Proper Care of Perennials in the Garden

Perennials have much to recommend them, especially, their ability to regenerate every year. Even better, though their longevity varies from variety to variety, some, especially peonies, can last for decades.

Of course, not all perennials can live that long, however, in order to be called a perennial a plant must have the ability to come back for at least two consecutive years. This longevity makes perennials a great choice for gardeners.

Perennials are generally very hardy, however, it's still important to get them off to the right start, and to provide them with the care they need to grow and thrive.

Choosing the most healthy perennials is the first step. Perennials are usually purchased in either four inch containers or one gallon containers, depending on the size and quantity purchased. In addition, some mail order and internet sources of perennials ship their plants as bare root plants. Wherever you buy them, however, it's critical that you care for them properly before, during and after they're planted. Doing so is the best way to ensure you'll have a garden full of beautiful plants year after year.

Most types of perennials like soil that is rich in organic matter. Therefore, you should have your soil analyzed and amended if necessary, before using it for your perennial bed. Soils that don't contain sufficient nutrients should be enriched with compost, aged manure or other organic materials.

Even though most perennials should be provided with a rich organic soil, a surprising number of perennials are able to live well in poorer quality soils. Even though they can grow in poor soil, however, they'll do much better and provide better blooms if the soil is enriched.

Sunlight is also important to perennials. Many varieties do very well in full sunlight, while other varieties do better in partial shade or filtered sunlight — especially in a hot climate. Always consider the need for sunlight and the best ways to provide it when planning your perennial garden.

The need for water also differs among various varieties of perennials. Some perennials prefer large amounts of water and others can get along with little water. In addition, most varieties of perennials do best with an annual feeding. This can consist of either working the organic materials in the regular soil in the spring or fall or by using a good quality fertilizer. When using fertilizer, it's best to fertilize in the springtime.

When buying perennials, try to take into account how large the plant will grow at maturity and make sure you provide enough space for the adult plants to grow. Some perennials can grow to heights in excess of seven or eight feet so determine ahead of time how large that tiny seedling will grow when you plant it. Planting the seedlings with the adult dimensions of the plant in mind will save you lots of headaches in the future.

Since perennials come back year after year, make sure you trim and prune them properly during and after each growing season. The process of deadheading, or removing spent flowers, is important to keeping a perennial garden blooming season after season. Removing spent blossoms will encourage more growth and keep the plants at their healthiest.

Trimming and pruning can also make the perennial garden more attractive. It's a good idea to cut back the stems and foliage by a third at the end of each growing season. This trimming will provide for a round of new growth when the new season takes hold.