Knowing the life cycle of your plants is critical to creating a healthy garden. Some plants grow all year round, like Evergreens (hence the name) while others only sprout once a year, like Geraniums. It can be difficult to keep track of which plants come back every year (perennials) and which only live one cycle (annual). And then there are biennials that grow on a completely different schedule. What is the difference between these plant life cycles and how can this knowledge help you curate your garden? This is how the life cycle of a plant can help you create your planting plans.
Yearbooks don’t come back every year
Annuals and perennials are often confused because of their similar names. We are used to hearing the word “annually” applied to something that happens every year. In this case, however, it means that these plants will only grow once. After an annual plant dies in your garden, it will need to be replanted the next year. The house and garden Garden design offers the pros and cons of planting annuals. One advantage is the beautiful plumage: many annuals have colorful flowers that give your garden a striking aesthetic. Confusingly, some annuals, if planted properly, can even flower for a range of seasons – beans, for example longer growing seasonsand can grow up to 95 days.
The disadvantage of a garden laden with annuals is maintenance: they require a lot of attention in the form of fertilization, watering, and pruning. To make sure your annuals last as long as possible, plant them wide apart so they can reach their full size. Garden design recommends adding a Slow release fertilizer to give the plants a strong foundation and a longer lifespan. Immediately after planting, water the plants and install mulch to regulate humidity and prevent weed growth.
Perennials remain
Unlike annuals who die after the first frost never to return, Perennials will dormant and sprout again in the next growing season. The perennials include flowers such as hostas or daisies, as well as vegetables such as asparagus and rhubarb. Investing in perennial plants will help improve the overall health of your garden. Sustainability side Small footprint family explained: “[some] Perennial vegetables provide themselves and the neighboring plants with fertilizer by binding nitrogen in the soil. “Planting could extend the life of the annuals around them.
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In order for perennials to thrive, how should they be properly prepared before planting? This means cultivating the soil and adding compost to each planting hole. Planting site Garden gate suggests planting on a dry but cloudy day to avoid another shock. When the soil is ready, dig a wide and shallow hole for the plant to grow. Dig “a wide hole, at least twice as wide as the pot, so the roots can quickly penetrate the loosened soil to collect moisture and nutrients,” advises Garden Gate. They recommend checking the planting depth with a yardstick. Note that it is better to “plant the crown a little too high than too deep”. Water the plant’s leaves right after planting to prevent them from sagging. Sufficiently moist soil will keep the plant hydrated for at least a week. Spreading mulch around your plants will help keep the soil moist and keep insects out.
Biennials take time and patience
A biennial sounds like a plant that grows twice a year, but it actually means they are taking two years to grow after the first planting. The roots are formed in the first year; in the second year the plant begins to bloom and sow. Biennials can be annual depending on the local climate. According to Garden know-howLocations that are unusually cold can “influence whether the plant is biennial or annual”. Or maybe the plant will bloom flowers in a year but won’t produce edible vegetables or fruits until the next year. Biennial plants are beets, carrots, and celery.
Since location matters, use the USDA hardiness card to decide which plants are most likely to grow in your area. Like annuals, biennials need regular watering and pruning – these are the things that will keep you in on the long run. Water, feed, and weed your garden as often as possible and be patient. Community activist and gardener Ron Finley suggests keeping a garden diary so that you can “note when and where you planted your vegetables, whether pests are disturbing and all relevant details about the development and health of your plants.”
