Most of us in Atlanta, that are into landscaping, gardening, or just looking to keep an aesthetic appearance up for curb appeal, know the value of planting colorful flowers. 
Annual flowers come in such a wide variety of choices that they are often what we choose when flower shopping. Planting annual flowers allows you to make beautiful combinations of colors, textures, shapes, and heights in your flowerbeds or lining your sidewalks.
What is an annual flower? Simply stated, annual flowers are flowers that compete their full growing process in one growth season. These plants are typically planted at the beginning of the growth season and then they die when the temperatures get too cold for them in the fall.
Some annuals are pretty cold resistant, but others, known as tender annuals, are not. These tender annuals must be planted only after the danger of cold temperatures and frost is past. Hardier annuals can withstand lower temperatures, but you should still wait until most of the danger of frost has past before planting.
To protect your plants from cold spells or unexpected frosts there are a few things you can do to help them continue to thrive. The first thing that you can do to help your annuals be protected from the cold is to plant the most sensitive annuals you have lining a fence, or wall, to give them protection from the wind and from exposure.
Planting your flowers in well worked soil that drains well is another really important technique for keeping your plants healthy and give them their best chance against any cold temperatures. Well draining soil allows for better root growth and well worked soil allows roots to grow deeper into the earth, giving them a better chance of survival.
Using mulch to insulate your tender plants roots can be very helpful in preventing frost and freezing temperatures from damaging the plants roots. Make sure to use proper techniques when mulching to avoid hurting the plant.
For very cold nights or unexpected frosts that come along, cover your plants to keep them safe from the worst of the cold at night. Large buckets are a great option for covering your annuals. Make sure the bucket is big enough to not disturb the plants leaves or flowers. If you are using something like a sheet and stakes, again, make sure that the flowers or leaves are not actually touching the fabric. This can damage them.
Remove the coverings or buckets in the morning when temperatures are higher and the threat of cold and frost are gone.
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