Annuals, Perennials & Bulbs: Which Plants Come Back Every Year?

Life Cycle Cheat Sheet

Annuals: Instant Color, Replant Yearly

• Buy as bedding plants or start from seed 6–8 wks before frost.
• Plant after last frost date (check local extension).
• Deadhead for non-stop bloom. Fertilize monthly.
• Great for containers, filling gaps, cutting gardens.

Perennials: The Garden's Backbone

• May not bloom first year (root establishment).
• Peak at year 3–4. Divide every 3–5 yrs to rejuvenate.
• Two subtypes:

1. Woody: Shrubs, roses, hydrangeas (stems persist).
2. Herbaceous: Die to ground; return from crown (most flower perennials).

• Match sun/water/soil to plant tag.
• Mulch, deadhead, cut back in spring (not fall—see below).

Bulbs & Friends: The Underground Storage Organs

• Need chill period (12–16 wks <40°F) to bloom → plant in fall.
• Depth = 2–3× bulb height.
• Foliage must ripen (yellow) before cutting—feeds next year's flower.
• Naturalize: scatter, plant where they land. Daffodils, crocus, species tulips excel.

The #1 Perennial Mistake: Fall Scalp

Don't cut to ground after frost. Standing stems + leaf litter = crown insulation, insect habitat, soil building. In spring, cut to 2–3". Many crowns sit at soil level—scalping kills.

Feed by the Numbers (N-P-K)

• N (Nitrogen): Leaves & stems.
• P (Phosphorus): Roots & flowers.
• K (Potassium): Hardiness, disease resistance.

Spring: balanced (10-10-10). Bud set: bloom booster (10-30-10). Fall: low N, high K (5-10-20).