As annuals have a relatively short life, they generally require little maintenance. However, they should be deadheaded regularly to prolong their flowering, and should also be watered regularly during drought. You may need to stake tall annuals after planting to prevent them from toppling under their own weight or blowing over. Annuals should be cleared away when their foliage starts to die down after they have stopped flowering or at the end of the season.

Weeding

Always make sure that you keep annuals and biennials free from weeds as they will compete for light, water and soil nutrients. Any weeds should be pulled out by hand whilst they are still small. Self-sown seedlings should be removed in the same way if they are not required.

Feeding

Biennials may benefit from a little feeding, but bear in mind that over-rich conditions will produce vigorous vegetative growth at the expense of flowers. If the soil has been well prepared, annuals will rarely need extra feeding.

Watering

Young annuals and biennials should be watered regularly with a sprinkler or watering can, ensuring that the bed is thoroughly soaked. Once they have become established, they should only be watered during prolonged dry weather.

Containers

Plants in containers such as hanging baskets or windowboxes require little maintenance apart from frequent watering and deadheading flowers to maintain the display. Containers should be checked every day to make sure that the compost remains moist (not waterlogged), and any fading or dead flowers removed.

When a plant has finished flowering, it should be taken out it from its container and swapped with a later-maturing plant. Hardy biennials may be overwintered outside; however, if the plants are likely to be damaged by frost, then the container should be moved under cover.

Supports

Many annuals and biennials may benefit from some support as they tend to have slender stems. Insert peasticks in the soil around the young plants so that they can grow up through them, quickly covering and hiding the sticks.

Tall annuals may be supported by inserting a few canes around the edge of the plant and tying them together with string - the supports will be quickly hidden by the plants as they develop. Very tall plants, such as sunflowers (Helianthus) or hollyhocks (Alcea) may need to be staked individually. A cane should be pushed into the soil where it will be least visible and the stem tied in every so often as the plant develops.