ANNUAL VERSUS PERENNIAL

Annuals are plants that complete their life cycle in one year and are typically replaced yearly. In the Midwest, annuals include marigolds, zinnias, petunias, and impatiens. Many of the food crops we think of are also annuals. Annuals are typically used for bold splashes of long-lasting color and ease of maintenance, but can be costly to replace year in and year out.

Perennials are plants that live more than two years. Typically, when using the term perennial, people are not referring to shrubs or trees, which also usually live more than two years. Rather, they are talking about plants such as purple coneflower or hosta. Many perennials continue to grow throughout their lifetimes and therefore need to be divided. Each type of plant has preferred methods and times to do this, so you should research before ripping any of your plants apart. Once you do find out though, dividing is a great way to increase the amount of plants in your garden or to give away to friends and neighbors.