Annuals

Gardening With Annuals

Annuals are plants that grow and bloom like crazy for one year or season, before they die. They bloom themselves to death! These include:

• True annuals – that complete their life cycle in one growing season.



• Biennials – which complete their life cycle in two growing seasons.



• Tender Perennials – which are grown like annuals and have to be repotted and brought indoors for the winter in colder climates.

The four major benefits of gardening with annuals are:

• easy to grow


• low cost


• large range of color


• availability

Because annuals have a long blooming season, they can be used in the following ways:

• in cutting and flower gardens


• in containers on your doorsteps or patio


• plant to take the place of spring bulbs after they’ve withered


• to fill empty spots in perennial beds


• to edge walkways or paths

Annuals can be planted and grown from:

• seed


• containers

Bloom-times for annuals depend on the type you are using. Most bloom throughout the summer; however, just like people, there are early and late bloomers as well.

Home Garden Tip: The fast growth of annuals encourages adventurous gardening design. If you're hesitant about your color scheme, try planting your flower border first with annuals. You'll know in a few weeks whether the result is what you had in mind. If so, next season plant using the same colors with more permanent perennials.

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