Being bold is critical to getting noticed! We all know that begonias are THE landscape staple… from sun to shade, with irrigation or without, they work, and they work hard. But how do you get new, attention-grabbing landscapes out of these old workhorses? Here are some tips from the experts on how to create a stunning bed for sun or shade for your customers.
First use vertical plants or elements that are clean (not wild) to create the “bones” of the garden. These “bones” help to define your space and make it appear neat and well-maintained all season. Usually these vertical elements are planted in the back of the bed, but they can also be used to create focal points or islands to visually break up large areas. Denver Daisy, Fresh Look Celosia and Pennisetum villosum all work well as a textural background plant.
Now, to achieve the most dramatic color you have to go BIG®! BIG® Begonias from Benary outperform every other premium begonia on the market. They have more flowers on top of the foliage for dramatic color in your bed all season long. BIG® begonias have the largest blooms on the market and size up early for a full, finished look. They also stay upright no matter how much rain old Mother Nature dishes out.
Most plants need to be planted on 8-inch or 12-inch centers. BIG® begonias will fill in faster — two weeks faster — than any other begonia on the market. And they grow to 24 inches tall, so BIG® begonias can be spaced every 18 inches on center. The reduced number of plants and labor can add up to huge savings! You will also save in maintenance of BIG® begonias. They require very little once they are established. In fact, the only maintenance advice we have found is called “plucking.” For a perfectly smooth bed of BIGs, just nip off the few tallest branches about 3 weeks after planting. That’s it! The plants will form a perfect mound of color for the rest of the season. We’ve even heard about some clients complaining when the BIGs get pulled out for a fall planting because they still look so perfect in September and October.
Whatever area of the country you service, BIG® begonias should be every landscape professional’s go-to plants for reliable, flawless results.