Difference Between Annuals, Perennials and Biennials
Knowing the life cycle of your plants is vital to creating a healthy garden. Some plants grow all year round, such as evergreens (hence the name), while others germinate only once a year, such as geraniums . It can be difficult to keep track of which plants return each year (perennials) and which live only one cycle (annuals). And then there are biennials that grow according to a completely different schedule. What is the difference between these plant life cycles and how can this knowledge help you in gardening? Here’s how a plant’s life cycle can help you plan your planting.
Annual plants don’t return every year
Annuals and perennials are often confused because of their similar names. We are used to hearing that the word “annual” is applied to what happens every year. But in this case, it means that these plants grow only once. After the annual plant dies in your garden, it will need to be replanted again the next year. The Garden Design Home & Garden website offers the pros and cons of planting annuals. One of the advantages is their beautiful plumage: many annuals have brightly colored flowers, which gives your garden an attractive aesthetic appearance. Oddly enough, some annuals, when properly planted, can even bloom for several seasons – for example, beans have a longer growing season and can grow up to 95 days.
The downside of a garden full of annuals is grooming: they require a lot of attention in the form of fertilization, watering, and pruning. To keep your annuals lasting as long as possible, plant them away from each other so they can grow to their full size. Garden Design recommends adding a slow release fertilizer to give your plants a solid foundation and extend their life. Water the plants immediately after planting and set up mulch to regulate moisture and prevent weed growth.
Perennials are preserved
Unlike annuals, which die after the first frost and never return, perennials will stop dormant and germinate again during the next growing season. Perennials include flowers such as hosta or daisies and vegetables such as asparagus and rhubarb. Investing in perennial plants helps improve the overall health of your garden. The Small Footprint Family ‘s sustainability website explains, “[some] perennial vegetables fertilize themselves and neighboring plants by fixing nitrogen in the soil.” Planting them can extend the life of the annual plants that surround them.
In order for perennials to grow, they must be properly prepared before planting. This means tilling the soil and adding compost to each planting hole. The Garden Gate planting site suggests planting on a dry but cloudy day to avoid transplant shock. After the soil is ready, dig a wide, shallow hole to give the plant room to grow. Dig “a wide hole at least twice the width of the pot so the roots can quickly penetrate the loose soil to collect moisture and nutrients,” advises Garden Gate. They recommend using a gauge to check planting depth, noting that it is best to “plant the crown too high, not too deep”. Water the leaves of the plant immediately after planting to keep them from dropping. Sufficiently moist soil will keep the plant moist for at least a week. Spreading mulch around your plants will help keep the soil moist and keep out insects.
Biennials take time and patience
A biennial plant sounds like a plant that grows twice a year, but it actually means it takes two years to grow after the first planting. Roots are formed during the first year; in the second year, the plant begins to bloom and sow. Biennials can become annuals, depending on your local climate. According to Horticultural Know-How , out-of-season cold spots can “affect whether a plant is biennial or annual.” Or perhaps the plant will bloom one year, but will not produce edible vegetables or fruits until the next. Biennial plants include beets, carrots, and celery.
Because location matters, use the USDA Resilience Map to decide which plants are most likely to grow in your area. Like annuals, biennials need regular watering and pruning to keep you going. Keep watering, feeding, and weeding your garden as often as possible, and be patient. Community activist and gardener Ron Finley suggests keeping a garden diary so you can “keep track of when and where you planted your vegetables, if pests are interfering, and any pertinent details about the development and health of your crops.”