Homeowners tend to opt for perennials flowers because of their continuous (and non-stop) lifecycles. Their leaves may die during winter months, but they will grow again in spring. The idea of buying the seeds only once is intriguing because it removes all the fuss and hassle of the preparation. What else should you know about these types of plants?

Perennials Flowers vs Annuals

A lot of people think that perennials and annuals are just the same. In reality, they are completely different. The biggest difference is their lifecycle. Perennials generally live for around 2 years and then re-grow back in spring. Basically, they will never stop living. Sure, their leaves and blooms will likely wither in winters, but as stated before, they will grow back in spring.

Annuals, on the other hand, have shorter but faster lifecycles. They generally complete their growth within one (growing) season, and then they won’t re-grow anymore. Annuals plants are great when you want to have instant results. You will see the results right away, but then again, they also die without any chance of returning.

Knowing the Facts

Why does it matter to understand the difference between annuals and perennials? For a start, it helps you determine which flowers suit your gardening style. It’s common to plant the perennials within very early spring or during autumn. Some of them are hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, poppies, peonies, daylilies, and hellebores.

For annuals, there are several categories for them.

  • Cool seasons.
    Cool annuals are those thriving well in cooler temperatures. They will do well in autumn or early spring. Snapdragons, violas, or sweet peas are some of the examples.

  • Warm seasons.
    Also known as tender annuals, these plants enjoy warm and rather humid surroundings. You can consider zinnias, salvias, and sunflowers for this type.

Perennials Care

Most people think that perennials can grow on their own. This is one of the most common misconceptions and mistakes made by beginner gardeners. Sure, some perennials need only very minimal and low maintenance, but it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t care for them. You still need to water and feed them so they will grow healthy and well.

You need to do deadheading, which means that you need to remove the spent blooms in order to encourage flowers to increase. During fall, you need to prune them. Mulching is also important to provide extra protection for winter months. You can then remove the mulch when spring comes.

Dividing is also crucial to care for your perennials. Overcrowding is one of the most common problems with perennial plants, so it’s a good idea to divide them up. Perennials tend to form clumps. When you separate them, they have better chances to survive. That’s why divided perennials tend to be healthy, vibrant, and well.

Perennials also need enough space to grow and thrive. It’s a good thing that they are pretty versatile and ‘tough’. You can easily move them around the garden, as long as you provide them enough space to grow well. You will see that your hard work will pay off once they grow well on different parts of your garden.

Bottom Line

Perennials aren’t difficult to handle, but you need to ensure that they have the nutrients and care. Make a thorough research about the type of perennials you want, and you can expect your garden to be filled with gorgeous and beautiful perennials flowers.

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