Annuals add blooms to summer gardens

It's that time of year again when everyone is in such a frenzy to get their plants in the ground. Each year I sense that gardeners have less and less time to enjoy their favorite pastime: digging into the soil and planting.

I think that because of everyone's busy schedule, many frustrated gardeners are looking for ways to save time each spring. Conversations often revolve around planting perennials. The idea is that you only plant perennials once. Therefore you will save time in the long run.

With perennials in mind, gardeners often tell me they are looking for plants that make a great big show, bloom all summer long and don't look like weeds when they are not blooming. Unfortunately there are less than a handful of perennials that exhibit these characteristics.

So what is a gardener to do?

I would like you to rethink the use of annuals. They make a great show, bloom all season long, are easy to take care of and usually only look like weeds after frost has done them in.

The easiest way to make some sense out of all the annuals on the market is to categorize them into shade- or sun- loving plants. In shady areas, (this includes areas that get morning sun but afternoon shade) use impatiens, begonias, ageratum, lobelia, alyssum, coleus or caladiums. There is a tremendous range of colors from these plants, enough to fit any color scheme.

Most of the rest of the annuals that I can think about do well in full sun (or morning shade and afternoon sun). Not only is the full spectrum of the rainbow represented, many have some specific characteristics that make them especially valuable.

If you are interested in drawing hummingbirds to your landscape, then plant a lot of salvia. Although red varieties are usually planted, I have also seen hummingbirds coming to blue and white varieties.

I've written a lot about pansies. When you plant them in the fall, you will find that they can survive our winter conditions and provide you with color, even when ice is hanging on the petals. Then in spring they take off with vigor and color your spring landscape with brilliance.

Petunias will cascade over the side of hanging baskets to provide you with a large ball of green foliage dotted with silver-dollar-sized flowers in every color in the rainbow. If you don't like deadheading these beauties, try the new supertunias, wave petunias and million bells. These three groups are very aggressive growers, and more importantly seldom require pruning and dead heading.

Use marigolds to ring your vegetable garden. Their beautiful orange to yellow blooms will not only brighten your day, but they will also provide some natural insect control to help protect the plants in your garden.

Rose moss grows in poor soils where it is hot and dry. Every color of the rainbow is represented during the day. At night they close their blooms. If you do not disturb the soil during the winter, they often reseed themselves, so next year you will be delighted to find more blooms than you had the previous year.

Geraniums will give you large blooms all summer long if you simply water them occasionally and give them some food. I know several gardeners who bring these plants inside during the winter, and replant them the following spring. Sounds like recycling to me.

If you want some help in deciding which flowers to plant ask the clerk at your favorite garden center. They should be able to help you find just the perfect bloom for that important spot in your landscape. After planting, enjoy and nurture your annuals by fertilizing them, watering them and just plain enjoying them.

Send your gardening and landscape questions to Paul Schnare at P.O. Box 699; Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0699 or by e-mail to news@semissourian.com.