Looking to add some last minute color to the garden?
Zinnias are truly wonderful annuals for adding color to massed plantings, landscape borders or containers. And there’s lots of variety: tall plants or short plants, small or large flowers, and many colors to choose from. Why not plant a few to use as cut flowers in the home?
Here are some hints to keep zinnias happy in the landscape:
Zinnias like rich, well drained soil, even though they are very tolerant of average to slightly poor soils. Deadhead (remove) faded flowers to keep them blooming.
Afraid of zinnias because of powdery mildew on the leaves? Newer varieties do not have the problems with powdery mildew that the older varieties have.
If you grow the old-fashioned type, here are some quick tips for avoiding powdery mildew problems: space plants with enough distance to allow for adequate air circulation; avoid stagnant air patches. It’s always best to keep the foliage as dry as possible because powdery mildew depends on moisture to spread. So when you water, water under the foliage to keep the water at ground level. Otherwise, water early in the day so the foliage dries before evening. Leaves that are affected by powdery mildew can be removed and tossed.