My favorite gardening task of the year is the trip to Graham’s Garden Center to buy the annuals for my containers. The beautiful annuals, in a wide range of colors, tempt us to purchase a half flat of this, a full flat of that and don’t forget that beautiful hanging basket for that special spot on the porch.

Before you leave for the garden center check your well-kept garden journal for the list of annuals you bought last year. Using last year’s list as a guide, choose flowers that you will need for each container. Remember a container is a bouquet of flowers. You will need the thriller (the main event), filler (less important plants that coordinate) and the spiller (usually a vine or flowers that spill) to do what’s called breaking the edge of the container.

As always, consider the color scheme. If the containers are placed together as a group, it is  important that they complement each other. You might want to repeat the flowers and colors in these containers.

Garden centers often have pots that are already arranged with annuals. Take a close look at these pots for inspiration. The garden center staff are always helpful and knowledgeable about annuals and will help you pick out the best flowers for your situation.

When you get your annuals home place them in a sheltered spot with filtered light. The little annuals have spent their life in a humid greenhouse. This is a good time to help the annuals acclimate or harden off. Your next step is to make sure the plants are watered. If the roots dry out your plant is dead and nothing will bring it back. Water gently, using your free hand to gently pull back the leaves to make sure water is getting to the soil. Check every day to make sure all are watered.

Plant the containers as soon as possible. A cloudy day with cool temperatures is best. Direct intense sunlight may damage the plants. The best shade for a short time is an old umbrella. Any time you see an old umbrella add it to your collection. They also work well for late spring frost.

Purchase a couple of bags of potting mix, a couple of bags of compost and a small bail of peat moss. When combined this makes good potting mix for your annuals. Beware of potting mix that includes fertilizer. You will be fertilizing as you water all summer and potting mix that includes fertilizer may be problematic.

Fertilize with a weak solution of a water-soluble fertilizer every time you water. A complete fertilizer has similar amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in numbers like 5-5-5 or 5-10-5. The garden center can advise you about a good fertilizer. Make sure your containers have good drainage and watch as you water to make sure the containers are not drowning in accumulated water.

Handle the plants with care. Do not try to pull the plant out of its container. Give the bottom of the pot a gentle squeeze and then carefully slip the annual from the pot. Gently loosen any roots that are circling the root ball. Keep a set of small scissors nearby as you plant. Sometimes it helps to cut the nursery pot to free the plant. Do not place plants too close together. In the next month, they will fill in nicely. Take pictures every week to see how they are progressing. After planting, water the container and place it in its summer home.

To me planting my containers is a solitary project. Luckily this task looks like work and the rest of the family leave me alone. I love being outside with bird song for my music, my little dog for company and the beautiful flowers.

(Rebecca Ryan is a lifelong resident of and gardener in the Bradford area. She retired from teaching at Bradford Area School District.)