This year’s last spring frost date is scheduled for May 9th, that means that you can safely start planning which annuals and perennials to add to your garden. Toronto and Ontario’s frost-free period usually lasts around four to five months, so why not enjoy every day of it with a beautiful garden? In this post we explore our top annuals and perennials picks for your garden.
If you’re not sure how to add these to your garden, consider adding them to a border in the garden bed to highlight an existing focal point. Or plant many different types of annuals and perennials and make them the main attraction.
What is an annual?
An annual plant, unlike a perennial, germinates, matures, blooms, sets seeds, and dies in one season. This season for most of the GTA typically lasts from late spring to early fall.
What is a perennial?
Unlike an annual plant, a perennial returns year after year, making it a cost-effective option for gardeners. Some perennials live for a few years while others, like peonies, can live for decades. Their hardy roots let them regenerate and return each season.
When is the last frost date in my area?
As mentioned above the 2015 average last frost date for Ontario is May 9th, but below we outline average frost dads for various areas in Ontario:
- Northern Ontario – May 24th – June 10th (North of Sudbury)
- Kingston to Sudbury – May 5 – May 24th
- South of Kingston until Windsor – April 15 – May 5th
You can see that this year’s last frost date is an outlier, it’s out of the specified range listed above, so keep a close eye on the weather before you consider planting.
What are the best annuals for sunny areas?
By sunny areas we mean areas that receive direct sunlight for a majority of the day.
- Geraniums
- Portulaca
- Zinnia
- Marigolds
- Snapdragons
What are the best perennials for sunny areas?
- Daisies Euphorbia ‘Fireglow’
- Russian sage
- Purple coneflower
What are the best annuals for shady areas?
These areas receive no direct sunlight at all.
- Browallia
- Forget-me-not’s
- Coleus
- Fuchsia
What are the best perennials for shady areas?
- Bigroot geranium
- Old-fashion bleeding heart
- Lungwort
- Lamium
- Epimedium
What are the best annuals for moist soil?
Soil quality is important to consider when choosing your annuals, certain annuals thrive in certain soil conditions. Moist soil can result from the soil type in your garden and the drainage you have. If you’re finding you have too much moisture in your soil, try adding sand or gravel or raising your soil beds.
- Forget-me-nots
- Mallow
- Viola
What are the best perennials for dry soil?
- Sea Holly Sea-lavender
- Blackeyed Susan
- Garden Thyme
What are the best annuals for dry soil?
- Cosmos Coreopsis
- Marigold
- Portulaca
Source: Lone Pine Gardening’s Annuals for Ontario, by Alison Beck and Kathy Renwald
The Aden Earthworks Horticulture team
