Page 55 - Senior Scene Magazine December 2017

Matrix, Cool Wave pansies highlight winter gardens
By Gary R. Bachman MSU Extension Service
These days, I have to wear my hoodie sweatshirts and long pants for anything below 60 degrees. But the fall- ing temperatures also signal something great: racks and racks of great, cool-sea- son color as pansies ll local garden centers. People always ask me about the right time to plant pansies. The answer is, right now. This is an absolutely great time to plant, and the ones I’m planting are Matrix pansies.
Matrix pansies ower early, and strong stems hold the huge blooms above the foliage, allowing the petals to utter in the slightest breeze. They offer some of the toughest annual, cool-sea- son color plants and should be planted in everyone’s garden and landscape. Matrix pansies come in a huge range of colors and styles. The traditional ones have dark blotches, while the clear vari- eties are pure colors without the blotch- es. Matrix pansies are also available in color-coordinated mixes instead of the traditional, random color mixes.
Matrixes have a freely branching growth habit and reach about 8 inches in height and width. When massed in a
bed, as pansies were meant to be plant- ed, they create an impressive, colorful landscape carpet. While it’s obvious
I’m a rabid Matrix fan, I have a growing fondness for what may be an even bet- ter variety for us to grow: Cool Wave pansies.
Cool Wave has a unique, trailing growth habit that makes it a must-have in your garden. These pansies are much more vigorous than standard varieties. The plants are well branched and will ll
Senior Scene® | December Issue
a landscape bed or hanging basket with good color from fall all the way to next spring. Flower colors are very attractive, and there is quite a selection available.
Along with white, yellow and pur- ple, there is Violet Wing, Frost, Blue- berry Swirl and my favorite, Sunshine
N’ Wine, which is a bright, sunny yellow with mellow burgundy wing and accent- ed owers. All the owers have whisker lines radiating from the center, resem- bling delicate artist brush strokes.
Cold tolerance is one particular at- tribute that impresses me about pansies in the garden and landscape, and Cool Wave pansies are no exception. As with all annual color, always work a little com- post into the soil before planting. Be sure to maintain a consistent soil mois- ture, and feed them with a water-soluble fertilizer, even during the winter. Pansies need at least six hours of full sun each day for the best owering and growth. Pansies may be the perfect winter ow- ering annual, as the plants can freeze solid and thaw with little damage. In response to the cold, their leaves will
be tinged purple, and their owers will be nipped back. But once it gets a little warmer, the owering will rev up again. Don’t wait. Get to the garden center
this weekend and choose some of these colorful cool-season plants for your land- scape. SS
Logos
Business Cards
Flyers
Postcards
EDDM Mailers
& anything else to promote your business
Big Studio Ideas
Small Studio Prices
Call today! (321) 723-8005 www.PrintDigitalInk.com
Mon-TH 9-4, Fri-9-12 Downtown Melbourne 720 E New Haven Ave
Design & Printing Creative Services for Small Business
December2017|SeniorScene®Magazine| 55