DENVER — Pansies are tough flowers. They can take snow and freezing cold. What they can't take, however, is heat.
As the summer heats up, pansies begin to decline. No amount of love, water or fertilizer can save them. Although pansies grown in foothill and mountain gardens fare much better, hot city temperatures spell doom for them.
Pull up your pansies as soon as they start to die and compost them. Replace them with summer flowers that can handle the heat.
Suggested replacements include marigolds, zinnias, salvias, dianthus, petunias and Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus). The latter has five-petaled flowers that are similar to those of trailing vinca but they aren't related.
It used to be a relatively popular annual but fell out of favor due to erratic performance. New selections of this old favorite are more dependable.
Make sure to expose your new plants to the sun gradually over several days. When planting, water them thoroughly first and again after planting. Keep them moist as the roots settle in.
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