Annual Perennial Flower Gardening

Annuals

• Annuals complete their entire growth within one season, meaning that once you plant them, they will not return the next year. Despite this, annuals often bloom throughout the whole season, from spring to late summer. This helps to add color throughout your flower garden at times when perennials or shrubs are not in bloom. You often purchase annuals as smaller plants to either put in a garden or in containers, and they most often cost less at the garden center. Common annuals for flower gardening include zinnias, petunias, begonias, impatiens and marigolds.

Perennials

• Unlike their annual counterparts, perennials will grow for at least three years, coming up every season. Perennials come in a larger variety of sizes, shapes, colors and types than annuals, as well. They don't bloom for very long in most species, but when they do, they can add spice to your landscape. If you are planting strictly perennials, you can go for several different varieties with different bloom times to keep color in your garden all season. Common perennials include lilies, hostas, some ornamental grasses and mums. While they typically do cost more upfront, you will not have to buy them every season to refresh your garden.

Considerations

• When planting both annuals and perennials in your landscape, it is important to remember where your previously planted perennials are. You could accidentally damage them by planting annuals too close to their roots or bulbs. Also, you will want to keep in mind whether your annuals are hardy, half-hardy or tender plants, terms which describe how sturdy they are relative to frost and temperatures. You may lose some of your annuals if you don't keep in mind how well they will do in various soil temperatures.

Planning Your Garden

• If you're planning a brand new garden and want to use both annuals and perennials, planning will be a pivotal role in the success of your blooms. When planning a new garden, first make a rough sketch of the garden area. In your sketch, you should include which areas get full or partial sun or shade; if you want specific colors, sizes or shapes in one area; and if your soil in specific areas gets enough natural water or too much.

  Once you have completed a sketch, you can then go into a garden center or nursery and start looking at your different options of perennials and annuals. Carefully read each plant's tag to see what care they will need. Speaking with a professional at the garden center, showing them your sketch and discussing your overall plan can also lend greatly in making the correct decision for you.