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Planting annuals vs perennials

Planting annuals vs perennials

Growing season:


Although annual plants only live for one season, their brightly colored, showy blooms that appear all summer secure their place in gardens and the hearts of plant lovers everywhere. Gardeners can start annual plants from seed or buy them as bedding plants to get a head start on bloom time. In any case, growing annuals is a low-cost way to brighten up a flower bed or planter box.

Perennials are plants that live for several years; the number depends on the variety. Some plants, such as delphinium, have a short life span of 3 or 4 years. Other perennials can live for decades, and a few, like peonies, can live virtually forever (or at least 50 years) if properly cared for.

Bloom period:


Annual flowers typically bloom for a longer period of time than perennial flowers. They often bloom all summer, especially if you practice "deadheading," or removing spent flowers (dried or dead flowers). Aside from keeping the plant looking neat and tidy, deadheading can encourage the plant to produce more blooms because it isn't wasting energy on faded flowers or seed heads.

Perennial flowers, depending on the species, bloom in the spring, summer, and fall, and they return the following year—and for years to come.

Light preferences:


Each perennial species has a unique light requirement. Some plants require shade while others thrive in full sun. And some people can use a little bit of everything.

Annual plants, like perennials, have specific light requirements. Petunias and geraniums, for example, thrive in full hot baking sun. Others, such as begonias and impatiens, prefer shade.
  • Perennials are zone specific: Perennials, such as the coneflower, will thrive in the temperate zone to which they are adapted. That is why some perennials grow in Alaska but not in Georgia, and vice versa.
  • Annuals can grow anywhere: Annuals, such as the begonia shown here, can be planted in pots, window boxes, containers, garden beds, and landscapes and will thrive.
  • Perennials are in it for the long haul: Perennial flowers provide consistent color year after year. These plants return in the spring, getting bigger and better with each passing season. Plant a mix of spring, summer, and fall-flowering perennials for year-round color.
  • Annuals are instant gratification: Annual flowers are ideal for adding instant color to beds, borders, and containers. They begin flowering at a young age and are almost always in bloom from spring to fall. Most annuals will die after a hard frost in the fall, but some, such as pansies, can withstand milder winters.

Benefits:


Perennials are the way to go if you want to make an investment in your garden for long-term results.

Annuals are like the trendy clothes in your closet; they add a splash of color and excitement to your tried-and-true perennials.

Conclusion


There is no need to choose between annuals and perennials. You can plant both and let them work together in your garden and landscape to create the most beautiful flower and foliage displays.