Choosing and Planting Perennials

Why Choose Perennials

The use of perennial flowers could be a great way to liven up your garden without adding a lot of extra work.

Perennial flowers are strong, local flowers that come back every year without having to replant or do very much work. During their off seasons, the flowers and stems die back and you can hardly even tell the plant is there While they are dormant these plants are still alive. . When it’s time to bloom, entirely new stems and flowers shoot up where the old ones were.

Before deciding which plants to choose be sure your soil drains well. Most plants require that the root zone stays moist but not wet so well drained soil is a must. Adding compost to the soil is a great way to ensure that the soil will retain moisture while improving it’s structure for better drainage.

Picking your perennials can be a complicated process but not that bad. Most perennials bloom at certain times of the year. The goal should be to have something in flower through out the the year. Making a chart of different perennials that will grow in your area and their bloom times will greatly help your planning.

If you plan it right, you can have a different type of flower blooming at any point in the growing season . Getting just the right mixture of plants can give your yard a constantly changing array of colors. Remember that you will also have to consider the site as well as far as sun or shade goes. A little research will pay off big in the long run and insure you have a beautiful garden .

When you go to purchase your plants be sure to look for healthy plants with out damage. Try to remember that most perennials spread rather quickly and can fill in an area in just a couple of seasons. So a smaller plant may not be such a bad idea as well as more economical as well .

You should definitely use mulch when planting perennials. This will reduce the overall amount of work you have to do, by reducing the amount of weeds and increasing the water retention. As for fertilizer, use it sparingly once your plants are established.

When you plant set your perennials with enough space to allow for growth without overcrowding. A great rule of thumb that I use is that most plants will double in size their 2nd season. Also be sure to remember their height try to place the taller plants towards the rear and low growers to the front. The most important thing is to enjoy your garden and you can always tweak it and move things around. Isn’t that what gardening is all about!