Annual gardening is going to give you more color all year long than perennials. They normally bloom all summer long. When sellecting annuals you should keep in mind the height and the width of the plant and also the sun light condition.

Here are some examples of this color scheme...

Here are some examples of this color scheme...

Here are some examples of this color scheme...

When creating a perennial garden, you have to determine blooming periods, zones, lighting requirements, and soil conditions. When creating a perennial garden, blooming periods are important because perennials have blooming periods, unlike annuals where most bloom all summer. You want your perennials to bloom at different times of the year. In our area (Minnesota) you can grow perennials that are less then a zone 4. Zones are a area of temperature change that they rate the plants at. Be sure to figure out if you have sun or shade and see what kind of soil you have clay, sand, or normal black dirt.

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Here are some examples of this color scheme...

Here are some examples of this color scheme...

Things to consider when doing container gardening.
What you need in a container you need a center peice something that will get taller than the rest. Then you need some mid plants to create a mound for you pot. Then you some trailing items to go over the side.

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Here are some examples of this color scheme...

Here are some examples of this color scheme...