Plants of the month Annuals
Add colour to your garden in a jiffy with trays of pretty annuals.
Six-packs of annuals are easy to plant and add colour to your garden within a short space of time. They are not that fussy about the type of soil in which they grow, have a shallow root system and are affordable: for just over R20 a tray, you can quickly transform a bed, pot or hanging basket into an eye-catching focal point.
“If you plant your six-packs early enough in the season, you’ll get value for money for months on end, thanks to the abundance of flowers that these plants produce in one season,” says Helia Smit, horticulturist at Cape Garden. “Within a few weeks after you’ve planted them, they should bear a profusion of blooms. And if you’d like flowers for a special occasion, calculate backwards by three to four weeks from the date of your event and plant your six-packs then. This should ensure plenty of colour to welcome your guests.
“In most cases, annuals are more colourful than perennials, putting on a lovely show soon after being planted. In addition, some annuals self-seed very easily so you’ll be rewarded with more plants in your garden the following year.”
Other than brightening up focal points such as a fountain or a nook near the front door, annuals are also valuable in a new garden. “Perennials are usually small when planted and take at least a season to grow and flower. By planting annuals in-between perennials, the bare soil will soon be covered and there’ll be colour long before the perennials start to bloom.
Annuals also provide seasonal colour for the garden. Since these plants are classified as summer- or winter-flowering, you can give a bed or pot a makeover twice a year! Although this might take a little more effort, it gives you the opportunity to experiment with new colours and varieties and to keep up with the latest trends!” says Helia.