Styling With Annual Flowers and Annual Plants Like the Experts:

Theoretically, there is no need to differentiate between annuals and perennials as they are both flowering and foliage plants. However, gardeners do tend to use them in slightly different ways.

This is partly because of the annual's brief life and partly because annuals tend to be more brightly colored than perennials, lending themselves to vivid displays. Perennials are more permanent and although some do have bright colors, they are usually more muted.

Generally, the style of a garden reflects its owner's lifestyle and personality. Gardens should always have a positive and uplifting atmosphere, so there is no point in creating a place where you feel uncomfortable. Use the following advice as guidance, but never be afraid to follow your own instinct.

Annuals are ephemeral plants; they flower for one season only and then they are gone. This may seem to be a disadvantage in a garden context, but in fact it can be a great benefit, especially for those gardeners who like to have something different in their flowerbeds each year.

What is an annual? There are basically four different types of plant that are considered annuals, which can grow from seed, flower and procedure their own seed within a year. There are many examples of these, but poppies and nasturtiums are popular ones. Closely allies to these are the biennials. These grow from seed one year and then flower during the next. Foxgloves and evening primroses are familiar examples.

Then there are those perennials that are tender, and so are treated as annuals and started a fresh each year. Pelargoniums and busy Lizzies are good examples. Finally, there is another group of perennials that are used as annuals. These are simply short lived perennials that are better grown from scratch each year. Frequently planted examples of these are wallflowers and sweet Williams.

One of the advantages of using annuals is that the design of a garden need not be fixed; you can change the color, texture, and shape of the plantings each year if you wish. At the end of the flowering season you simply rip out the plants, then decide which annuals you want to plant for the next season. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors, so the gardener has a virtually limitless palette from which to create planting schemes. This versatility means that annuals can be used as massed bedding or mixed with other plants, such as perennials, or they can be used in containers such as hanging baskets, large pots or window boxes. They also provide a wide range of flowers that can be cut for the house.