When it comes to flowering plants, gardeners have the choice of annuals or perennials. Annual plants have a single-year life cycle and must be replanted again if you want them to return. Perennials, however, will grow again year after year - sometimes decades in the right conditions.
While perennials might seem like the go-to for low maintenance flowers, there are plenty of annuals perfect for a beginner gardener to introduce into their garden. Here are some suggestions for beginner-friendly annuals:
Cosmos are hardy annual flowers that you can plant directly into outdoor soil. They don’t require very much water to grow and multiply - in fact, cosmos tend to thrive in warmer, drier conditions. While technically an annual, cosmos self-seed, meaning they’ll come back in future seasons automatically.
Pansies are a staple in window boxes, hanging baskets and garden beds wherever there’s a suitable climate. Pansies are some of the best annual flowers for cool climates, even surviving below-freezing temperatures despite their delicate petals. These annuals are best planted in early spring in a location where they can enjoy the morning sun.
Marigolds are extremely popular flowering annuals that can bloom all summer long with minimal effort. The beautiful blooms come in a spectrum of yellows, oranges and reds, making them perfect for autumn gardens when planted later in the summer. Allow the soil to dry out a bit before watering again, and avoid getting the colorful flowers wet, as they are sensitive to rot.
Planting annuals can be extremely rewarding, even with minimal effort. While some flowering annuals perform best with regular deadheading, you can enjoy these bold blooms at any gardening skill level.
Nicolette is a full-time licensed real estate agent working with residential and commercial buyers, sellers, and renters. Growing up in Eastchester, graduating from Marist College and branching out to Manhattan before returning to her roots has created deep ties to Westchester while understanding what a NYC buyer wants when relocating to the suburbs.
Bringing nearly a decade of extensive experience in sales, interior design, marketing, and customer service from her Manhattan career while working with esteemed companies such as Elle Décor Magazine and various companies under the Herman Miller brand, Nicolette encompasses an effective fusion of suburban warmth and city tenacity. Her enthusiasm for helping others combined with her determination to close deals helps her simultaneously connect her with clients on a personal level while conducting business in the most professional of ways. It’s this connection that leads to a seamless and successful Real Estate transaction.
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In July 2015, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services (BHHS) acquired Tri-Crest Realty and Prudential Centennial Realty and has been one of the most successful offices in lower Westchester County since 2000. With over 1,800 Realtors in 55 offices in the Northeast and 51,600 agents in 1,600 offices in 47 states nationally, BHHS is the #2 company in Barron’s ranking of the world’s most respected companies; ranking #3 in Fortune Magazine’s 50 Most Admired Companies survey.