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