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- 1). Start Verbena bonariensis indoors several weeks before the last frost at your growing location. Sow seeds in a seed tray filled with moist compost and cover with a thin layer of vermiculite.
- 2). Place a clear plastic bag or cover over the seed trays to maintain humidity and place the trays in a warm location with plenty of light. Seeds should germinate in two to three weeks.
- 3). Find a sunny location on your property that does not have standing water. Verbena bonariensis only grows in well-drained soils.
- 4). Amend the soil at the planting location by mixing in compost to the parent soil. Compost helps improve soil drainage and provides nutrients needed to facilitate robust Verbena bonariensis growth in your landscape.
- 5). Transplant the Verbena bonariensis seedlings from the planting tray to the amended planting site once the risk of frost has passed. Verbena bonariensis have a rapid growth rate and develop multiple branches as they grow, so space the plants 2 feet away from each other when planting.
- 6). Water the plants thoroughly once each week after planting and maintain soil moisture throughout the first growing season. Once the plants are established in your landscape they are drought resistant, but providing enough water during their first season is important to grow healthy Verbena bonariensis, according to Clemson University.
- 7). Place a thin layer of mulch around the base of the plants to help maintain soil moisture and prevent competition from weeds. A 1- to 2-inch layer of mulch also provides winter protection for the roots of the flowers so that they can survive and re-bloom season after season.
- 8). Fertilize the flowers annually with a general garden fertilizer in late spring or early summer, carefully following the recommended dosage of the formula you use.
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