Spring is in the air across Ohio! The days are warming up, the humidity is starting to creep in (we know it’s coming), and it’s the perfect time to add a burst of color to your landscape with vibrant annuals. These fantastic flowers will thrive throughout our longer, often warmer, growing season and provide a continuous display of beauty.
But with so many gorgeous options at your local Cincinnati or Dayton garden center, how do you choose the right annuals for your Ohio garden? This guide will walk you through some of the best annuals to plant this spring in our region so that you’re ensured a spring and summer filled with dazzling color and healthy plant growth.
Southwest Ohio’s Spring Climate
Here in Southwest Ohio, we’re fortunate to often experience an earlier and warmer spring compared to other parts of the state. While a late frost is still a possibility, the safe planting window for most annuals is generally around late April to early May.
Top Annuals for Spring Planting in Southwest Ohio
Here are some exceptional annuals that will flourish in Southwest Ohio’s spring and summer conditions:
For Sunny Spots
- Petunias: Petunias are hardy annuals and reliable favorites for Southwest Ohio gardens. These adorable flowers come in a stunning array of colors, sizes (grandiflora, multiflora, wave), and forms (single, double, ruffled). They handle Ohio’s warmer temperatures well and bloom prolifically with regular deadheading. They are also great annual flowers for early spring in Ohio.
- Geraniums: Known for their bold flower clusters and fragrant foliage, geraniums are tough and relatively drought-tolerant once established. They come in various colors and leaf variations. Consider zonal, ivy, and scented geraniums for different and unique touches in your garden.
- Marigolds: These cheerful yellow, orange, and red blooms are easy to grow and offer a long blooming season. They can also deter some garden pests. Choose from dwarf to tall varieties with single or double flowers.
- Zinnias: If you love cutting flowers to bring indoors, zinnias are a must-have for your Ohio garden! They thrive in the sun and heat, come in a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes, and attract butterflies and other local pollinators. Regular deadheading encourages abundant blooms all spring and summer long.
- Lantana: This heat-loving annual is a fantastic choice for Ohio gardens. Plus, butterflies love lantana flowers and the plant is relatively drought-tolerant once established.
For Shady to Partially Shady Spots
- Impatiens: These classic flowers are perfect for adding vibrant color to shady corners of your Cincinnati or Dayton yard. Impatiens offer an abundance of delicate flowers in shades of pink, purple, red, white, and orange.
- Begonias: With their diverse foliage and beautiful flowers, begonias are a versatile choice for shady areas. Options include wax begonias, tuberous begonias, and trailing varieties. Begonias are also great for adding different textures and bloom styles to your garden.
- Coleus: Primarily grown for their stunning and varied foliage patterns and colors, some coleus varieties also produce delicate flower spikes. They thrive in shade to partial shade and add unique visual elements to your garden.
- Fuchsias: These elegant plants feature bell-shaped flowers with striking color combinations. They prefer partial shade and moist, well-drained soil, and they appreciate some protection from the hot summer sun. Consider trailing varieties for hanging baskets or window boxes.
- Torenia (Wishbone Flower): This charming annual produces delicate, trumpet-shaped flowers often have yellow throats with petals in blue, purple, pink, and white. It thrives in partial shade and tolerates Ohio’s summer heat and humidity.
Tips for Planting Spring Annuals in Ohio
Planting spring annuals in Ohio doesn’t have to be complicated. Follow these gardening tips to give your plants the best chance at surviving and thriving. You can also call us or come by Stockslager’s Greenhouse and Garden Center for gardening expertise and advice.
- Amend Your Soil: Before planting in your garden, enrich your soil with compost or other organic matter to improve drainage and fertility, which is especially important with Ohio’s clay-heavy soils. If you don’t know exactly what to add to your soil, then get your soil tested. This will tell you what nutrients you need to add to your soil for healthy plants.
- Choose Healthy Plants: Select plants with vibrant foliage, sturdy stems, and no signs of pests or diseases from your local Dayton garden center, such as Stockslager’s Greenhouse and Garden Center
- Water Thoroughly: After planting, water your annuals deeply to help them establish their roots.
- Mulch: Apply a layer of mulch around your plants to help retain moisture during our warmer months, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
- Fertilize Regularly: Annuals are heavy feeders. So, use a balanced liquid fertilizer every few weeks to encourage continuous blooming throughout Ohio’s growing season.
- Deadhead Regularly: Remove spent flowers to encourage more blooms and keep your plants looking tidy.
- Consider Container Gardening: Annuals thrive in containers, and vibrant flower containers are great for adding pops of color to patios, porches, balconies, and decks.
Get Your Annuals and Gardening Supplies at Stockslager’s
Our Spring Sale is our biggest sale of the season and goes from April 19th to April 27th. We have major discounts on annuals and other plants and gardening supplies. You’ll especially want to see our wide selection of petunias, vibrant flower hanging baskets, and geraniums.
Missed our Spring Sale? Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss out on our other seasonal deals, discounts, and specials. Also, follow us on our socials to get alerts on our best promos and upcoming community events.
For more sales, discounts, and expert gardening advice, come by Stockslager’s Greenhouse & Garden Center and let one of our friendly and knowledgeable staff members assist you. Call our garden center at 937-687-2722 for questions and inquiries about availability.
