Annuals vs. Perennials: Knowing the Difference

When planning a garden, one of the first decisions gardeners face is choosing between annuals and perennials. Both have unique benefits and serve different purposes in the landscape. Understanding their differences in growth habits, care requirements, and garden uses will help you create a vibrant, thriving outdoor space.

What Are Annuals?

Annuals are plants that complete their entire life cycle in one growing season. They grow, bloom, produce seeds, and die all within the same year. Popular annuals include Supertunias®, Superbells®, Impatiens, and Begonias. Because of their rapid growth and continuous blooming, annuals are often used to add bursts of color throughout the growing season.

Uses for Annuals:

• Seasonal Color: Perfect for creating vibrant displays in containers, hanging baskets, and garden beds.

• Flexible Design: Easily change your garden’s look from year to year by experimenting with different colors and arrangements.

• Instant Impact: Ideal for filling gaps in perennial beds or revitalizing areas that need an instant pop of color.

Caring for Annuals:

• Water Needs: Regular watering is crucial, especially during dry spells.

• Fertilization: Feed with Water Soluble Fertilizer to promote continuous blooming. It is best to feed your annuals every third watering.

• Deadheading: Removing spent flowers encourages new blooms and keeps plants looking fresh.

What Are Perennials?

Perennials are plants that live for more than two years. After their initial planting, they return year after year, going dormant in the winter and waking up bright and beautiful in the spring. Perennials are best known for their growth stages: 'sleep', 'creep', and 'leap' reflecting on their establishment and blooming over time. Popular perennials include hostas, daylilies, and coral bells.

Uses for Perennials:

• Foundation Plantings: Serve as the backbone of your garden design with reliable, long-term growth.

• Low Maintenance: Once established, they typically require less care than annuals.

• Seasonal Interest: Many perennials offer year-round appeal with attractive foliage, flowers, and seed heads.

Caring for Perennials:

• Watering: Regular watering when first planted; once established, many perennials are drought-tolerant.

• Dividing: Some perennials benefit from division every few years to maintain vigor. This happens once they are established and are about 3-5 years old.

• Pruning: Cut back spent foliage in the fall or spring, depending on the type of perennials and it's specific needs.

Approaching Your Garden Design:

When incorporating annuals and perennials, consider the following:

• Layering: Use perennials as the structural base of your garden and fill in with annuals for seasonal color.

• Budget: Perennials are a long-term investment, while annuals may need to be repurchased each year.

• Maintenance: Mix low-maintenance perennials with high-impact annuals to balance effort and visual appeal.

By understanding the differences between annuals and perennials, you can create a dynamic garden that evolves beautifully with each season. Whether you love the ever-changing palette of annuals or the dependable charm of perennials your garden will grow and thrive as the seasons change.

QUESTIONS? Shoot them over via email to helpdesk@provenwinnersdirect.com. We have a whole team of plant experts waiting to help!