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.
About the Author Kim Noblin is
the editor of Found In A Garden, a gardening
information and resource website. See what you can find
in her garden! http://www.foundinagarden.com
