We have an older house with manicured shrubs around it (ugh), and I want to add some color at the base of the shrubs with Wave petunias and some other annuals. In the past, I have not been very successful with annuals around the shrubs, as I think the big shrubs hog all the water.

I am putting in a drip irrigation system and will be watering the annuals directly. I thought it might be a good idea to plant the annuals in pots in front of the shrubs... so that they "keep the water for themselves". I feel pretty good about the marigolds living in the pots, as they will have plenty of space...

But do you think the pots will limit the wave petunias? Right now, I just have the "ride the wave" containers they came in from the nursery in the ground and really can't plant BIG container to allow for growth.

Do you think I would be better off once the drip system is working (and providing water daily )to just plant the petunias directly and let them fight for the own space. I'm not concerned about them crowding the other annuals...I just want them to thrive. (It's a sunny location. )