Spring Annuals

Annuals are garden plants that grow and bloom for a single season. These plants are perfect for adding life to gardens and outdoor spaces and are often used in containers, borders, and hanging baskets. They are also popular with gardeners who want to experiment with different combinations of colors and textures in their gardens.

Martin Garden Center sells approximately 100,000 spring annuals each year. Our most popular spring annual plants include Caladium, Calibrachoa (Million Bells), Coleus, Dragon Wing Begonia, Lantana, and Petunia, all of which have multiple colors of each. We have the largest selection of blooming annuals in the Upstate. We offer both 4″ patented varieties of annuals and flats of non-patented varieties. Our spring annuals include, but are not limited to, the following:

Spring Trailing Annuals 4″

Upright Spring Annuals 4″

In addition to these spring annuals, we also sell a multitude of grasses and colorful foliage that provide annual pops of color and texture. All blooming annuals are heavy feeder; you must fertilize often. We recommend Fertilome Garden Cote 6, which provides a slow release six-month feed. Also, occasionally supplement with a high-phosphorous fertilizer such as Jack’s Blossom Booster for more blooms. To keep your basket fresh and prevent legginess, pinch one leg from each trailing cultivar back to the edge of your basket once per week. For upright varieties, pinch as needed to promote branching or to reduce size.

More About Annuals

One of the benefits of planting Annuals is that they are often fast-growing and will bloom quickly, adding instant color and vibrancy to gardens and outdoor spaces. They are also relatively easy to grow and care for, making them an ideal choice for beginners and experienced gardeners alike. However, once Annuals have completed their life cycle, they will die off, and the gardener will need to replant them the following season. In the Upstate, we have a spring and fall season. The spring season annuals are planted after the last frost date, and the fall season annuals are planted to replace spring season annuals that have become exhausted after an entire blooming season.

Annuals are heavy feeders and require regular fertilization to keep vigorous blooming. Martin Garden Center recommends three approaches a 6-month slow-release feed provided by Fertilome Garden Cote 6 for lazy people, the Fertilome Premium Bedding Plant Food every 30 days, or Jack’s Blossom Booster plant food every or every other time you water. Sometimes, a combination approach works best.

Annuals come in a wide range of colors, sizes, and shapes, making them perfect for creating a variety of garden designs. We prescribe the Thriller, Filler, Spiller approach to containers at Martin Garden Center. Often, the thriller, filler, and spiller provide the texture to make stunning mixes in containers. Annual plants can be grown in various containers, from traditional pots and urns to hanging baskets and window boxes. They are a great way to add color and interest to small spaces, balconies, and patios.

However, it is important to note that while annuals are relatively easy to grow, they have some limitations. Because they only last for one season, they may not be the most cost-effective option for gardening on a budget. Additionally, some varieties of annuals require more care and attention than others, so it is important to do your research before choosing which plants to grow.