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If you are looking for eye-catching blooms throughout the growing season, annuals are the way to go. Though they only last for one year, annuals pack a lot of color into their short lives. These versatile plants are relatively easy to care for and fairly inexpensive. Treat them right and your garden will be the envy of the neighborhood.

It is important to remember that while annuals are incredibly easy and versatile in the garden, no two are alike. There are three main types of annual flowers, hardy, half-hardy and tender.

Hardy Annuals - These are plants that will handle the cold. They can be planted in the fall or spring. It is best to plant them before the last frost if you are planting in the spring. Hardy annuals are capable of handling frost and some freezing, and still survive. However, they are not able to handle the heat. When the weather starts getting warmer, these plants will start to wither and die.

Half-Hardy Annuals - These are plants that handle the cold, wet weather. Their seeds will germinate in colder soils. They cannot, however, handle frost. It is best not to plant them until after the last frost. You may notice that these will wither during the summer, since they do not handle hot temperatures well. Many will re bloom once the weather begins to cool off in the fall.

Tender Annuals - These are plants that do not handle the cold well. Most are native plants in warmer regions of the world. Seeds for these plants will not germinate in cold soil. It is best to wait a few weeks after the last frost before you plant outside.

Now that you know the different kinds of annuals, there are some basics to know about their care. Since there are thousands of different varieties, it is a good idea that you do a little research about the individual plants. Some of their requirements may be slightly different. However, the following are some guidelines that are suitable for most annuals.

Sun

Most annuals prefer a lot of sun (though there are exceptions). At least 6-8 hours of sunlight per day is recommended, though some (like impatiens) will do well in part shade.

Soil

All plants benefit from well-prepared soil. In general, annuals need a pH between 5.8-7.0. The soil should be amended well, especially with heavy soils like clay. A moderate amount of organic materials like compost will help amend and aerate the soil for better root growth.

Planting

When planting your annuals from pots, the best time is either late afternoon or on a cloudy day. This will help minimize

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