You may already know what annuals are without realizing it! They are the flowers, arrayed in flats and pots, for sale every spring down at the garden center -- everything from geraniums to impatiens to marigolds. You bring them home and plunk 'em in the ground, and they get right to work, delivering pretty much continuous color all summer long. When fall comes, they start to slow down (some might even go to seed); cold weather eventually causes them to wither and die. That's it. (That is, unless you live in a frost-free climate; in this case, your "annuals" become perennials.

For the brief time annuals are growing and pumping out flowers, you get a lot of bang for your buck. A great deal of selection and breeding refinements over the years have made these plants totally reliable. They're hard to kill. Indeed, some of them keep blooming their cheery heads off even when you neglect them. More sophisticated gardeners have been known to sneer at good old annuals. They're boring. They're too perky. They're “plastic plants.” These folks may or may not have a point, but hey, annuals are hard to beat if you want a colorful garden.

In the end, the main drawback of annuals is economic. You have to buy new ones every spring. If you're planting a wide area, running out to buy more year in and year out can get expensive. Time may also be an issue for you — you may grow sick and tired of getting down on your hands and knees and replanting.

You can use annuals ...

To fill an entire flowerbed (this popular use is why some places call annuals bedding plants) In container displays — in pots, windowboxes, patio planter boxes, and more To fill a hanging basket To edge a walkway To "spot" color in a perennial bed In edging and as decoration for a vegetable or herb garden To cover over or at least distract from a fading spring bulb display