How to Take Care of Impatiens

Place impatiens in shaded areas of your yard, in front of shrubs or near trees that offer shade. Or place them in containers on a covered porch or deck. They prefer an area with two to four hours of filtered sunlight during the day, notes the Iowa State University Extension.

Set the plants in well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. Add lime to soils that show a low pH in a soil test.

Space impatiens about 6 inches apart in moist and fertile soil. Mulch between plants to cut down on weeds and retain the moisture in the soil.

Fertilize impatiens in early and later summer with a 13-13-13 fertilizer, 3 pounds per 100 square feet.

Water your plants frequently especially if you are not getting much rain. They can wilt easily during dry spells, so water often.

Cut back stems to within 3 inches of the plant base if plants become leggy as the summer progresses, to spur new, bushier growth, recommends the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.