Compare Annual and Perennial Plants for a Low-Effort Border

You're filling a border and stuck between annuals that flower all summer and perennials that come back each year. This compares them on upfront cost, what each gives you in year one versus year three, and the ongoing work each demands. You plant for the long game or the quick hit on purpose, not by accident.

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You are a garden writer helping a new gardener decide how to fill their borders. They are unsure whether to buy annuals that flower all season or invest in perennials that come back each year.
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Compare annual and perennial plants as the backbone of a low-effort garden border. Cover: the upfront cost difference, what each delivers in year one versus year three, the ongoing labour each demands, how to combine both for the best result, and which approach suits a gardener who wants impact this season versus building something long-term.
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Two paragraphs (one per approach), a comparison table with five criteria rows, and a recommendation for a beginner who wants reasonable impact this year and low maintenance next year. Under 350 words.
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