In addition, annuals are easy to start directly from seed, keeping planting costs to a minimum. Most types of annuals can be started right from seed by using seed boxes. The seeds should be started inside, and it is important to provide them with plenty of light and well drained soil as the seedlings are establishing themselves. After the seedlings have gotten a good start indoors, they are then replanted outside in the garden.

For those who do not want to grow their annuals from seed, seedlings can be bought directly and transplanted immediately. This approach is generally more expensive, but it provides a quicker time between planting your flowers and enjoying them.

Whether you start your annuals from seed or buy read made transplants, annuals should be planted to a depth at which the tops of the roots are just below the surface of the soil. If buying seedlings, it is important to be sure that all fiber, paper, plastic pots and other packing material are removed before the seedlings are planted. If peat pots are used for transplantation, the top edge of the pots should be removed before they are planted. This wail help prevent the pot from pulling precious water away from the roots.

If the seedlings have any buds or flowers on them, they should be pinched off when the seedlings are planted. This will promote greater branching and help the plant grow stronger. After the seedlings have been transplanted, the plants should be given a good watering. It is particularly important to provide lots of water in the first few weeks, since the plants are still developing their root structure during this time. It is essential to provide adequate moisture to get the plants off to a good start. Even after planting, most annuals require from 1 to 1½ inches of water every week to thrive. Even more water may be needed in very hot climates or during heat waves in cooler climates.

Sufficient watering is a good way to encourage the deep root system that annuals need in order to thrive. By watering deeply and thoroughly the gardener can encourage this deep root growth. The best methods for achieving this deep and thorough watering are soaker hoses and drip irrigation. In addition, these methods of watering avoid water splashes on the foliage, which can serve as pathways to fungal infections.

Proper mulching is important for annuals to grow properly as well. Prior to planting, the flower bed should be mulched with a two to three inch layer of pine straw or pine bark. Mulching serves to conserve the moisture contained in the soil and to reduce the growth of weeds. A good layer of mulch will shade the seeds of weeds and prevent them from sprouting. Mulch provides a natural form of weed control and thereby eliminates the need for hand weeding or harsh chemicals to control the growth of weeds.

What sets annuals apart from other varieties of plants like perennials and bulbs is that annuals complete their entire life cycle within a single season. That means they sprout from seed, grow, bloom, then die to ground all within one growing season.

Most types of annuals can be successfully started from seeds, and many experienced gardeners prefer to grow their plants from seed. Growing from seed provides a greater degree of control, and a lower costs as well. Most types of annuals can be successfully seeded directly in prepared seed beds. That approach allows the annuals to be started indoors and then transplanted outdoors at a later date.

For those who prefer not to grow their annuals directly from seed, they can also be purchased as ready to plant transplants. This approach allows the gardener to see the results of his or her efforts more quickly, and it can also allow the gardener to choose the healthiest, most robust plants.

Most annual varieties, whether they are purchased on the internet or directly from a garden center, will include some sort of instruction sheet detailing the recommended care, the best time to plant, the best planting depth and the recommended plant spacing. If this information is not provided, it is important to ask about these things.

Some annuals that are recommended for planting in late winter or early spring can be planted instead in late fall where the weather is warmer. In addition, most annuals planted outdoors should be thinned out to their recommended spacing once they have developed their first true leaves.

If annual seeds are to be started indoors for transplantation at a later date, it is important that the seedlings have access to a light source for at least 16 hours every day. Seedlings that do not get sufficient light will be spindly and weak, and they may be unable to survive the rigors of the great outdoors.

Most summer annuals should be seeded indoors from six to eight weeks before the first frost. When planting seeds, it is important to carefully follow the directions on the label. Seeds should always be started in a sterile seed starting mixture, and the seeding flats you use should provide proper drainage.

It is important to wait until all risk of frost has passed before planting tender varieties of annuals. The reason for this is that even if tender annuals are able to survive the lower temperatures, they will not grow well until the soil is warm.