Gardening With Perennials
Perennials;
Plant them and then forget them.
Well not quite. But if you are sure to plant easy care perennials it's
close.
Since perennials are around for awhile take some time to research and
plan so you will be successful.
Perennials don't all have the same requirements and so you will want
to determine the attributes of your location and go from there.
Some things to think about and questions to ask yourself are:
Is the area sunny or shady or a little of both?
What type of soil do you have?
What hardiness zone are you in?
How big will it be?
Do you want an informal or formal garden?
How much time do you want to spend in it?
What colors do you like?
After
you answer these questions then it is time to start doing some research.
How? Read books, ask people you know that have nice gardens, quiz
the expert at the local nursery or your county extension office.
A really good book I have is Rodales Illustrated Encyclopedia of
Perennials by Ellen Phillips & C.Colston Burell.
It provides information on designing and growing your perennial
garden plus there is a perennial encyclopedia with information and
colored photographs of a great many perennials.
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When
you have a handle on the plants you like and think they will fit into
your scheme it is time to do the purchasing.
If it is early in the season you can get your plants by mail order and
have them shipped bare root. If you are not familiar with bare root
plants you may think what arrives will not grow but they are dormant
from being refrigerated. After planting, when the season warms up they
will start to grow normally. You just have to handle them correctly
by planting at the proper depth and not over watering.
You can also go to your local nursery and buy potted plants. They will
cost a little more and you probably won't find as large a selection
but you can get a good look at your plant.
If it is early in the season and you live in the North be careful of
cold weather. Usually perennials are hardy and freezing temperatures
don't bother them but if they have been growing in a greenhouse they
are a little sensitive to cold. After planting if freezing temperatures
are forecasted it would be wise to put a cover over them.
Don't feel you need to buy all your perennials at once. Sometimes gardeners
that have been planting annuals every year and are new to perennials
make the mistake of going to the garden center in spring and just purchase
the blooming perennials.
Later when those perennials have finished their show they find they
have a bed full of spring bloomers and then a sea of green and no color.
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