Petunias are annuals, which means they grow and bloom for one season; then, in the fall, as days grow shorter, they stop flowering, go to seed, and die. Plant them in a sunny spot in fertile, well-drained soil. They like fertiliser, as most annuals do, they bloom heavily all summer. There are many types of petunias, from groundcover petunias that spread fast and low to compact mini petunias. All can be cut back to half their size in midsummer if the plants are looking rangy or leggy. Keep the soil moist but not wet. Petunias are considered easy to grow and provide blankets of colour and even make good cut flowers if you need to pinch or shorten the stems of your petunia plants. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti