Annual Flowers

Annual flowers can be a prime source of color to accent and enliven a home's landscape. The wide range of colors, sizes and species adapted to either sun or shade makes it possible to plant annual flowers almost anywhere. Annual flowers are perfect for beds, borders, rock gardens, window boxes, hanging baskets or as temporary ground covers and fillers. The flowers are non-woody plants that complete their life cycle in one season, ending with seed production. Annual flowers can play an important role in a well-designed landscape. Compared to most perennial landscape plants, annual flowers require higher levels of both maintenance and water, so plant annual beds in easily-accessible areas and near water sources.

Annual flowers are those which complete their life cycle within the space of one year and in this group we find some of our most useful garden flowers. annuals may be used as the only material in the planting scheme. For window boxes and porch boxes, for potted plants on the terrace or on the low coping of a wall, for the indoor window garden, and for winter bloom in the small greenhouse the annuals can hardly be equaled. Annual flowers are an excellent way to draw attention to building and home entrances, walkways and outdoor living spaces and to provide homeowners and visitors with pleasing "up-close" visual and fragrant experiences. Again, it is important to be selective in placing annual flowers so their ability to draw attention is not diluted.

Annual flowers planted in containers can add a splash of color to a porch, deck, or patio area. They are also enjoyed as fresh and dry cut flowers and can be a very rewarding hobby. Annual flowers are plants which are grown from seed, produce flowers and seed, and die in one growing season. They offer flexibility in landscape design. Any planting can be changed each growing season, creating an entirely new design. As a part of their quick change potential, annual flowers can be used as a temporary solution in a problem site. Many annual flowers, such as marigolds, globe candytuft and zinnias, can be direct-seeded; that is, the seed is planted in the location in which it will grow all season. Others should be started indoors and transplanted outdoors at the appropriate time. Annual flowers generally require 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water each week. Be sure the water penetrates to the root zone.