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Good Fall Petunias
Petunia

Go ahead and rush the season just a little with an early fall planting of petunias. Some of the newer varieties arriving at garden centers can take the heat.  They don’t seem to mind a few days that creep into the 90's but grow best when the cooler weather finally arrives.

Fill sunny flower beds with one or more of the many different types of  petunias.  Some have very large flowers and others fill with an abundance of smaller blooms.  All add a great burst of color to the landscape that can last through the winter months and into early spring.  For a real treat fill a planter or hanging basket with a cascading variety that creeps down the sides. 

Petunias are easy to grow in sandy soils or sites enriched with organic matter.  Prevent pests that might affect containers gardens by using a  potting mix. Then follow these steps to good care:

Water when the surface of the soil begins to dry to the touch.

Apply a thin mulch over the surface of in ground plantings

Feed in ground plantings monthly; container gardens once a week.

Check for aphids and caterpillars that might affect the foliage and use natural controls.
Help extend the flowering time of  your petunias by removing the declining blooms to prevent seed production.   When the plants grow lanky trim off the excessive growth to restart a more compact plant.