How to Trail Petunias

Buy your trailing petunias from a garden center or start them from seed. Make sure you select a variety that will only grow to a height of 4 to 6 inches and trail 2 to 3 feet. Read the labels on the plants. It is easy to get distracted by the color and beauty of the flowers.

Select a location for your petunias that receives at least 4 to 6 hours of sunlight. Full sunlight is best. Although often used in containers or hanging pots, trailing petunias add color and beauty to a hillside or retaining wall. Most trailing petunias produce flowers that are 2 inches in diameter. At their peak, their green leaves are barely noticeable.

Cultivate the soil. Turn the soil over and add peat moss, well-rotted leaf compost or manure if you are planting petunias in the ground. For hanging baskets and containers, mix potting soil, peat moss and perlite for a medium that provides good drainage. Petunias need consistent watering. Most hanging baskets and containers will require daily watering.

Plant the petunias following recommended spacing. Placing the plants too close could result in them becoming root bound which will shorten their flowering season and health. Remove any spent or faded flowers. Some growers recommend cutting back newly-planted petunias so they well spread faster and establish their root systems more quickly.

Fertilizer once a week with a well-balanced 8-8-8, 10-10-10 or 20-20-20. The University of Minnesota Extension recommends a rate of 2 lbs. per 100 square feet. A liquid fertilizer works well for hanging pots and containers.