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Annuals Vs Perennials: Plant Care, Gardening And Growing Garden Plants
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Published: June 20, 2007
The finishing touch to any well-groomed landscape is an array of gorgeous garden plants and flowers. They add texture, interest, and splashes of color to any yard or garden. With a seemingly endless selection of vegetation to choose from, it's hard to know what will be practical, affordable, and beautiful at the same time.
To keep a constantly blooming garden, it is recommended to use a mix of annuals and perennials. Many gardeners are intimidated when they walk into their local garden center or nursery because they don't know the differences between annuals and perennials. In fact, the distinctions are fairly simple, and once understood, the knowledge can help gardeners plan and create a wonderfully varied garden.
Annuals are plants that bloom only once a year. Since they must be replanted, weeded and cared for each year, they are a more labor-intensive choice than perennials. The good thing, however, is how convenient they are to locate. Most garden centers and nurseries carry a wide variety of colorful annuals. They are usually purchased in flats and are relatively inexpensive. Bright and vibrant annuals are often used as accent plants around trees, walkways, or in window boxes. They are also a popular choice for potted plants. Some examples of annuals include pansies, petunias, and snapdragons.
Perennials, on the other hand, will return year after year as long as they are cared for and conditions remain favorable. Herbaceous perennials die into the ground and then come back up the next year. Woody perennials (trees and shrubs) never die, but get bigger each year. Perennials can be harder to find at nurseries, but a wide variety of perennial garden plants can be ordered through catalogs.
Although they are more expensive, perennials require less work. Also, they get bigger with time and growing plants can be split, transported to other parts of the yard, or shared with friends. Perennials are generally more muted in color, but come in a wide variation of heights to help created a textured or multi-level effect. Perennials have an average bloom period of 3 weeks. Some examples are lily-of-the-valley, anemone, and bleeding heart.
After gardeners plan their gardens and choose their garden plants, an important part of gardening is plant care. Different garden plants have different requirements for sunlight. Some flourish with a lot of sun exposure, while others prefer a shady environment. Watering and pruning routines also vary from plant to plant. Small description cards with growing instructions are usually attached to garden plants when they are purchased. Regardless of the plant or flower, a rich, healthy soil is the essential foundation for flourishing foliage. Also, most require at least 1 inch of water per week to reach the roots. This is called deep water.
Knowing the fundamentals of annuals vs. perennials and plant care is essential for successful and lovely gardening. Once these basics are mastered, gardeners can build on their knowledge to include more exotic plants and more intricate arrangements in their landscaping. After gardeners have built up their self-confidence about plants, they are less likely to feel overwhelmed or intimidated the next time they walk into a greenhouse or garden center.
Sources:
Sullo, Eleanor. "Perennials vs. Annuals in the Garden." Pagewise. 2002. Essortment. 4 June 2007. http://njnj.essortment.com/annualsperennia_rjgh.ht m
Perry, Dr. Leonard P. "Perennials—Choosing and Planting." University of Vermont Extension System Department of Plant and Soil Science. 21 March 2001. 4 June 2007. http://www.uvm.edu/pss/ppp/pubs/oh25perp.htm.
The Difference Between Annual Plants and Perennial Plants in the Garden. The Garden Helper. 16 May 1999. 4 June 2007.http:// www.thegardenhelper.com/planting.html
Annuals are plants that bloom only once a year. Since they must be replanted, weeded and cared for each year, they are a more labor-intensive choice than perennials. The good thing, however, is how convenient they are to locate. Most garden centers and nurseries carry a wide variety of colorful annuals. They are usually purchased in flats and are relatively inexpensive. Bright and vibrant annuals are often used as accent plants around trees, walkways, or in window boxes. They are also a popular choice for potted plants. Some examples of annuals include pansies, petunias, and snapdragons.
Perennials, on the other hand, will return year after year as long as they are cared for and conditions remain favorable. Herbaceous perennials die into the ground and then come back up the next year. Woody perennials (trees and shrubs) never die, but get bigger each year. Perennials can be harder to find at nurseries, but a wide variety of perennial garden plants can be ordered through catalogs.
Although they are more expensive, perennials require less work. Also, they get bigger with time and growing plants can be split, transported to other parts of the yard, or shared with friends. Perennials are generally more muted in color, but come in a wide variation of heights to help created a textured or multi-level effect. Perennials have an average bloom period of 3 weeks. Some examples are lily-of-the-valley, anemone, and bleeding heart.
After gardeners plan their gardens and choose their garden plants, an important part of gardening is plant care. Different garden plants have different requirements for sunlight. Some flourish with a lot of sun exposure, while others prefer a shady environment. Watering and pruning routines also vary from plant to plant. Small description cards with growing instructions are usually attached to garden plants when they are purchased. Regardless of the plant or flower, a rich, healthy soil is the essential foundation for flourishing foliage. Also, most require at least 1 inch of water per week to reach the roots. This is called deep water.
Knowing the fundamentals of annuals vs. perennials and plant care is essential for successful and lovely gardening. Once these basics are mastered, gardeners can build on their knowledge to include more exotic plants and more intricate arrangements in their landscaping. After gardeners have built up their self-confidence about plants, they are less likely to feel overwhelmed or intimidated the next time they walk into a greenhouse or garden center.
Sources:
Sullo, Eleanor. "Perennials vs. Annuals in the Garden." Pagewise. 2002. Essortment. 4 June 2007. http://njnj.essortment.com/annualsperennia_rjgh.ht m
Perry, Dr. Leonard P. "Perennials—Choosing and Planting." University of Vermont Extension System Department of Plant and Soil Science. 21 March 2001. 4 June 2007. http://www.uvm.edu/pss/ppp/pubs/oh25perp.htm.
The Difference Between Annual Plants and Perennial Plants in the Garden. The Garden Helper. 16 May 1999. 4 June 2007.http:// www.thegardenhelper.com/planting.html
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