| The best thing about perennials is that they come | | | | before planting. This will improve the drainage of the |
| back year after year, with no effort on your part. All | | | | soil and allow the roots to spread. After the |
| you have to do is plant them once, do a little | | | | perennials have been planted, you can add an inch or |
| maintenance every season and that's it! Best of all, | | | | two of compost to the top of the soil. The compost |
| many perennial flowers will start to grow as soon as | | | | will contain all the nutrients the plants will need for |
| the warmer weather arrives and can tolerate the | | | | the season. One application every year is all you |
| cool evenings better than annuals. To get you | | | | need. |
| started, here are some tips to ensure that your | | | | If the weather forecast is not calling for rain, your |
| perennial flower garden thrives year after year. | | | | perennials will need to be watered. You only need to |
| Planning | | | | add one inch of water twice a week. If you cover |
| When you are first starting your perennial garden, be | | | | the ground with mulch, you will only need to water |
| sure to take note of how tall and wide the plants will | | | | once a week, as the mulch will help to keep the soil |
| grow. It may take them a few seasons to reach | | | | from drying out. To tell if you need to water, stick |
| that size, but eventually they will. If the perennials | | | | your finger about an inch or two into the soil. If it is |
| have been planted too close together, your garden | | | | dry, then water. If the soil is moist, then you can |
| will become overcrowded and ugly. Avoid this by | | | | leave it be. |
| giving them enough space when you first plant them. | | | | Fall Maintenance |
| While you are waiting for them to grow, plant | | | | Once fall arrives and the plants start to die off for |
| annuals in the empty spaces. Every year there will be | | | | the year, what should you do? Do you just leave the |
| less and less empty spaces to fill. | | | | plant or do you cut it back to ground level? Well, it |
| Dividing | | | | depends on the plant and your own preferences. |
| As the perennials grow, you may need to divide one | | | | Some people feel that leaving the plant "as is" |
| plant into two or more plants. This will prevent the | | | | creates interest for the cold winter months. Certainly |
| perennials from dying out, taking over and will create | | | | ornamental grasses should be left alone. Not only |
| new plants. Perennials should only be divided in early | | | | does it help the plant to become hardier and |
| spring or fall, except for Irises, which should be | | | | stronger, but also they really do look beautiful when |
| divided after they have bloomed sometime in early | | | | surrounded by snow. |
| summer. To divide a plant, first dig it up and remove | | | | The rest is up to you. If you like the look, then leave |
| any excess soil. Then cut or tear apart the plant, | | | | it. One point to consider however, is that if you leave |
| ensuring that each part that is divided has its own | | | | the plant, then in the spring when the snow melts, |
| root and leaf system. Finally, replant the perennial and | | | | the plant will start to rot and decay. If you don't cut |
| water it well for the next few weeks so that it will | | | | the plant back in the fall, then you'll have this mess to |
| continue to grow strong and healthy. | | | | deal with. |
| Spring and Summer Maintenance | | | | If you are going to cut the perennials back in the fall, |
| There are really only three components to spring and | | | | then you have to decide how much you cut back - |
| summer maintenance: dividing, soil care and watering. | | | | all the way to the ground or leave a base. The simple |
| We talked about dividing above, which is essential to | | | | rule here is to cut back the herbaceous plants (those |
| the health of the plant. | | | | with fleshy stems instead of woody stems) all the |
| Soil care for perennials is simple. Before planting them, | | | | way down to ground level and cut the |
| ensure the soil is loose. Avoid clay soil, as it will be | | | | non-herbaceous perennials only to the base, as it |
| too compact for the roots of the plant to thrive in. | | | | won't die out over the winter months. |
| To improve the soil, add compost and peat moss | | | | |