Pansy Tip

Here is my take on pansies here in Alabama.
We plant them in the fall or early winter because we know they like cool weather. Also, after the first freeze, there is no other annual that performs as well as pansies do.
It is now early March and there is no better time for your existing pansies to look their best. There are several reasons for this. One reason is that our lowest low temps aren't nearly as tough on pansies in March as they are in January/February. Every time we get down into the twenties or teens, pansies take a bit of a hit and take a little time to recover, even though they like cool weather. Teen temps won't typically kill a pansy plant, but you aren't going to see them going full steam ahead when it's that cold, either. Another big reason your existing pansy beds can do so well, right now, is because the root system is more developed because they've been growing for several months. Nice cool, but not cold, weather, coupled with a mature root system are setting your pansies up for success. To reap the benefits, you need to do three things to make it happen for you:
1. dead head your pansy plants (remove spent blooms)
2. fertilize with a plant food formulated for blooming annuals
3. make sure your pansies beds don't get too dry (water 2 x's a week inbetween rains)

The last month or so of pansy season can be a full color blast!