Alyssum is a delicate and fragrant flower that can brighten up any garden. This low-maintenance plant is perfect for beginner gardeners, as it doesn’t require too much attention or care. With a little bit of effort, you can have a beautiful patch of Alyssum in your own backyard.
ALYSSUM (al-iss’um). An old garden favorite for low borders, edgings, and for informal planting. ”Sweet Alice.” There are low mat-like varieties. A. procumbens, or ”Carpet of Snow,” but the mauve kinds are more popular (Lilac Queen) as annuals. Grow easily, anywhere, except in driest climate. The yellow flowered Saxatile and Rostratum make delightful rock garden subjects. These are spring flowering only. The annuals bloom all the year round in mild climates. Seeds sown any time, but best broadcast.
Let’s take a look at how to grow and care for this lovely flower.
Choosing the Right Spot for Alyssum
Alyssum prefers full sun but can also tolerate some shade if needed. When selecting the ideal spot in your garden, make sure that it has good air circulation and well-draining soil. If possible, avoid planting in an area with heavy clay soils since this type of soil is prone to waterlogging and won’t give the roots enough oxygen. Additionally, make sure that you choose a location away from trees or shrubs that will compete for moisture and nutrients with your Alyssum plants.
Planting and Watering
When planting your Alyssum, make sure to space them out so they have enough room to grow without overcrowding each other. Once planted, water them thoroughly until the soil is nice and moist (but not soggy). During their growing season, you should water them regularly – about every three days if there is no rainfall – to ensure they don’t dry out. You should also fertilize them once per month during this time period with a balanced fertilizer.
Caring For Your Alyssum After Blooming After blooming your Alyssum plants may start to die off; however, you can keep them going if you deadhead the flowers (remove spent flowers) after they are finished blooming. This will help encourage new growth which will result in more blooms later on in the season. If needed, you can prune back any overgrown plants to help promote bushier growth as well as cut back foliage when it begins to yellow or brown due to disease or pests. Lastly, be sure to mulch around your plants each year to help protect their roots from extreme temperatures and maintain even moisture levels throughout the year.
Alyssum is a great option for beginner gardeners looking for an easy-to-care-for flower that provides beautiful blooms all season long! With just a few simple steps – choosing the right spot in your garden, watering regularly, fertilizing monthly during its growing season, deadheading spent flowers after bloom time ends – you can easily have vibrant patches of these fragrant flowers throughout your yard in no time.
