Frequently Asked Questions about Plants  

     1. What are the advantages of growing annual flowers?
     2. What are the advantage of growing perennial flowers?
     3. What can and can't be planted early in the spring in March & April?

Note: This page is under construction, we are still adding questions and answers to this FAQ.

1. What are the advantages of growing annual flowers?
- Annual flowers are a great way to add quick and long lasting color to your garden. Most varieties of annual flowers will bloom for you all summer long. Annual flowers are also very versatile and are great for your flower boxes and hanging baskets. Annuals have two advantages over perennials. First, they don't need much weeding, because you can turn the garden over before planting them they tend to develop quickly. Second, they provide color by blooming all summer long. The disadvantage to annuals is that they do not winter over and must be replanted every spring. Some popular annual flowers are: pansies, marigolds, petunias, snapdragons, zinnias, geraniums, impatiens, begonias and salvia.

2. What are the advantage of growing perennial flowers?
- Perennial flowers are useful because there are a lot more types of them for your garden and because they will winter over and come back next spring. Because they will winter over they typically need much more developed root systems and most varieties will not do well in hanging baskets or flower boxes. Most perennials will be in bloom in your garden for only a short period of time, perhaps a week or two. To create a perennial garden that will bloom all summer long requires the use of a wide variety of different types of perennials. You can get early color in your perennial garden by including bulbs like tulips and daffodils. Since a perennial garden can not be turned over every year it will require a lot more weeding then a garden of annuals. Some popular perennial flowers are: black eyed susan's, day lilies, Asiatic lilies, bee balm, daises, primroses, cone flowers, foxgloves, dahlias, mums, astilbes and asters.

3. What can and can't be planted early in the spring in March & April?
- If you want to plant flowers in March and April you need to be careful of frost and freezes. Flowers that are hardy enough to survive frosty nights include pansies, primroses and most perennials. Most annual flowers like petunias and marigolds will not survive a heavy frost. Vegetable plants must also be kept from cold weather. The cole crops like cabbage and broccoli and some types of leaf lettuce may safely be planted in March or April but most other vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers will not survive a heavy frost. The less hardy annual flowers and vegetables should not be planted in this area until about the first week of May. Even then you should keep informed about the weather and be ready to cover your plants or if they are in baskets or pots bring them inside should a late season frost warning be forecast.