Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Bachelor Buttons

Debbi writes~ I am having good success for the first time with Bachelor Buttons. However, some of them are lying down and growing horizontally. Can I cut these back and have them continue to bloom, should I stake them, or should I let them be? Also, I'd like to try the white and pink varieties, but haven't found them available the last couple years - Nashville, zone 6. Can you suggest a source?

A. I would prefer that you stake the wayward buttons. Mine have fallen over too, and sometimes it seems fine to clip them back a bit but not to the ground. Nice green wooden stakes work the best. You can buy bundles of them and use throughout the year. it is best to discard them in the fall as the soil line area of the stake weakens due to moisture and tend to snap off. They are so cheap that new ones to replace the weak ones are within the budget!

Also, make sure that you are trimming them back a little. As the flower heads wilt, fade and dry, take clean sharp shears and clip off those branches back to a set of good healthy leaves. You can cut back 6" if you like and this will strengthen them. Do not cut back including new unopened buds though as this will decrease your flowers and work against what you are seeking, which is to strengthen the stems and encourage more healthy growth and flowering.

Please give them a weak fertilizing every 2-3 weeks along with plentiful water. They are big drinkers, so if your area is lacking rain, supplement the beds with slow deep watering as needed, usually about every 4-5 days unless overcast and cool.

As for seeds, go to:

http://www.veseys.com/sub.cfm?source=72

http://www.homeharvestseeds.com/ferrymorseannualsac.htm

http://www.gardenguides.com/seedcatalog/flowers/flowers.htm

http://www.goodseedco.net

http://www.vegetableseedwarehouse.com/org.html

http://www.southernliving.com/garden/quick_and_easy_color.asp

http://www.albrightseed.com/vineyard2.htm