Gardening with Annuals
Annuals bloom their hearts out for a single season, making them the fastest way to fill a garden with continuous, reliable color from spring through frost.
Why Annuals Earn Their Spot
Unlike most perennials, which bloom for a few weeks at most, many annuals flower continuously from planting until the first hard frost, making them ideal for filling gaps in a perennial bed or covering a container in nonstop color. Their fast growth also makes them perfect for gardeners who want quick results.
Because annuals complete their whole life cycle in one season, they also give a garden flexibility — a color scheme or layout can change completely from year to year.
Regular deadheading is the single most effective way to keep annuals blooming continuously — most stop flowering once they set seed, so removing spent blooms tricks the plant into producing more.
Pairing Annuals with Perennials
Tucking annuals into gaps left by perennials that haven't reached maturity yet, or into the lulls between perennial bloom cycles, keeps a bed looking full and colorful all season long.
