Planting Winter Annuals in Drought
![snapdragon200 | Walter Reeves: The Georgia Gardener](https://t9e4s3i5.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/snapdragon200.jpg)
It’s daunting to consider planting winter annuals like pansies and cabbage when we have severe watering restrictions.
But these plant have to be planted by November 1 so they have enough time to grow roots before winter sets in.
Here’s what you can do to have success:
![soilcond | Walter Reeves: The Georgia Gardener](http://www.walterreeves.com/wr2020/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/soilcond.jpg)
Add 3 inches of soil conditioner on top of the area you intend to plant.
![soilmix | Walter Reeves: The Georgia Gardener](http://www.walterreeves.com/wr2020/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/soilmix.jpg)
For increased drainage, add 1 inch of gritty sand. Thoroughly mix to a depth of 10 inches.
![tilledbed | Walter Reeves: The Georgia Gardener](http://www.walterreeves.com/wr2020/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/tilledbed.jpg)
Tilled bed
![newspaper | Walter Reeves: The Georgia Gardener](http://www.walterreeves.com/wr2020/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/newspaper.jpg)
Spread two thicknesses of newspaper over the bed.
![mulch | Walter Reeves: The Georgia Gardener](http://www.walterreeves.com/wr2020/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/mulch.jpg)
Spread mulch over the newspaper.
![soakroots | Walter Reeves: The Georgia Gardener](http://www.walterreeves.com/wr2020/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/soakroots.jpg)
Soak the roots of your flowers in a bucket of bathwater.
![pansyplanted | Walter Reeves: The Georgia Gardener](http://www.walterreeves.com/wr2020/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/pansyplanted.jpg)
Plant the flowers through the mulch and newspaper. Water with houseplant fertilizer mixed with bathwater.
![pansybedfinal | Walter Reeves: The Georgia Gardener](http://www.walterreeves.com/wr2020/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/pansybedfinal.jpg)
Pansies ready to bloom all winter.