Why do annuals flower every year? Because nature has a beautiful way of making everything appear beautiful even when it isn’t! In the garden we see annuals and perennials growing upwards towards the sky in all its glory. We have all seen the lovely flowers in bloom at St. Valentines Day or at Easter, but why do these flowers only bloom for one year? The answer lies in the way in which they are cared for once they’ve come into your life and you may be surprised to know that they can last up to three years. If you love landscape flowers, you’ll want to learn more about these flowers and the varieties that are best for landscaping gardens.
Annuals are plants that bloom seasonally. Some varieties of annuals exist as annuals year round in gardens while others are only produced for one particular season. Annuals include many vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes, peppers, melons, cabbage, beans, and much more. You can plant an entire garden of annuals each year if you have the space or you can often group them together and grow them together year by year.
Perennials are plants that live for one year and then die back to form new plants the following year. They can be perennials or annuals depending on when they bloom. Flowers that are perennials bloom all year long include the gardenia, bells of Ireland, lupine, marigold, pansies, and much more. Some flowers such as the marigold can actually be found in the fall and winter but bloom again the next year. Perennial flowers such as these will benefit from regular watering.
Perennial flowers that do not need much water are great for the beginning gardener and for the backyard garden. Plants such as the purple coneflower, peanuts, and blue spruce can survive the frost that is common with perennials but will start to die back during the hot summer heat. The annuals that are best for a backyard garden are those that come up yearly, bloom perpetually, and do not need much care after a frost. A few examples of annuals include the bell of Ireland, Columbine, gardenia, pansies, peonies, purslane, sage, and more.
Annuals need to be mowed often to keep them growing and blooming. This is very important for flowers that are used frequently as borders or in flowerbeds. Many people wonder if certain flowers do not need to be mowed as often as other flowers because they don’t bloom for a long period of time. Well, there are some flowers that do not grow very large and others that only bloom for a short period of time. The Liatris, for example, blooms for three weeks and then dies back to form new plants the next year. Other flowers such as the daffodil and the hyacinth only bloom for a couple of weeks each year and then die back to form new plants.
Some perennials such as the anemone flower and the hornwort also do not need to be mowed very often. If you’re wondering “Why do annuals flower every year?” you need to understand that a perennial is a plant that does not grow all at one time. It either stays the same size all through the year, grows in one direction only, or grows in two directions at different times. Annuals are plants that stay the same size all through the year, grow in one direction only, or grow in two directions at different times.
The best choice for a garden is usually an annual. However, if you have a lot of space and can devote a little more attention to your flowers every year, you can plant a perennial. Many perennials, such as the marigold or the anemone flower, will bloom again the next year if they are maintained properly. If you can, you want to dig up your perennials each year before they bloom and repeat them. Repotting perennials is not difficult. You can move them around on spouts and pot them in holes a few inches deep.
An occasional bloom from a creeping annual will go far to provide a reminder to the gardener that all flowers bloom, even the annuals. The perennials in the garden will provide color and variety as well as being safe and clean. In addition, the annuals will be able to take the place of any flowers you may have planted. Annuals make the perfect early spring introduction to the garden.