How to Landscape With Begonias and Impatiens

Prepare the planting beds or containers. Make sure the area has good drainage and work in 5-10-5 slow-release fertilizer according to the directions on the bag for the size of the planting area. Spread a layer of rocks or potsherds on the bottom of containers so the soil will drain. Fill the containers half-full with potting soil with the appropriate amount of fertilizer added.

Plant impatiens and begonias after the danger of frost has passed. Both plants do better in shade with a short period of sunlight in the morning and again in late afternoon. Plants grown in sunny areas tend to get tall and leggy, and to produce fewer blooms. Don't set transplanted begonias any deeper in the soil than they were in the pot, as planting too deep may foster disease. Set plants in containers and fill the container the rest of the way with soil. Press the soil down to compact it.

Create height in your flower garden by building terraced planting beds from pressure-treated railroad ties, stacked stone or brick. Plant a mix of begonias and impatiens, or use a single color in each bed. This method works well around trees that will provide the shade the plants need. Use begonias and impatiens to edge a garden in a north-facing space that's partially shaded.

Decorate a porch or shaded patio or deck with impatiens and begonias in planter boxes, decorative ceramic pieces or terra cotta pots. Group pots of varying sizes together with other flowering plants. Consider creating a water feature surrounded by the grouped pots. Rectangular planter boxes suggest a more formal garden and can be used to define the edges of an outdoor living space.

Fertilize the plants throughout the growing season. Water plants in the ground once a week during dry seasons and check container plants frequently. Water container plants when the surface of the soil is dry.

Transplant tuberous begonias and impatiens after the first moderate frost to keep them over the winter. Cut the stems level with the ground and gently dig up the root ball. Shake off the soil and remove the roots. Store the tubers in sand, vermiculite or peat moss at 50 degrees Fahrenheit over the cooler months.