What to Do with Pansies in the Summer?

Pansies are brightly colored flowers that, in the proper climates, aren’t particularly hard to grow. These flowering plants display eye-catching heart-shaped petals with pretty patterns that make any landscape look more lively.

However, pansies prefer low temperatures, meaning they might not be the best choices for people living in hot regions. After all, most people don’t grow pansies in the summer for a reason. Luckily, that doesn’t make growing pansies in the summer impossible.

If you don’t know where to start, don’t worry! In this essential guide, we’ll go through what to do with pansies in the summer to help you keep these stunning flowers alive even during the hottest months of the year.

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How to Care for Pansies in the Summer

You might have noticed pansies turning saggy and sad as the temperatures rise. For instance, usually, you’ll only see pansies in nurseries in early spring and fall.

After all, these cool-weather flowers do better at lower temperatures. Instead, under extreme heat, these flowers might not bloom. But does that mean you can’t grow pansies in the summer?

The truth is that with the proper care, you might be able to help your pansies survive summer and bloom again in the fall.

To begin with, you should move your plants to a location where they will only receive partial shade as temperatures rise above 70°F. The ideal place should receive a couple of hours early in the morning and be shady during the hottest times of the day.

Consider adding a layer of mulch around them to protect your plants from thermal shock. Doing so will also maintain the ground temperature stable.

Additionally, consider deadheading all the spent flowers. Despite sounding trivial, such a practice will encourage new growth in the fall and maximize blooms. Of course, your success at growing pansies in the summer depends on your local climate and weather conditions.

Furthermore, another way to increase the chances of your pansies surviving through summer is to apply fertilizer. Indeed, improving the nutrient conditions in the soil will make it less challenging for pansies to survive. But be careful: that doesn’t mean you have to overdo it.

Don’t forget that too much of a good thing might be detrimental). Instead, apply a granular fertilizer during the summer (better if low in nitrogen) following the instructions you find on the product’s label.

Protecting Pansies from The Heat

Besides taking care of your pansies, you might also want to protect them from the heat. One of the easiest ways is to plant taller plants around them. While you might be able to add artificial shade to shield your pansies from the sun’s harsh rays, it won’t be enough.

More often than not, adding tall plants or trees (or moving your pansies under natural shade) is much more effective.

Excellent options include tulips, which might grow up to two feet tall. The two plants have similar growing conditions and perform well in the same environments.

Alternatively, you can plant daffodils. These plants will also grow around the same height as tulips, making them perfect for casting shadows over them and protecting them from the sun.

Don’t forget to increase the watering frequency of your pansies when the temperatures rise above 70°F. We are not saying you should leave them soggy. Instead, we recommend maintaining moisture without leaving your plants dry for too long.

Doing so will make a considerable difference in your success at growing pansies in the summer.

What are the Best Varieties of Pansies to Grow in the Heat?

If you live in a region where temperatures get extreme, you can choose to plant pansies with higher heat tolerance. It will make your life much easier. But beware: it won’t solve all of your problems.

Despite being cool-weather flowers, you can find varieties that will do better at high temperatures. Keep in mind that they won’t tolerate extreme heat. For instance, if you live in a region with temperatures constantly above 70°F, you might have to look for other plant species.

Still, by planting varieties such as Majestic Giant, Maxim, Matrix, Springtime, and Universal, you will suffer less in taking care of them during the summer.