When Can Pansies Be Left Outside?
It’s no wonder why many gardeners regard pansies as one of the most versatile and beautiful flowers in their gardens! With vibrant colors, petite blooms and a long bloom season, this cool-season annual is a favorite of gardeners everywhere. But what’s the best timing for planting them and when can they be left outside? Let’s take a closer look!
What Are Pansies?
Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) are an annual flower with small, delicate blooms in shades of yellow, white, purple, blue and red. They are also known for their heart-shaped faces that make them quite fun to look at! Pansies tend to bloom from late winter through early spring in mild climates, although additional flowers may appear during the rest of the year in cooler areas with temperatures below 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24°C).
Why Are They A Great Flower To Plant?
Pansies are relatively hardy plants that thrive in cooler temperatures – making them perfect for growing in early spring or late fall. They require very little maintenance and are tolerant of both sunny and shady areas, making them very easy to grow in any garden or landscape setting! Additionally, they are highly resistant to pests and diseases which makes them a great choice for those looking for low-maintenance gardening options.
How To Prepare The Soil For Planting Pansies
Before planting your pansy seeds or seedlings, it’s important to prepare your soil properly by incorporating some organic matter such as compost or manure into it – this will help your soil retain moisture and improve drainage during the winter months when rain can be sparse and soil moisture levels low. It’s also important to ensure that your soil is free from weeds before planting – this will help prevent weeds from competing with your flowers for nutrients and water throughout the season.
When Is The Best Time To Plant Pansies Outside?
The best time to plant pansies is in late summer or early fall when the soil temperature is between 45-70°F (7-21°C). This allows them enough time to establish themselves before winter sets in – ensuring that they have plenty of time to start blooming come springtime! In colder climates, you may want to wait until mid-autumn before planting your pansy seeds or seedlings – this will give them more time to establish themselves before winter weather arrives in full force!
How To Care For Pansies Once Planted Outside
Once you’ve planted your pansy seeds or seedlings outdoors, it’s important to keep an eye on them throughout the season – especially during periods of extreme weather like drought or heavy rainstorms which can cause stress on the plants if they don’t receive adequate water or shade protection (depending on how much sun exposure they get). Additionally, make sure you deadhead any spent blooms regularly as this will help encourage more flowering throughout the season!
Tips For Successful Pansy Growth
To ensure successful growth of your pansy plants throughout the season, here are some helpful tips:
• Water regularly but don’t overwater – this will help keep their soil moist but not soggy which can lead to root rot,
• Mulch around plants with organic matter such as leaf mold or compost,
• Fertilize every 4 weeks with a balanced fertilizer,
• Prune back stems after flowering has finished, and
• Keep weeds under control by pulling out any that appear around plants regularly.
What About Cold Weather?
When temperatures dip below freezing during winter months, it’s important to provide some extra protection for your pansy plants such as covering them loosely with burlap sacks or placing plastic bottles over individual plants – this will help trap heat around their stems so they don’t freeze over night!
Additionally, if possible move container-grown plants into sheltered areas during cold snaps so that their roots won’t suffer too much damage from frost damage – just make sure you bring them back out once temperatures start warming up again so that they can get plenty of sunlight!
When Can Pansies Be Left Outside?
Once temperatures begin rising above freezing again in springtime (typically sometime between March and April), you can leave your pansy plants outdoors without fear of frost damage! This is typically when most gardeners begin seeing new flower buds appearing on their plants which means that you should soon be able enjoy their stunning displays of color until late summer/early autumn when temperatures start cooling off again!
Conclusion
Pansies are one of the most popular annual flowers amongst gardeners thanks to their vibrant colors and ability to thrive in cooler climates – making them perfect for early spring or late fall planting! And while they do require some extra care during cold weather periods such as providing frost protection and keeping an eye out for weeds – once temperatures begin rising above freezing again in springtime you can leave these beautiful flowers outdoors without fear of frost damage all season long!
