A new wave of petal power this spring
The Gardener's Corner
By Judith Rogers

There's a new wave about to hit with petite petal power that home gardeners will be able to buy this spring. Wave petunias were introduced in 1995 and now include five full series. The original Wave is a low growing and spreading variety, Double Wave has double blooms, Easy Wave is mounded and spreading and the Tidal Wave is taller and hedgelike. All have become favourites for the nursery designer and home gardener to achieve beautiful results with flowering containers.

The 2008 introduction is Shock Wave, and for such a small flower of four to five centimetres across, it has a huge impact with the performance that has made wave petunias famous.

The Shock Wave will reach a height of 17-25 cm and a spread of 75-90 cm, forming a solid mass of spectacular colour for lush containers or hanging baskets.

The impressive feature of the tough little newcomer is the ability to bounce back from a heavy rain or overhead watering. It also comes in colours not seen in previous wave series so imagine the possibilities with the ivory, pink shades, pink vein, purple and rose.

Two designer mixes are also available: Buzz mix that includes ivory, rose and pink shades and Electric mix with purple and pink vein.

Photos taken from the Ball Horticultural Company A photo of Lime Rickey.

There are five easy steps to create a basket or urn with the Shock Wave petunias.

• Fill a clean container that has drainage holes with a good quality potting soil and there are several on the market make specifically for containers.

• Space the plants evenly: Four in a 10-inch pot; five in a 12-inch; six in a 14-inch and seven in a 16-inch.

• Place in full sun where a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight will be received.

• Water thoroughly until the water runs out the bottom and then keep evenly moist.

• Fertilize weekly with a balanced fertilizer (20-20-20 is readily available) or use a slow release fertilizer mixed into the potting soil.

All wave petunias are low maintenance as they don't need cutting back or having the spent flowers removed. Sometimes, towards the end of summer they may become a little leggy and can benefit from a light shearing of five centimetres or so.

Shock Waves not only look good on their own but combine well with other sunloving plants for they are a great addition as a spiller for mixed containers that already have taller additions.

As with other petunias, Shock Wave can be planted directly into garden beds by spacing them 30-38 cm apart. Expect them to spread 75-90 cm.

Got the bug for Wave petunias? Join the fan club site at www.wave-rave.com for information on each of the series and to purchase garden bags and accessories.

- With files from the Ball Horticultural Company