| Popular with new and more experienced | | | | Many annuals can be bought as cell packs, |
| gardeners alike, annuals are some of the most | | | | which are a sort of multi-pack. Whenever buy |
| beautiful, lively, and interesting of all | | | | plants to transplant, make sure that you |
| flowers. The massive diversity of annuals, | | | | plant them as soon as possible. If you can?t |
| their wide range of colors and styles, and | | | | plant them immediately, then make sure to |
| their ease of care make annuals an in-demand | | | | keep the plants in a shaded area and water |
| choice for gardens everywhere. | | | | them regularly. Remember to also water the |
| | | | planting area so that you can moisten the |
| Do you know what makes and annual plant truly | | | | soil well before you put your new annuals in |
| an annual? For an annual to really be an | | | | the ground. |
| annual, the plant must finish its entire life | | | | |
| phase in one planting season. The seeds | | | | When using annuals in your garden it is |
| germinate, the flowers bloom for the spring | | | | important not to plant them too early in the |
| and summer months, the plant lays its seed | | | | season. The soil should be warm and the air |
| and the plant then dies, all in one planting | | | | temperatures should be stable before planting |
| cycle. | | | | any annuals. To get the annual plant out of |
| | | | its packaging, lift the seedlings gently out |
| There are some plants that are treated as | | | | of their packs by pushing on the bottom of |
| annuals but are not truly annuals. Some | | | | the container. Try to make sure that the |
| sensitive perennial plants are used as | | | | plant and its soil comes out intact. |
| annuals and replanted each year, especially | | | | |
| in colder northern regions. While these | | | | If the roots of the plant are compressed, |
| plants could regenerate in warmer planting | | | | loosen them by tenderly breaking up the root |
| zones, in colder zone they are can?t | | | | ball or cut the sides using a small knife. |
| re-germinate and are planted as annuals | | | | Doing this will promote deeper rooting and |
| instead. | | | | longer plant life after the plants have been |
| | | | put into the ground. |
| Conversely, some annuals are used as | | | | |
| perennials. Some varieties of annuals drop | | | | Make sure that you plant your annuals in the |
| such a large amount of seed in the fall that | | | | ground at the same depth in which they came |
| the seeds are able to germinate and bloom the | | | | in the packs. After placing the plants in the |
| next year. The plants are not perennials, but | | | | ground, gently pack the soil down around the |
| their seeds simply germinated and took root, | | | | annual and water the area thoroughly. You |
| and proceeded to bloom the following year. | | | | should then apply a good fertilizer that is |
| Some of the more common perennial | | | | phosphorus-rich. Apply the fertilizer at a |
| impersonators include snapdragons and | | | | strength of two tablespoons of fertilizer per |
| petunias. | | | | gallon of water. |
| | | | |
| There are several ways in which you can start | | | | Following these steps will help get your |
| annuals in your garden, either by planting | | | | annual garden off to an excellent start. In |
| them as seed, buying seedlings (or smaller | | | | no time you will have a garden filled with |
| plants), or buying more established plants. | | | | vibrant annual flowers. |