How To Use Annuals In Your Garden

Unlike perennials or bulbs, annuals provide full color for the entire growing season.

The downside of this is that annuals only last for 1 season and more must be planted in the garden each year. Luckily, annuals can be purchased rather cheaply and are even less expensive if you grow from seed. Annuals come in every color of the rainbow, and in a variety of sizes and shapes as well. A properly planted garden of annuals is a breathtaking sight indeed.

What separates annuals from other types of plants and flowers is that they grow from seed, blossom, set seed and die to ground, all within one growing season. While some other types of flowers are treated as annuals and replaced each year, all true annuals share this important distinction.

There are several categories of annuals which are broken down according to their ability to handle cold temperatures. These are hardy, half hardy and tender. Pansies are in the hardy category and can tolerate cold conditions. Hardy annuals are usually planted in the fall for color throughout the colder months. Most varieties of hardy annuals begin to decline in the spring, and die when the heat of summer begins to arrive.

Annuals that are in the half hardy category can tolerate a light frost but will die under harsh cold conditions. These are planted in early spring and will bloom all spring and summer. Half hardy annuals, like dianthus, generally start their decline in the heat of the summer, but they can bloom again the autumn.

Tender annuals, on the other hand, cannot tolerate any freezing temperatures at all. Tender annuals, such as zinnias, impatiens and vincas, should not be planted until any danger of frost is gone.

Annuals provide a dazzling array of shapes and colors well suited for any landscape. When planting annuals keep in mind that most of them require full sun for 4 to 6 hours each day. Some shade tolerant varieties of impatiens, coleus and begonias, and they can be used in parts of the landscape that receive less sunlight.

When selecting planting locations for annuals, it is best to avoid areas where water pools after heavy rain. Pooling water can drown the roots of many annuals. It is also important to avoid planting annuals in areas that are close to trees or large shrubs, since the root structures of these large plants can compete for moisture and leave your annuals without sufficient water.

It is also important to prepare the planting bed properly to get the most from your annuals. The planting bed should be deeply spaded and dug between six and ten inches deep. Clay heavy soils should be amended prior to planting by mixing in at least two inches of humus, leaf mold, compost or small pea gravel. These improvements will help the soil drain well and provide additional aeration as well.

Most annuals like their soil to have a PH of 5.8 to 6.5 so make sure you amend your soil as needed in order for your plants to produce the most lush and colorful blooms.

Preventing disease in your garden
A healthy garden is important for lush blooms and vibrant leaves and one way to keep your garden healthy is to make sure your plants don't how any signs of pest and disease.

Common Flower Diseases
No garden is immune from disease and your best way to deal with it is to educate yourself as to the common pests and diseases in your area.

Bulb Guide
Flowering bulbs are great for the garden because they will provide you with colorful blooms year after year. There are all kinds of different types of bulbs that represent every color, size and shape and there should be a bulb to please any gardener.

Gladiolus
The gladiolus which has distinctive sword shaped leaves and funnel shaped flowers are instantly recognizable to gardeners and non gardeners alike.

Asiatic And Oriental Hybrid Lilies
Asiatic and Oriental Hybrid Lilies are popular bulb plants that are a joy to use in any garden. As a bulb plant, these lilies are easy to plant and will reward your good care with blooms year after year.

Tulips
Tulips have long been a favorite flower of hobbiest and professional growers alike. These are the flower that we most closely associate with bulbs and many a gardener has put in fall tulip bulbs and eagerly awaited their blooms in spring.