| Perennials are any plants which live for more than | | | | taking hold in the garden and it loosens up the soil |
| two seasons and produce stems which die back to | | | | allowing water and nutrients to reach the plant's |
| the ground each fall. They're at the heart of most | | | | deepest roots. |
| flower gardens and offer wide ranging benefits to | | | | Towards mid-summer the taller plants may begin to |
| the landscape gardener. Perennials are treasured for | | | | lean or fall as they become top heavy. This often |
| their ability to flower, spread and multiply year after | | | | occurs most noticeably after a rain shower. Staking |
| year. They're also noted for their form, texture, | | | | the plants is important and keeps them from falling |
| vibrant color and their ability to attract birds and | | | | into one another thus reducing the chances of mold |
| other wildlife to the garden. Perennials can stand on | | | | and disease. |
| their own in the landscape but can be complimented | | | | Continuing with the above tasks is important though |
| by a few well placed annuals. While perennials are | | | | the fall months as well. Late in the season, however, |
| easy to grow, there are a few basic maintenance | | | | perennials will begin fade and eventually their foliage |
| guidelines to follow which will help your garden | | | | dies back to the ground. The roots are still alive but |
| flourish. | | | | the above ground part of the plant is done for the |
| In the spring, the first task is an obvious one; | | | | season. Cutting back the plants that have gone by is |
| remove any debris which has collected over the | | | | generally done for aesthetic reasons. It can be done |
| winter. After that, cut back to the ground any plants | | | | in the spring but I recommend this task for the fall as |
| which were left standing the previous fall. When | | | | there are alot of other things to do in the spring. |
| cleaning out the garden tread lightly and rake lightly. | | | | Dividing perennials is easily the best way to increase |
| You don't want to disturb any new shoots. Once the | | | | your plant stock. A few years after you've planted a |
| garden is cleaned out, look around the garden to see | | | | perennial you'll probably notice that it begins to |
| if there are any empty spaces. If there are, you may | | | | outgrow its allotted spot. Dividing large perennials into |
| want to add a few new plants. Ideally, the perennial | | | | smaller plants will solve the problem of over crowding |
| bed should bloom from spring through the fall so if | | | | in the garden while giving you new plants to add to |
| the garden in September seems a bit sparse add late | | | | other gardens. In the fall when the plants are |
| season bloomers such as autumn sedum joy, | | | | beginning to die back prepare new planting areas |
| chrysanthemums or asters. Another way to add | | | | somewhere on your property. If you don't have any |
| color in the garden is to plant annuals in the spring. | | | | space for new plants, give some away to your |
| Though they last only one year, annuals bloom all | | | | friends. Simply dig the perennial you intend to divide |
| season long. | | | | out of the ground making sure to preserve as much |
| Fertilizing with a general slow release garden fertilizer | | | | of the root system as possible. Take a spade or a |
| and adding lime to the garden early in the season will | | | | garden edger and chop or divide the plant in half. |
| get the plants off to a healthy start and feed them | | | | Remove any foliage which may have been severed. |
| throughout the entire season. Each spring spread | | | | Replace the perennial back in the ground and back fill |
| compost throughout the perennial garden to improve | | | | with a mix of compost and existing soil. You'll need |
| soil consistency. | | | | some extra soil to fill in properly. Some of the easiest |
| In the summer the main task is deadheading, the | | | | perennials to divide are daylilies, hosta, iris and sedum. |
| process of clipping off spent blooms. This won't | | | | Perennials are adaptable to a variety of landscape |
| encourage continuous blooms in perennials but will | | | | conditions. Most can survive a few hours of shade |
| keep the garden looking fresh all season. With | | | | each day but there are those which will require full |
| annuals, however, deadheading will encourage | | | | sun and those which will thrive in the shade. Study |
| continuous blooms all season. Cultivating the garden | | | | the conditions of your own garden and have a plan |
| soil is another task which should occasionally be | | | | or list in hand before you head out to the |
| through the summer. Cultivating keeps weeds from | | | | greenhouse. |