Can you plant any flowers next to each other?
Not all flowers get along. In fact, some flowers will downright kill anything you plant near it. These plants have what is called “allelopathic” qualities, which means that they release chemicals to kill off the good, nitrogen creating bacteria where ever their roots and dead leaves reach the soil.
There's certainly an art to combining annuals, perennials, shrubs, vines, and more to create a gorgeous and harmonious garden. Not only do you need to consider contrasting and complementary colors, season of bloom, and flower shape, but also care needs of your plant selections.
- Petunias & Tulips. Both petunias and tulips are beautiful flowers on their own. ...
- Angelonia & Pentas. ...
- Potato Ivy and Purple Fountain Grass. ...
- Crotons & Marigold or Mums. ...
- Dusty Miller and Pansies or Violas. ...
- Ornamental Cabbage or Kale with Dianthus.
If you want a little less maintenance, space annual flowers on a more typical 8-12” on center planting pattern Kole says. That allows room for plants to spread, and they'll look better and better as summer goes on.
Asparagus | Fennel, Garlic, Onions, Potatoes |
---|---|
Chives | Beans, Peas |
Chrysanthemum | Lettuce |
Cilantro | Fennel |
Cucumber | Basil, Rosemary, Sage, Fennel, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Potatoes |
Marigold companion planting enhances the growth of basil, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, eggplant, gourds, kale, potatoes, squash and tomatoes. Marigold also makes a good companion plant to melons because it deters beetles. Beans and cabbage are listed as bad companion plants for marigolds.
Colors that are next to each other or across from each other work well together. Think about height. Most flower gardens are tiered, with the tallest plants in the back and the shortest ones up front. Also, try this out: plant annuals in the front so they're easier to remove and replace each new growing season.
Avoid pairing them with plants that have vastly different growing needs. For example, shade-loving plants like impatiens and begonias will languish in the full sun needed for petunias.
Analogous colors are those that are next to each other on the color wheel. These colors tend to blend together well. The diagram below shows the 6 major colors on the color wheel. Analogous colors include red and orange, orange and yellow, yellow and green, green and blue, blue and violet, and violet and red.
Crop Name | Companions |
---|---|
CORN | Beans (pole) Cucumbers Dill Melons Peas Squash Sunflower |
CUCUMBERS | Beans Borage Dill Lettuce Nasturtiums Oregano Radish Sunflowers Tansy |
LETTUCE | Chives Onions Oregano Peas Poached Egg plants Radishes Scallions Zinnia |
ONIONS | Beets Cabbage Carrot Chard Lettuce Strawberry Tomatoes |
What is the best time of day to plant flowers?
Ideally, transplant your flowers, ornamental grasses, and foliage plants on a cloudy, overcast day that isn't too windy. Planting early in the morning before the sun heats up the soil will produce the best results.
If the plant tag recommends 10" spacing you then can refer to the chart to the right and see that 1.5 plants will be needed per square feet of bed space. Therefore, the equation would look like this. 40 square feet X 1.50 plants per square feet = 60 Plants needed to fill bed.
Space grandifloras and multifloras about 12 inches apart in full sunlight, or several inches closer together when planted in a shadier location. Milliflora petunias can be spaced as close as 4 to 6 inches. The spreading ground-cover types of petunias should be planted at least 1 1/2 feet apart.
Science has discovered they can feel touch, so if touched by another plant it can cause a genetic defense response that reduces growth." Alongside this, houseplants that touch could become more easily infested with pests. So the short answer is no, houseplants should not touch each other.
Firm the soil around the roots, and water thoroughly to eliminate air pockets. Be sure to leave adequate space between each plant. Eight to 12 inches is typically recommended, although you can find specific information on each plant's tag.
Plant Health – Growing plants next to their companions can improve the overall health of both plants. By eliminating competition between plants, you allow one to absorb what it may need without depriving the other.
Oleander and Foxglove, while beautiful, shouldn't be planted near your vegetables. All parts of these plants are toxic and harmful to your health. Gladiolus should be kept out of the garden especially if you're growing legumes like peas and beans.
There's really no evidence that certain plants will somehow affect pepper growth, but you may want to avoid planting peppers near cabbage and other brassicas such as broccoli and cauliflower (because peppers prefer slightly different soil acidity levels) and fennel (which some gardeners say inhibits pepper development) ...
In most cases, the grounds are too acidic to be used directly on soil, even for acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas and hollies. Coffee grounds inhibit the growth of some plants, including geranium, asparagus fern, Chinese mustard and Italian ryegrass.
Marigolds come in vibrant yellow, red, and orange hues, which can be beautifully paired with complementary colors of other flowers in the garden landscape. Try interplanting marigolds with allium, coreopsis, roses, salvia, bachelor buttons, lavender, and geranium plants for eye-catching appeal.
Can petunias and marigolds be planted together?
Petunias don't directly benefit from marigolds as a companion, but they make a great pair. Petunias are heavy feeders, and marigolds are not. Therefore when planting the two together, the petunias won't be fighting for nutrients since the marigolds won't be using as much.
Zinnias and marigolds are the perfect plant companions because they belong to the family Asteraceae. Because of that, they have the same growing requirements and don't compete for nutrients when placed in the same flower bed.
The Rule of Three is a design concept that's so easy to use you almost can't go wrong! Simply line up three of the same plants, in the same pot, to create a visually pleasing series. For example, a series of identical pots lined up on a stone wall creates a simple (yet satisfying!)
Annuals are great for perennial garden bed borders. You can either plant them in the ground or in containers. It's a great idea to mix your perennials based on when they bloom. This way you can have color for most of the year.
Annuals To Plant With Petunias
Petunias can be grown alongside just about any annual plant in the flower garden or vegetable garden. Pair snapdragons, sweet potato vine, and Alyssum with Petunias for a colorful display that will keep blooming to the first frost.