SUMMER ANNUALS AND PERENNIALS

So you want to have bloomers all around the lawn. It can be done if you choose the right plant for the right location. There are three major sources of color -- woody plants, perennials and annuals. The woody ornamentals include trees, shrubs and vines. Perennials refer to herbaceous flowering plants that grow and bloom year after year. Annuals include the flowering plants that are grown for one season, discarded and new ones planted next year. Many times the broad term bedding plants is used synonymously with annuals.

To utilize annuals which should be remembered in the landscape effectively, there are a few rules or concepts. Annuals must be planted and replanted through the year. No one species of flowers will last from spring through fall if you expect a continuation of blooms in the landscape. For best results annuals should be planted four times a year . . spring, summer, fall and winter and there are specific annuals that are best for each season. There are flower species that bloom in the spring and burn up in the hot summer. There are those that thrive in hot, dry weather. There are some that need a long growing season to prepare for blooming.

Annuals must be planted in mass to make a strong statement in the landscape. Take one or two species of annuals and fill the flower bed. Don't plant one of this and two of that and expect your landscape to stop traffic. Since we are blessed with such wonderful soil, blooming plants need some preplant soil preparations to insure show?stopping results. The addition of organic material is a necessity. Shredded pine bark, peat moss, compost, manure, leaves and grass clippings are all excellent organic materials for soil improvement.

In designing a flower bed remember to take advantage of color combinations. Complimentary colors, such as pinks and reds or oranges and yellows, give a soft, soothing air to the landscape. Contrasting colors, like whites and reds or yellows and purples, make a strong, bold statement.

It is time to establish summer plantings of annual flowers??those that can endure the hot Texas sun. The best heat tolerant annuals are periwinkles, purslane and portulaca. If you have a shady landscape, the best annuals are impatiens, begonias, caladiums and coleus.

Perennial plants are those which endure or persist from year to year. Although once a prominent part of nearly every Texas landscape, perennials have been overlooked but are now making a
comeback. Perennials can be highly useful and attractive in the home landscape. They not only persist for many years but usually require less maintenance than annuals. Most times you get more bloom for your money with perennials than annuals. Many perennials have attractive foliage and are an asset even when not in flower. Remember though, the best landscapes have a combination of annuals and perennials for color in the landscape. Here is a list of a few perennials that are guaranteed to grow well and are available. Early spring bloomers include Daffodil, Bearded Iris, Shasta Daisies, and Day Lily. Summer bloomers include Canna, Gladiolus, Lantana, Native Phlox, Plumbago, and Rosemary. A few of the native perennials that will bloom seven or eight months of the year are Autumn Sage (Cherry Sage), Blue Sage and Mexican Oregano. The best fall bloomer is Chrysanthemum and all its many forms and colors. Another fall bloomer worth having is the Frikarti Aster (Autumn Aster, Michaelmas Daisy).

Now is the time to plant the summer bloomers??whether you choose the annual or perennial type. For more information about Annuals and Perennials, see:

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/publications/flowers_all_seasons/index.html