When it comes to flowering plants, gardeners have the choice of annuals or perennials. Annual plants have a single-year life cycle and must be replanted again if you want them to return. Perennials, however, will grow again year after year - sometimes decades in the right conditions.
While perennials might seem like the go-to for low maintenance flowers, there are plenty of annuals perfect for a beginner gardener to introduce into their garden. Here are some suggestions for beginner-friendly annuals:
Cosmos are hardy annual flowers that you can plant directly into outdoor soil. They don’t require very much water to grow and multiply - in fact, cosmos tend to thrive in warmer, drier conditions. While technically an annual, cosmos self-seed, meaning they’ll come back in future seasons automatically.
Pansies are a staple in window boxes, hanging baskets and garden beds wherever there’s a suitable climate. Pansies are some of the best annual flowers for cool climates, even surviving below-freezing temperatures despite their delicate petals. These annuals are best planted in early spring in a location where they can enjoy the morning sun.
Marigolds are extremely popular flowering annuals that can bloom all summer long with minimal effort. The beautiful blooms come in a spectrum of yellows, oranges and reds, making them perfect for autumn gardens when planted later in the summer. Allow the soil to dry out a bit before watering again, and avoid getting the colorful flowers wet, as they are sensitive to rot.
Planting annuals can be extremely rewarding, even with minimal effort. While some flowering annuals perform best with regular deadheading, you can enjoy these bold blooms at any gardening skill level.
Hi, I'm Ronald Bixby and I'd love to assist you. Honor, Respect, and Integrity...These are qualities that were instilled in a small town in upstate NY and reaffirmed in the US Navy. I was raised in a town called Horseheads. After graduating High school, I decided to see the world and I went into the Navy. Although I wanted to see the world, I ended up joining the submarine force and unfortunately, they don't have too many windows on subs! After getting out of the Navy, I found myself with an opportunity to get into the restaurant business and that's where I spent the next 30 years. I am blessed with an amazing wife, who is my rock, 4 beautiful daughters, and a son... Parenthood has a way of keeping you on your toes! However, thinking that I was missing something, I decided to make a change and started exploring the Real Estate business, and the more I looked into it, the more I knew this was the right profession for me. I like to help people and assisting a family buy or sell a home is a fantastic opportunity to do just that. If I can make someone half as happy as I am...it's a great day. Let me help you be happy.