Plant perennials to create the ideal home garden

Q. I'm very inexperienced to gardening and need to start at the beginning for my new house and yard. What is the difference between annuals and perennials?

A. Great question and congratulations on your new home. The ideal home garden is most likely a mix of both perennials and annuals.

Perennials are plants that survive our sometimes rough Chicago winters and grow back year after year to share their beauty. Generally, perennials will survive more than three years, some lasting much longer. When shopping for perennials, look for the plant's hardiness zone. While many plants are labeled perennials, look for plants that thrive in Zone 5. Zone 5 perennials do best in our climate.

Perennials can be planted from bulb or seed, although it is easiest to go to your local nursery and purchase perennials in the spring to plant for your summer enjoyment. Keep in mind that some perennials only bloom for a period of time, so it is a good idea to plant a variety of perennials that bloom at varying times throughout the growing season. Some common perennials that grow nicely in our area include black-eyed Susan, echinacea cone flower, roses, peonies, day lilies, bee balm, wild onion and hostas.

Annuals, on the other hand, are plants that you have to replant every year. Most annuals grown in Zone 5 will be killed off by frost before they reach the end of their life cycle. I like to add annuals in bare spots in my garden among my perennials. They are bright and showy and with a little water, will do well throughout summer and into early fall. Some popular annuals include begonias, vinca, marigolds, zinnias and impatiens.

My recommendation is to plant a varying assortment of perennials that bloom at different times throughout the growing season. These will oftentimes multiply, filling in your garden quite nicely. I also encourage you to add a splash of instant color to your garden in the form of annuals. What I love about adding annuals to my garden is that I can change up what type of annuals I plant each year to change the look of my garden. I should also mention annuals are great to put into containers to brighten your landscape.

Whether you choose only perennials, only annuals or a combination of both, they are sure to add a little brightness to your new home garden. Happy planting!

- Wendy Reiner

Q. I am thinking of using floating row covers this year in my vegetable garden. Can you tell me more about them?

A. Floating row covers are a great way to protect emerging or fully growing plants from the dangers of insects, frost, wind and animals. They can be laid over the plants without support, which gives the plants some of the advantages of a greenhouse without the expense and space required. You do want to anchor the covers with bricks or rocks or garden staples to ensure good coverage and to keep them from blowing away.

Covers keep wind off the plants and soil so the soil stays warmer and holds moisture longer after a rain or irrigation than if the cover were not there. Covers keep plants warmer even if temperatures go down. Having a cover keeps flying insects off emerging seedlings so the plants have a better chance of not becoming larvae food. The only time you wouldn't want to leave a cover over plants is when you are growing fruiting vegetables and the plants are flowering. Pollinators need access to those flowers.

The most commonly used materials for covers are perforated polyethylene or spunbonded polyester or polypropylene. These types of covers allow water from rain or a hose to enter easily.

A perforated polyethylene cover is not as good in preventing insects because it is perforated throughout with holes which are large enough to allow insects to enter under it. This type of cover still helps plants stay warm and keep soil moist so it is good for those purposes.

Spunbonded polyester or polypropylene covers come in a variety of weights. Thinner weights allow the most light in and work well for protecting emerging seedlings from insects, wind and animals. Slightly thicker weights hold more heat within so the plants are not in danger of frost. You can check the weight and use recommendations from the supplier to be sure you get what you need.

- Nancy E. Degnan

• Provided by Master Gardeners through the Master Gardener Answer Desk, Friendship Park Conservatory, Des Plaines. Call (847) 298-3502 or email northcookmg@gmail.com.