What is the difference between annuals and perinials?

Question

I know absolutely nothing about growing flowers.

Also, I have this 8' long by 2' wide space along the side of my house I would like to use as my learning garden. You can't really see it, so if I screw it up, nobody can tell.
The side faces the west and gets LOTS of sun in the afternoon. What are some good plants I can use that are great for beginner gardeners?

I live in a warm climate and that area gets strong sunlight I would say around 6 - 7 hours a day, if not more.

Answer 1

Annuals,live for a season, then die off in the winter. Therefore they have to be replanted annually. Perennials, come back every year. They {die} off in the winter, but come back in the spring. Kinda like the trees loose their leaves & appear to be dead, but in the spring they come back. For a starter garden,go to the old stand by traditionals! Marigolds, Pansies, {which are annuals} Then, just for giggles & to try out your green thumb, get a few packages of wild flower seeds. Put them in the broken up soil after the last freeze, generally about the first part of may is a safe bet no matter where you live. Then wait for Mother Nature to show her beauty! they are easy to maintain, only need to weed & add some water if you have a dry spell. Usually Mother Nature, Herself, provides plenty of moisture. you'll have a beautifull variaty of flowers that pretty much take care of thierselves!!! Good Luck & Have Fun!!!!!!

Answer 2

Annuals are plants that sprout, grow, flower and set seed all in one season then die. A perennial is a plant that goes dormant during the winter and comes back every spring. You don't have to replace it every year. Now there are some plants that are perennial in warmer climates but are used as annuals in colder areas of te country. Like Impatiens, which grow year round in Southern California but not in Pennsylvania.

Since you are starting from scratch, it is a good idea to buy an inexpensive soil-testing kit and test your soil. If you don't know what kind of soil you have (is it acidic or alkaline, clay or sandy?) you won't be able to choose the right plants and have them flourish.

Prepare your soil before planting anything. Whether it is high in clay or sandy, adding compost will always help.

Since the area you want to grow plants only gets sun in the afternoon, the question is how many hours? Most annual flowers need full sun, but there are exceptions like Impatiens and Coleus. Annuals can also be divided into cool-season annuals (like Calendula)and warm-season annuals (like Impatiens).

Since your plot of garden is narrow, I might recommend starting with annuals. Most perrenials will eventurally grow too large and leave you little space to experiment and develop your gardening skills. You may also try growing in pots if you don't have enough room.

Do you want to grow from seeds or buy bedding plants from the nursery? You may try one or two types from seed and the rest from bedding plants. This way you won't be totally discouraged if something doesn't work the first time.

Your library has a lot of gardening books to learn from. Also, most universities have a Cooperative Extension office which provides information to the public on any gardening topic if you need help. They can give you advice on the types of plants you can grow based on the area of the country you live in and the conditions you want to plant in--sun/shade, kind of soil, and the amount of effort you want to put into them.

That is why I haven't given you specific plants to grow. Not enough information to base an answer on.

So contact your Cooperative Extension office and check out some books. Gardening is a great hobby. My fingers are itching to get in the soil again. I can't wait for spring. Good luck and don't give up. Gardening is an life-long adventure.

Answer 3

An annual is a plant that grows, blooms and dies in one growing to be season the place as a perennial maintains to stay, bloom and pass dormant for better than one twelve months or numerous years. in simple terms by using fact a plant "comes back" does not unavoidably advise it quite is a perennial although. Many annuals will flower and drop seeds which will improve back the subsequent twelve months inflicting people to have confidence they are perennial while in fact they are annuals by using fact the unique plant lived, bloomed and died in one growing to be season, yet by using fact it reseeded its self, it quite is been replaced with yet another plant or "got here back"

Answer 4

an annual plant is a plant that usually germinates, flowers and dies in one year
from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annual_plant

Perennial flowers can grow and bloom for several years. Some have shorter lives of only 3-4 years. In the fall these flowers die but the root system stays alive through the winter. In the spring you are rewarded because the flower grows new leaves from its roots and the cycle continues.
from: http://www.gardening-advisor.com/Perennial-Flower-Gardens.html

Answer 5

annuals are plants that grow during the grow season, then die. not returning the following year. Perennials will grow during the grow seasons, then go dormant for fall and winter returning in the spring. typically the perennials will double in size after going dormant each year you may want to split the plant by the root.to get more plants.

Answer 6

Go for the perinials they come back year after year.....annuals you have to replant each year......when you go to plant your flowers, just look on the package for ones that do great in all sun. They are all marked, and it is very easy to do!

Answer 7

get yourself some cana lilies, holly hawks and irises.these are perennials meaning they grow year after year.annuals grow from seed each year the die biannual grow from seed,go dominant grow again from the root make seed then die.these flowers are very good beginners plants and low maintenance,however they need rich soil and abundant watter