Pansy Planting Tips

Hey everyone,
Here are a few pansy planting tips for you. First of all, plant pansies when it is cool, like it is now in Central Alabama. Sometimes it gets cool in early September, but I don't let that fool me. I wait until at least October and then only if it's cool. The reason for this is because pansies thrive in cool weather and do not cope well with hot weather. The pansy plants will get leggy and stretched out when they don't get the coolness they desire.
Choosing a spot is also important (just don't plant pansies in too shady of a spot). Or, I should say, preparing a spot is important. You definitely want the soil you are placing these pansies in to be nice and loamy. Have you ever watched one of those clean cut landscapers on HGTV? You know...the guy that takes his shovel in his manicured hands and sinks it into lush, to die for, soil. That's how your soil should look. The pansies will love you for it. Now, I would caution you to not make the soil "too cushy" or your plants will dry out quicker than you like.
More on soil preparation since that is likely the most important aspect of this discussion. I prefer to fertilize my pansies when I plant them. Pansies are heavy feeders (like me!), so a nice little fertilizer application mixed into the soil before planting or sprinkled around each pansy after you've planted them, will do wonders. I would suggest using a dry, granular flower food that you can get in a 4 lb. tub or a small resealable bag at the big box stores. Most flower foods will have a higher middle number (Phosphorus) and that's a good thing! For pansies, I would not use Osmocote. It is a slow release fertilizer, but it releases it's goodies based on soil temp, mostly, and in the winter time, Osmocote or other 3 month fertilizers will not be as effective. After that initial feeding, do subsequent feedings using either the same fertilizer or a liquid fertilizer with a similar fertilizer analysis (the three numbers that tell you how much nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are in the fertilizer). Read the label for instructions, always!
Alrighty then...the next thing to remember is: 1. always slightly loosen the roots up just before planting them in the ground...slightly loosening them is the key,,,you don't want your pansies to look like a doggie chew toy after you're done loosening the roots. 2. don't plant your pansies too deeply. They should be planted a tiny bit high with the soil mounding up to the crown of the little root ball. If this sounds confusing, just plant the plants even with the surrounding soil. I will say this, though, a slightly raised planting bed is a great idea...sorry, that comment should have been under "preparing a spot". 3. Lastly, water your little pansy friend! Water him before you plant him and water him well after you've planted him. And keep watering as he grows for you.
OK,,,sorry, but that wasn't lasty....other random notes on pansies:
A. Bigger doesn't always mean better, especially when it comes to pansies. If I'm buying a flat of cell packs, for instance, I don't look for the biggest, tallest plants. I look for nice, compact, bushy plants and preferrably plants with flower buds swelling and ready to show a burst of color.
B. Dead head your pansies (this is where I am not so much like a pansy!). Take that spent bloom and pinch it right off...this practice will encourage more blooming.
C. And really lastly, enjoy your pansies. Smell them, look at them, and thank them for being so inspiring!