggy," pinch the stem tips so that side shoots and flowers develop. Photo credit: Rebecca Finneran, MSU Extension |
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