Spring is in the air, despite the wet weather we’ve been getting. Have you planned out your garden for this year? If not, you may be wondering if it’s better to plant annuals or perennials.
Annuals are colorful flowers even the most novice gardener can keep going. They are inexpensive, usually have a long bloom time, and can add bright cheer to your home’s exterior. The biggest downside to annuals is that when they die, they won’t come back, so you have to buy and plant them every year.
Perennials, however, come back year after year, sometimes for decades. Perennials include flowers, fruits, legumes, nuts, and vegetables. The foods we eat come in both annuals and perennials.
Today, we’re making a case for including perennials in your garden. Here are four reasons why perennials make sense.
Water Conservation
Annuals are particular about water – too much, and they rot, not enough, and they can burn in the harsh Maryland summers. Even still, annuals require frequent watering, sometimes twice a day when it’s hot and not so humid (which is rarely the case here).
Perennials, though, require watering while the roots are getting established but can adapt more easily to the amount of water in the environment. If you’re concerned about water preservation, perennials are your best bet.
Cost Savings
With annuals, you have to go to the nursery every year to get blooms to plant in your garden. With perennials, you may have to pay a bit more upfront, but they come back year after year, saving you money in the long run.
Another cost-savings benefit of perennials is you get free plants. How? Well, perennials spread and reproduce. You can split up perennials in one bed, transfer them to another, or give some to family and friends. Depending on the type of perennial, you can also save seeds at the end of the growing season to replant.
Helps Native Pollinators
We can’t eat without bugs, especially bees, and planting a perennial garden can help keep them pollinating. Planting perennials native to Maryland is a great way to do your part to help support our lifecycle and keep food in abundance year after year. After all, food is our fuel, and native plants are both food and fuel for our local pollinating insects.
Free Food
Perennials include fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and herbs. You can buy seeds or starter plants and be on your way to free food in your yard without the need to run to the store and spend money.
Certain plants are also an excellent resource for natural medicine, which can keep your family healthy without an additional cost. Planting the right perennials means you have fresh fruits, vegetables, and more you can harvest for years to come rather than starting over from scratch next year.
Planting Your Perennial Garden
At 410 Lawn Guy (410-529-6429) in Gambrills, Maryland, we can handle virtually all homeowners’ outdoor needs. Whether you need a resource for the right perennial plants to get you started or someone to handle your lawn maintenance while you’re busy helping to save the bees, the 410 Lawn Guy is ready to help.
Contact us online today or give us a call at 410-529-6429 to find out how we can help with your lawn care needs. We love taking care of the smaller jobs the big lawn care companies are usually too busy for.
