How to Use Annuals Now - July

Before you exclaim, “It’s too late for annuals,” I want to remind you that it’s only the BEGINNING of summer vacation!

The first frost date is usually around October 20th, which means there are are 17 weeks - one hundred and nineteen more days to enjoy your garden. If you plant annuals now, they will add color and blooms to your garden from Independence day until almost Halloween. 

Keeping that in mind, annuals are a flexible and colorful way to maximize your garden space, even though you may not have room in the garden for more shrubs or perennials. 

But also annuals are great for young gardens. Annuals can fill up space while you wait for shrubs and perennials to grow into their mature size, which if you just planted them will be a few years off.

And adding annual herbs to your perennial garden can add a fragrant, edible element that you can enjoy with your salads, grilled fish, sauces and garnish.

Or mixed container gardens on your porch or deck with annuals and herbs will serve double duty—utility and ornamental.

There are still seventeen more weekends for hosting bar-b-ques or outdoor dinner parties, one hundred and nineteen more evenings of solitary strolls through your garden beds, so pump up your gardens with summer color, and enjoy!