Petunias pair exceedingly well with other plants in the garden. Planting Petunias in an established garden can be the final flourish that ensures nonstop color throughout the growing season. Plant Petunias in a mixed seasonal container for the patio or deck, either as the filler or a spiller. Larger-growing Supertunias make fast-growing, weed-suppressing groundcovers when paired with shrubs or summer-blooming perennials. Petunias are flexible about placement in the garden. Any spot that has full sun to partial shade, well-draining but moist soil, and moderate fertility is perfect for growing this reliable and well-known annual.
Shrubs To Plant With Petunias
Petunias make a great groundcover near established hedges or shrub borders. The quick growing and trailing habit allows them to spread, helping to suppress weeds for the whole growing season. Plant them in front of deciduous shrubs such as Hydrangea, Weigela, and Spirea for a shot of extra color.
Using drip irrigation or soaker hoses in large areas like shrub borders is ideal for Petunias, which do not like to have wet foliage. The shallow roots do not interfere with the more robust root systems of most shrubs, and if the gardener decides to change the color scheme, Petunias are easily replaced the following year for very little cost or effort as compared to using perennial or shrubby groundcovers.
Perennials To Plant With Petunias
Petunias can add an extra dimension to a perennial bed either as a long-blooming groundcover or to fill in gaps when perennials have finished their show of color. Petunias look fabulous as a groundcover for larger perennials such as ornamental grasses, black-eyed Susans, and iris. Use Petunias to fill in for lower-growing plants such as Salvia, Euphorbia, and African daisies once they have finished blooming for the season. Either place a pot in the empty location or plant the Petunias directly in the ground to fill in naked spots in the garden throughout the summer and fall.
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. Petunias growing in the vegetable garden are not only useful for attracting pollinators but can be grown to provide shade to beds of spinach, lettuce, and other crops that prefer a shady location during the hottest parts of the summer.
Petunias, like most annuals, can be planted closer together than perennials or shrubs. They only live for one season, which means they have less time to fill in large areas. Allow 8-10 inches between plants for good coverage.
Best Companion Plants For Petunias in Containers
Petunias may be one of the best plants for container growing. They can serve as fillers, spillers, or even as thrillers. The most successful mixed plantings combine plants that enjoy the same growing conditions. Petunias thrive in full sun and moderately moist, well-draining soil. Choose plants with similar requirements, such as ornamental grasses and sweet potato vine planted to instantly dress up your deck or patio. Petunias can even be paired with tropical houseplants for the summer months. The small root system of Petunias will not interfere with the roots of other plants. Try using Petunias as a spiller around a potted lemon tree or potted indoor palm grown outside for the summer.
Plants Not to Grow With Petunias
Plants that require full shade and wet, boggy soils will not mix well with Petunias. Petunias can develop root diseases when grown in a site with poor drainage or too much shade. Petunias require at least 6 hours of full sun to continue blooming heavily throughout the season.
Petunias can be used with many different plants in the garden to provide nonstop blooming from late spring to the first frost of fall. Look for plants that thrive in full sun to partial shade, with consistently moist but well-draining and moderately fertile soil.
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Petunias can be grown alongside just about any annual plant in the flower garden or vegetable garden
vegetable garden
A vegetable garden (also known as a vegetable patch or vegetable plot) is a garden that exists to grow vegetables and other plants useful for human consumption, in contrast to a flower garden that exists for aesthetic purposes. It is a small-scale form of vegetable growing.
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.
Geraniums. Geraniums pair well with petunias in container arrangements. A popular bedding and potted plant, geraniums have similar requirements as petunias and pair well in flower beds and containers. Geraniums come in a number of colors, from white, red, pink, orange, and purple.
Petunias are adaptable plants that can thrive in the ground or planters. Their relatively easy care requirements and abundant flowers make Petunias a very popular choice for containers and hanging baskets. These stunners will bloom from the spring through the fall and add greenery and blooms to porches and patios.
Mosaic and other viruses, Tobacco mosaic virus and others. Petunia is susceptible to several of the viruses which are also found on tomatoes and potatoes. Light and dark green mottled areas, mosaics, and crinkling of leaves indicate infection by the tobacco mosaic virus.
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.
Though weekly irrigation of potted petunias may be sufficient when the plants are small, more established containers will likely require water every few days.
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.
Vegetable plants: Coffee grounds are also great for vegetable plants, as they help to provide a nutrient-rich soil that can produce healthy and bountiful crops. Flowers: Coffee grounds can be used to fertilize a wide variety of flowering plants, such as roses, hydrangeas, and petunias.
Petunias are tender and won't tolerate any frost at all, so you mustn't plant them outside until late spring or early summer. Petunias need a good rich soil to perform well. In borders, prepare the soil by mixing in plenty of well-rotted compost or soil conditioner, in advance of planting.
These critters can be one of a gardener's most despised pests, wiping out entire crops overnight. Rabbits prefer young, tender shoots and are particularly fond of lettuce, beans, and broccoli. Flowers they like to nibble include gazanias, marigolds, pansies, and petunias.
A little Magnesium Sulphate (Epsom salts) and/or trace elements mixed in with this fertiliser or into their water will further boost the plants. Copper sprays will stop any fungus. Petunias are excellent plants for hot dry spots where other flowers are often sun-burned.
In cold climates, petunias are annuals and only last one growing season. Within their warmer growing zones, petunias will come back every year but still don't last very long—about three years. However, they will self-seed for continued growth.
The flowers of common garden petunia release substances, known as floral volatiles, to attract nocturnal pollinators, such as the hawkmoth. The plant depends on these insects for its reproduction.
But, they have different light requirements—petunias love the sun, and rex begonias love the shade, so even if they would look beautiful together, don't plant them next to each other. "The plants will thrive in the spot they are planted based on their light requirements," says Mazat.
Petunias can help to repel tomato hornworms, aphids, leafhoppers, squash bugs, and asparagus beetles. They require very little maintenance, so add them to into garden beds, hanging baskets, and containers.
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.
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