06 May The Skinny On Annuals
These Plants Are a Gift That Keeps Giving Each And Every Year
Annuals or perennials? That is the question.
One of the true joys of gardening is flower selection, and with this, gardeners are presented with an overwhelming number of choices. But it all begins with annuals or perennials. Or better yet, both.
Annuals are flowers and other greens that you can plant and they will grow for that season only. Perennials will come back year after year.
“We always recommend a mix between annuals and perennials,” said Ralph Dinizo, President of Truesdale Nursery & Landscape Services of Berkeley Heights, N.J., one of the state’s premiere landscaping and nursery specialists. “While perennials provide constant beauty, annuals provide an opportunity to change things up a bit each year. It’s a perfect combination.”
As for annuals, there are many pros and just a sole con.
The pros of annuals are that they’re available in a wide variety of sizes and colors and only last a year, so each year you can pick new and different plants. Annuals are also great fill-in plants while you wait for perennials to multiply.
The cons? You must purchase and plant a new crop of annuals each year.
Now with a plant that you only use for one year, you can always change what you have planted the next year. It is easy for you to take a plant one year and replace it with something else the next year.
If you don’t want to have the same types of flowers year after year, this is a good option for you because each spring you can choose what you want to have bloom that summer, and you can pick something different for the next year.
This works well for rental properties, so that the people living in the homes can plant different plants each spring.
It is also advantageous because they are much easier to remove. If you have to replant a flowerbed, or if you want to move a flowerbed or redo your landscape, there is nothing that you have to dig up, because the plants die each fall.
Maintaining Your Annuals
Annuals can be one of the most trouble-free parts of the garden, yet they do require a few basic maintenance skills.
Most annuals will perform well with little or no physical maintenance. But with almost all annuals, you will find that a little extra attention will improve their display and ensure that the display lasts as long as possible.
Some basic tips:
Water your annuals properly. Many bedding plants are tolerant of drought conditions, but in most cases they won’t perform as well without regular water. The soil often contains a reserve of moisture below the surface, so plants in the ground can usually survive for surprisingly long periods of dry weather.
Use watering aids to reduce the necessity for frequent watering. Adding organic material such as garden compost will help the soil retain moisture, and mulching with a layer of such material on the surface will reduce evaporation.
Feed your annuals. Annuals planted in the ground will rarely need feeding, unless the soil is poor. Indeed, many will actually flower better in poor soil, merely growing leafy if over-fed.
Separate seedling and thin bud growth. When new plants are first planted, it’s a good idea to pinch out the leading shoot. This will encourage the plant to develop side-shoots and become bushy. You can remove the flower buds on the minor stems, leaving just those at the tip of the shoots to develop.
Stake the taller growing annuals. Most annuals are now available in short forms that do not need staking. However, many varieties will need supports of some kind. Tie individual stems to canes for support. Large clumps can grow through special hoops or systems of linked stakes for this purpose. Alternatively, for a more natural look, use bamboo sticks or brushwood pushed into the ground around the plants, with a mesh of string tied between the sticks, if necessary.
Deadhead and cut back. Take off flower heads as they die because this will promote prolonged flowering and make the plant look neater. At the same time, cut back any stems that are becoming too long or have finished flowering. New shoots will generally appear to replace them.
As you can see, annuals provide a terrific source of joy for gardeners — both in the selection and maintenance. Mix it up each year and you’ll always be amazed at what your garden produces.
Where Do I Get Help If I Need It?
There are a multitude of resources on the Internet. And of course your local lawn care professional is just a phone call away. Truesdale is here to help. Contact us today.