Meet Kahla (@gardeningwithbulldogs), our February Pink Pot Ambassador! She is a Master Gardener from Montana who has just moved to Arkansas. She grows annual flowers and vegetables from seed and has a YouTube channel that shows the funny side of gardening with her 2 English Bulldogs. We have no doubt that you’ll want to follow along with her seed-growing journey to see the amazing Wave Petunia displays she creates in peak gardening season!
Describe your garden.
Well, currently my garden is new, and I'm on a 1/3 acre of land. I have already put in 7 new flower garden beds. My old garden had over 100 roses, over 20,000 flower bulbs (tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, muscari, crocus, alliums, lilies, and anemones) then I would add in between 500 to 1,000 Wave Petunias in the mix for all-season coloring. So hopefully with all that I learned, my new garden will be even better!
How have you used Wave Petunias or Cool Wave Pansies in your garden?
I have not been able to try the Cool Wave Pansies, but I have had many years of growing Wave Petunias. This year I am going to try to buy as many different color varieties as I can to give a good test on each and different color combinations. I will say the Tidal Wave Silver Petunia is the most impressive petunia I have ever grown! This plant will get massive whether I plant it in a container, window box, or in the landscape.
What would you tell someone who has never heard about Wave Petunias?
First, I would mention that they are annuals and maybe explain the difference between annuals and perennials, if they didn't know. I would then mention that they are self-cleaning petunias so they will continually bloom without a lot of care. Last season, I was in the middle of packing a home, so I didn't have the extra time to fertilize any of the Wave Petunias, and they still got massive and bloomed spectacularly!
We noticed that you start with seeds! What are your top 3 tips for someone trying this for the first time?
Only spray them once a day with water, and don't over-love. Second thing would be, don't think they didn't germinate. Sometimes it can take seeds a month to germinate. I've watched it happen. The instructions on the packet of seeds says 7 to 21 days. Don't stop believing. The third is “hardening off” is very important! Don't rush this process. You put so much time into growing your seedlings that I would hate for you to lose any because of being impatient.
You’ve been successful planting Wave petunias in numerous ways (in ground, planters, window boxes, etc.)… what is your favorite way to plant them?
I love them all! I don't think I could choose. I have always been impressed by how they take over containers and window boxes. I will say that the people that walk by my home are always impressed by me planting them in the landscape. They just add such bright colorful fun into the garden beds and help with weed control!
Do your neighbors ever comment on your amazing displays of flowers?
Oh yes! I personally love how many people would stop and tell me they love them. It really keeps us going on those grueling days in the garden. I will say that I even got my neighbors into growing Wave Petunias from seeds and helped them with tips on growing them.
Tell us about those adorable bulldogs!
Ah my true loves! Wouldn't be a garden without them! I have always owned English Bulldogs – it's a family thing. It started with my grandparents and Cleo, the first Bulldog in the family. These 2 are Stanley Baldwin and Wisteria Vine. They are actually biological brother and sister just from 2 different litters. Stanley just turned 2 and Wisteria turned 1 in December. When I moved to Arkansas, the first 2 things I did was put in a doggie door and put up fencing in the front yard. If I'm outside, they are right there with me, unless it's too hot. Bulldogs have a hard time with the heat. It's literally been a dream of mine to have brother and sister, truly blessed to have been given these 2!
Do you have any other hobbies?
I am a project junkie! I have to be creating something at all times. At the moment, having a new home, I have a ton of indoor painting and tiling to do. I do the tiling myself. It's tough work but I do really enjoy making my home a better place. I'm a huge homebody, probably too much of one, but when you make it your happy place why would you want to leave?
Do you know any gardening jokes? If so, tell us one.
I have gardening shirts that say, “Save a life. Send mulch.”
Anything else you’d like to share?
Believe in yourself! Love yourself and be kind to yourself. We all fall, it's about how you get back up. Don't think you can't ask for a hand to get up as well. Whatever gets you there. Thank you to all who gave me a hand!