Designing a garden to present the most from annuals and perennials requires planning and coordination of colors.

Using Color

• Plan for color with each season – winter, spring, summer, and fall.

• Color can come from the flower, leaves, and stems at different times of the year.

• Use light colors to brighten shady areas.

• White flowers are great to view in the evening. Dark colored flowers disappear with the onset of dusk, while white flowering plants still shine.

• Think about how colors will blend or contrast with their surroundings.

• Theme colors used with repetition will unify different garden areas.

• Bright, bold colors are less common in shade tolerant plants than in sun-loving ones. Flowers are usually produced less abundantly in the shade as well. For these reasons, shade gardens are often more subtle and restful than sunny ones.

• Variegated or yellow-green foliage is evident in the shade more than solid green or blue-green foliage. Light colors: white, cream, yellow, and pastel pink, stand out in the shade. Deep reds, blues, and purples may fade into the shade unless set off by a contrasting lighter color.

Cool colors

blue, lavender, pink

Warm colors

Red, golden yellow, orange

Shades of green are the most restful of all

Annuals

• Complete life cycle in one year
• Bloom more quickly and for a longer period than any other group of plants
• Versatile, easy to grow, sturdy
• Relatively inexpensive

Perennials

• Gardeners usually use the term to refer to herbaceous perennial flowers
• Most herbaceous perennials grow and flower for several years
• Some perennials survive for only 3 or 4 years
• Remember that individual perennials do not bloom for as long a period as annuals
• Some only bloom for days
• Others bloom for a few weeks

Planting

• Annuals and perennials require good drainage
• Do a soil test
• Both like pH between 5.5 & 6.5
• Add compost

Fertilizer

• Annuals require more fertilizer than perennials
• Annuals can be fertilized every 2 weeks to every 3 months, depending on the type of fertilizer
• Perennials are not heavy feeders
• Fertilize in early spring and maybe again in mid-summer

Mulch

• 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch
• Do not place around or on crown of plants

Perennial Failure

• Two main factors
• Lack of snow for overwintering perennials
• Summer heat and humidity – especially high night time temperatures

Emily L. Revels
Extension Agent
Consumer Horticulture
Cumberland County
(910) 321-6870

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Created by Susan Johnson, System Administrator, July 2005