In bloom: charming pompons make spectacular displays in the garden
Pompon flowers stand out for their bright colors and neat, ball like shape. People plant them to turn a plain yard into a cheerful scene. The buds open in spring and show solid reds, hot pinks, snow whites plus sunny yellows. Red feels bold - white feels calm.
Some heads stay tight and small - others open into wide, stacked layers. Either way, they break up the flat look of a bed. They grow fast if the spot gets full sun and the soil drains well but also holds compost. Give them water on a steady schedule and remove spent blooms - new buds keep coming. The petals line up like spokes on a wheel, a design that looks almost too tidy for nature.
The dahlia, one kind of pompon, carries the same round habit. Green leaves frame a bright center. Gardeners view it as a sign of fresh starts and steady effort. All those small parts fit together - the bloom looks planned - yet it grows without human help.
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Pick a place that receives sun for six hours or more. Work compost into the top few inches of soil. Water when the soil feels dry just below the surface, but do not flood the roots. Snip off dead heads so the plant puts energy into new buds. Before winter, lay straw or a frost cloth over the bed. Follow those steps as well as the plants will return color each year.
Pompons give more than color - they lift mood and add order to a yard. Plant them for fun or for show - either way, they broadcast life and variety in plain view.
