Petunias are the workhorse annual for summer color. Trailing Wave types spill from hanging baskets. Upright grandifloras fill beds. They bloom from spring until frost as long as you keep them fed and deadheaded.
Sun: Full sun. Water: Moderate. Zones: Annual (perennial in 9–11). Height: 6–18 in. Bloom time: Spring to frost.
Plant after last frost in rich, well-drained soil. Water consistently — containers may need daily watering in heat. Feed every two weeks with a bloom fertilizer. Pinch back leggy stems mid-summer to restart flowering. Wave and Supertunia series are self-cleaning.
Veelgestelde vragen
01 Why are my petunias getting leggy?
Heat and underfeeding. Cut them back by half in mid-summer, fertilize, and they will rebound with fresh blooms in about two weeks.
02 How often should I water petunias in containers?
In summer heat, daily — sometimes twice a day for hanging baskets in full sun. The small soil volume dries out fast. Check by finger at 1 inch down; water until it runs from drainage holes.
03 Do I need to deadhead Wave petunias?
No — Wave, Supertunia, and other modern self-cleaning series drop their spent blooms without intervention. Older grandiflora petunias still need deadheading to keep flowering. Check the tag for "self-cleaning" if you want zero maintenance.