'Self Clean' For Fewer Garden Chores

by KYW's Phran Novelli

A self-cleaning garden doesn't that sound great? Keeping those big beautiful hanging baskets or garden beds full of annuals looking fresh can be a lot of work. But if you plant mostly annuals that are self-cleaners, you'll have a lot less work to do.

Impatiens for shade, flowering Vinca for sun, Verbena, many of the modern Petunias and tiny Calibrachoa such as 'Million Bells,' are all self-cleaning. Self-cleaning simply means that when the flower is done, the petals drop to the ground instead of hanging there on the plant, turning brown and staring at you whenever you walk outside, begging you to come clean them up.

So, if you didn't do it this year, make a note for next summer: look for self-cleaners when you buy annuals and your beds will always look tidy with very little effort. That way you can spend your summer days relaxing with a good book, instead of constantly popping up out of your chair to pick off browned blossoms.

(Photo by Phran Novelli: Annual flowering vinca, Catharanthus roseus (also called Vinca rosea and 'Madagascar Periwinkle'), is a self-cleaner that drops its browned blossoms so you never need to deadhead it.)