November Plant of the Month

Pansies (Viola sp.)

Pansies are a winter favorite that come in many colors to brighten up the landscape during the winter season.

Pansies are planted in our area from late October thru November. They do best in well-drained soils which will reduce the chances of disease or root rot. Incorporating organic matter, such as compost, into the soil before planting can improve soil and drainage. They prefer full sun to part shade.

Just because it is winter, does not mean you should forget about watering pansies during dry spells. However, it is just as important not to water too much which can quickly encourage disease problems. Fertilizer can help pansies flourish throughout the winter. A slow-release fertilizer can be applied in two applications, once at planting and again midway through the growing season. Water soluble fertilizer should be applied every 1 to 4 weeks.

Do not forget to deadhead pansies during the season. Deadheading is the simple process of removing old flowers so that plants produce more flowers instead of seeds. Deadheading will allow for a longer bloom season.

Jessica Strickland is an Agriculture Extension Agent, specializing in horticulture for North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Wayne County.

Learn More!

· Sign up for Wayne County Extension Gardening e-mail list to receive timely gardening tips and more at https://wayne.ces.ncsu.edu/email-me

· Follow us on Facebook @waynecooperativeextension and Instagram @waynecountyextension

· To discover more plant ideas for your landscape, visit the North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox at https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu.