Question
Hi, I have a flower box beside a wooden walkway that is about 20 feet long and 2 feet wide.  I have hostas planted in it with enough space between them to plant a flower.  You know, hosta, flower, hosta, flower.  For the past several years, i have planted geraniums in it and they have looked and done great, but last year they didn't do very good.  i'd like to try something else, but need help in deciding what.  The bed is shaded most of the day.  Thanks...

Answer
Judy,
The annuals that do the best in shade are all sorts of Impatiens and all Begonias - you can get regular impatiens, New Guinea Impatiens, (more upright - need a couple of hours of sun)  Fanfare Cascading impatiens (larger flowers, looser growth habit) or Fusion Glow impatiens (yellow or peach)....all easy and beautiful.  Wax begonias are small, neat plants and come in six-packs - tuberous begonias come in pots and have large, showy flowers, but the flowers hang down and drop off in sort of a messy way.  Angelwing begonias have beautiful foliage, grow to around 2 feet tall, and usually have dainty pink flowers - and Rex begonias have snazzy purple leaves, often with silver, but no flowers at all.

Which ever plant you choose, be sure to dig some time release fertilizer into the area before you plant - you can either use the time-release plain (Osmocote Indoor Outdoor, or Proven Winners time release are examples) or combine a small amount of time-release with a small handful of organic fertilizer (such as planttone or flower tone)

I hope this helps!

C.L.