Plants usually grow much better with a continuous nutrient supply and labor is reduced since controlled release fertilizer application frequency is less than for rapid release fertilizers. Controlled release fertilizers can be incorporated uniformly throughout the soil before planting and applied on the soil surface of established plantings. Annuals purchased in compartmentalized plastic flats usually have pot bound root systems. If planted intact, the root system will be slow to establish in the surrounding soil and plants will suffer moisture stress. A preferred method is to loosen and untangle the root system without breaking the soil ball.
Plants recover rapidly and establish quickly.
Tall and spindly plants should be pruned to half their original size to produce more attractive plants with more flowers . Weeds should be controlled either by hand weeding or mulching . The addition of organic matter over the plastic reduces heat absorption and masks the artificial appearance of black plastic. Mulching materials should not come in contact with plant stems. The high moisture environment created by mulch increases the chances of stem rot which can result in plant death.