Petunia Surfinia

Petunias are tender perennials, but in the UK they are almost always grown as annuals. They flower their hearts out all summer, then are finished by the first frosts. In very mild, frost free conditions they can survive longer, but for most gardens they are treated as stars for just the one season.

Deadheading petunias is simple and really worth doing. Pinch or snip off the faded flower along with the small green seed pod just behind it. This stops the plant wasting energy on seed production and encourages plenty of fresh flowers instead. Trailing types benefit from a light trim every couple of weeks to keep them neat and blooming.

Petunias are considered non toxic to dogs. If a dog has a nibble it should not cause poisoning. That said, eating any plant material can still upset a sensitive stomach, so it is best to discourage chewing where possible.

Plant petunias once all risk of frost has passed. In most parts of the UK this means late May to early June. They love warmth, so waiting until nights are reliably mild will lead to the best results. They can be planted into pots, baskets, or borders at this point.

In pots, petunias can flower continuously from late spring right through to autumn. With regular watering, feeding, and deadheading, they will usually last until the first frosts. A quick tidy up mid summer can help keep them strong for even longer.

Yes, slugs and snails will chew young petunias, particularly just after planting out. Once established they are less vulnerable, but it is still worth protecting new plants with barriers or other slug control methods early on.

Petunias have a very long flowering season. Once they start in late spring or early summer, they can keep producing flowers for four to five months, often right up until autumn frosts stop them.

Surfinia is a type of trailing petunia, bred specifically for vigorous growth and masses of flowers. Standard petunias can be upright or gently spreading, while Surfinia varieties cascade strongly, making them ideal for hanging baskets and containers where they create a waterfall-like effect.

For a full, impressive hanging basket, plant three Surfinia in a 30 to 35cm diameter basket. Their vigorous trailing habit quickly fills the space, so more than this can lead to overcrowding later in the season.