Nothing beats annuals for giving the garden instant color. They provide a
prolific display that will last throughout the growing season, much longer
in comparison to the shorter blooming period of most perennials. Annuals
look great in mass plantings as well as in mixed beds. Annuals will also
hold their color long after being picked, making them a perfect choice to
brighten your home in indoor arrangements.
Annuals are among the easiest flowering plants to grow. Most are not too
fussy about soil conditions. Just give them the basic requirements: plenty
of water and sunlight. You can feed your annuals every two to three weeks
with a liquid fertilizer or, to make feeding easier, apply a
controlled-release fertilizer to the soil before planting.
Annuals come in an excellent variety of shapes, colors, and growth habits.
Shapes range from the stately spires of foxglove (a biennial) to the
compact, spreading mounds of lobelia. The color choices are staggering.
Virtually all of the colors of the rainbow are replicated in the expansive
array of annual plants.
Annuals are adaptable to many conditions. If you are choosing plants for a
hot and dry site, you might try marigolds, cosmos, verbena, or gazania.
Choices for a shady area include impatiens, monkey flower, and wax
begonia. If your growing space is limited, try planting annuals in a
container for a fast dash of color in an otherwise colorless location.
Annuals are economical. You can pick up annuals for relatively low cost at
your local garden center, or you can grow them from seed for almost
nothing. On top of that, many varieties will re-seed on their own or you
can collect seeds from the spent flowers at the end of the growing season
and plant them the next spring, providing endless years of enjoyment.
Kim Noblin is the editor of Found In A Garden, a gardening information and
resource website. See what you can find in her garden!
www.foundinagarden.com
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