Annual Flowers – What are They and How Long Can They Really Last

An annual plant is defined as a flower that completes its life cycle in one year. This means they begin as seeds, grow into plants and produces seeds of their own, and then die off. Annuals come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors and can be an attractive addition to any home garden.

An annual’s main objective is to make seeds and multiply all in one growing season. Because of this their blooms usually last all season. If an annual is properly cared for it will last an entire year.

To provide your annuals with a good start plant them in an area of your garden that gets direct exposure to the sun for at least six hours a day. This location should also have good quality soil with adequate drainage. Annuals are relatively easy to grow from seeds. However, if you choose to buy them from a nursery look for plants that are dark green and preferably have not bloomed yet.

Choosing when to plant an annual can affect its chances for survival. Tender annuals can only be safely planted when the chance of frost is completely gone. Half hardy annuals can be planted when the nights a re still cool, but the days should be warn and there should be no chance of frost. Hardy annuals can be planted as soon as the ground can be broken in early spring.

When planting annuals make sure the hole is as deep as the pot that the annual is currently in. Make the hole about a foot wider than the pot. When you remove the annual from its container you should loosen the roots to allow them to grow.

Before planting the annual in the hole that you’ve dug you may want to sprinkle some organic fertilizer in it. Then place the plant in the center of the role, making sure that the roots are spread out.

Then you should fill the whole with soil. Pack in the soil gently but make sure that it is firm enough to hold the plant in place. After, the hole is adequately filled you should water the plant and apply a layer of mulch or compost. The layer should be several inches thick.

Annuals need about an inch of water a week to thrive. It may rain enough to cover this water requirement. However, you may need to help out with a hose or watering can. Try not to soak the foliage to avoid fungal disease.

It is also important to keep your garden free from weeds in order for your annuals to do their best. Weeds prevent water from soaking into the soil and making it way to the roots. Weeds also provide a breeding ground for insects, pests and diseases that may be dangerous to your garden. When you are removing weeds try to avoid disturbing the roots of the annuals.

Pruning annuals can be vital to their ability to propagate. You should dehead your annuals when necessary. This means removing faded or aging flowers before their seed has matured. This will encourage new growth and keep the annual attractive. In addition you may want to prune to provide the plant shape.

In conclusion, with proper care and maintenance annuals can survive for one growing season and produce enough seeds to make any garden beautiful. Annuals are usually used as decorative or ornamental plants and are generally paired with perennials for maximum impact. Their wide variety of colors and sizes make them ideal for almost any garden. And their ability to adapt to numerous climates adds to their popularity as well.