How to Plant Black-eyed Susans

How to Plant Black-eyed Susans 

Black-eyed Susans are an excellent plant for those who are just getting into gardening. Below, you will find clear instructions on how to plant this flower. Following these directions guarantees the thriving of your Black-eyed Susans.  

(For the best results, plant this flower in summer or early fall. It should not be planted during winter or early spring.)

1.) Choose where you want to plant your Black-eyed Susans. This flower thrives best in full sunlight, but if that is not possible, an area with partial sunlight works as well (though the flower may not bloom as reliably). 

2.) Before planting, remove all weeds from the area, and loosen the soil. This gives the seeds more space to grow. 

3.) When planting Black-eyed Susans, use loam soil. If loam soil is not available to you, this is fine. Black-eyed Susans are tough and can survive in less-than-ideal conditions. Poor soil will not affect the health of Black-eyed Susans, but it will cause them to grow much more slowly.  

4.) Each seed should be planted about 18 inches apart. Make a small hole in the soil a few inches wider than the seed. 

5.) After placing the seed in the hole, refill the hole with soil and gently press it down. Water until soil is fully damp. 

6.) Check plants and soil once every two weeks. Ensure that the soil is never dry, always damp. 

7.) Deadhead any flowers that have dry, wilted petals or no petals at all. It is important to clip right below the flowerhead, clipping any more than that can cause the flower to not regrow next season. Deadheading prevents the flowers from reseeding and spreading, and prolongs the blooming period.

FAQ 

What is fertile soil? 

Fertile soil is soil that supports plant growth by offering vital nutrients. This includes ideal chemical, physical, and biological factors in the soil that allow the plant to thrive. The best soil for flowers is loam soil.  

Why should I plant Black-eyed Susans so far apart?  

After the first year, Black-eyed Susans will spread by self-seeding. This means the flower will drop seeds into the soil that will root and grow by themselves. Planting the seeds 18 inches apart ensures that the flowers growing the following year won’t look overcrowded but will still fill the area in a visually pleasing way. 

How can I prevent Black-eyed Susans from getting diseases? 

When watering Black-eyed Susans, water near the soil, instead of from above the plant. This prevents the flower and leaves from getting wet, and therein prevents any sort of disease.  

What is deadheading, and why should I do it? 

Deadheading is removing the heads of flowers that are wilted or dying. When a Black-eyed Susan feels that it has finished blossoming, it will stop any more growth to preserve energy for forming seeds. Deadheading flowers before they can drop seeds ensures that the nutrients needed to form those seeds will go to regrowing the head of the flower instead. This makes the flower grow back stronger, last longer, and prevents spreading.

Sources

Groppe, Pamela. “How to Grow Black Eyed Susans Easily.” Flower Patch Farmhouse, 23 Feb. 2022, https://www.flowerpatchfarmhouse.com/how-to-grow-black-eyed-susans/.

Limited, Alamy. “Black Eyed Susan Flowers Wilting Stock Photo.” Alamy, Tony Quinn, https://www.alamy.com/black-eyed-susan-flowers-wilting-in-the-late-summer-image444764211.html.