Buy annuals for the spaces you want to fill, then choose the size of plant that fits your timing and budget. Small plants in six-packs take time to fill out; larger nursery pots give you more color right away. Neither size is always the better buy. Light, growing room and the kind of display you want matter more than how many flowers are open on the day you shop.
What is an annual, and will it come back?
An annual typically completes its life cycle in one growing season. Some annuals drop seeds that may sprout the following year, but that is different from the same plant surviving winter. Do not count on seedlings appearing in precisely the place or number you want. If you would rather plant something that can return from its roots, look at perennials for the garden alongside your annual choices.
Annuals can add color quickly to a bed or container, particularly where another planting has finished flowering or left an opening. Marigolds, petunias, million bells, impatiens and begonias are among the familiar choices the original article mentions. Their preferred conditions are not identical. Check the label for sun and moisture needs before deciding which one belongs in a particular patch. The post on impatiens takes a closer look at one of those options.
Should you buy six-packs or larger plants?
Six-packs are easy to carry and put into the ground, and smaller plants can grow into a space over the season. A larger pot is useful if you want a fuller display sooner. Space either size for its eventual spread according to the plant label, rather than crowding a bed because the small starts look sparse at first. When you make a shopping list, count the space you actually have. Our guide to preparing for the garden center covers checking the planting site and choosing healthy plants.
You can also start annuals from seed. Whether that saves money or effort depends on the variety, the number you need and the time you have to tend seedlings. Buying young plants may be simpler for a small bed; sowing seed may suit a larger area or a variety you cannot find locally. Nature’s Friends can help plan and plant a seasonal display if you would like a hand with it.
