How to Revive Petunias

Petunias get your garden off to a bright start, with colorful blooms in window boxes, containers or garden beds. They're available in bright, pastel and white tones, with bi-colored or solid petals. When summer strikes, these annual flowers often start to fade. They're tired and they've been working hard for months. Get your petunias through the summer doldrums with extra care that rejuvenates plants and gives your garden a little face lift.

Pruning shears
5-10-5 fertilizer

Instructions

- 1
  Deadhead petunia plants to give flowers an instant face lift. Just pick off blooms when they die.
- 2
  Pinch back your plants to promote new growth, using pruning shears to cut them back halfway. The plants might look stark initially but fill in nicely.
- 3
  Fertilize petunia plants to get them over the summer hump. Purdue University suggests 1 to 2 cups of 5-10-5 fertilizer per 100 square feet of garden bed. Use water-soluble fertilizer and water the plants, or spread dry fertilizer in the garden bed. If your plants have pale or yellowed leaves, they may be nitrogen deficient and will really enjoy the nutrient boost.

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