Perennials for the Long Haul
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Planted by: Jennifer Tidwell
Date: Thursday March 5, 2009
Planted in: Perennials
Spring planting of perennials will soon commence. In fact, there is probably a minimal selection available at your local garden center now, depending on where you live. I worked in the front yard after work yesterday until the sun set, and I found my echinacea and veronica sprouting up from their roots. The echinacea has spread considerably since last year, and some of the seed I tossed out has come up as well. My dianthus, a semi-evergreen here, has begun to bud and will be full and beautiful in a matter of weeks.
When planting perennials, you will want to make sure your beds are prepared. Perennials are long term investments, and amending the soil properly now will help establish the plants the first year and ensure longevity through the years to come.
Keep in mind when you plant that it will take about 3 years for a quart-gallon sized perennial to reach its peak. This is when the plant is full, and has reached its maximum blooming potential. Spacing the plants appropriately, especially if you want them to spread and naturalize, will keep you from digging up and moving them in a few years. Pay attention to the height and spread on the plant tag. At first your beds may look sparse, but you can fill in the empty spaces with annuals until the perennials have reached their potential. A good choice for a colorful, easy growing filler annual is any of the Profusion Zinnia series. These can be started from seed or bought as plants at your local nursery.
After the fourth year, you should consider dividing the plants unless you are naturalizing them. At some point they will become overgrown and start to look shaggy. It’s always a good idea to trim back the dead foliage before the Spring Sprout begins to prevent disease and keep your plants looking their best.
If you plan to do a lot of perennial gardening, invest in a good spade and digging fork. These two tools will allow you to dig up and divide perennials with minimal effort or damage to the root system.
My favorite perennials are most varieties of dianthus, liatris (purple), shasta daisies, echinacea, veronica, and gladiolus. I don’t like to discriminate against any plant, but these have always come out ahead on my list. They are easy care, and most of them make more to transplant or give away.
If you have any specific questions about perennials, please shoot me an e-mail and I’ll answer them on the site!
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