Perennials: For a Garden That Keeps on Giving

Perennials: For a Garden
That Keeps on Giving

In the "disposable" 1980's, annuals were the thing. You just had to plunk down your money in the spring, dig the plants into your garden and presto - instant gratification.

Now, perennial flowers - the kind that re-appears and bloom year after year, are regaining their traditional popularity among gardeners ... And for a lot of good reasons. (In fact, they've never lost any appeal among dedicated gardeners).

While annuals offer a bright splash in the garden, they come with a sense of, well ... impermanence. The 90's have brought a return to basic values - and although perennials usually cost more at the garden center, they reward the gardener with season after season of often subtle beauty. Then too, they often multiply, providing new stocks for expanded gardens, or for trading with other gardeners.

One of the most vital ingredients for a successful perennial bed is your garden plan.

Before you rush out to buy a trunkload of perennials, draw out a plan of your garden place that:

(A) identifies what plants you'll obtain that are suitable for your growing conditions. (amount of shade, soil conditions, etc.)

(B) Places these plants in a pleasing composition (informal areas usually work best) with larger and taller plant generally in the back, and smaller and lower plants in the front.

(C) Distributes plants according to colour and blooming time, so their display will be pleasing for a longer period of time. Don't let these steps intimidate you -you'll have lots of time to "fine- tune" your plan in future seasons. And don't hesitate to ask your garden center for help.

There are a great number of perennial plants available today - so take your plan to the garden center when you visit. It will help you keep your quantities, and your budget, under control. Remember too it's important to resist the temptation to shoe-horn plants into the garden too tightly ... they need room to grow properly, and air-space to minimize disease problems. Check the tags to be sure you allow for all their potential. Here, too, any mistakes can usually be corrected later. Most perennials can be dug up, divided and moved later with few problems.

The next step is to prepare the soil. Dig and turn the soil over to a depth of at least a foot ... even deeper is better. If the soil is compacted or sandy, also dig in some topsoil, compost or well- rotted manure to improve the soil texture.

Because soil pH (acid or alkaline) levels are important for plant selection, a soil test is also a good idea. This early preparation can make a tremendous difference in the size and quality of your garden plants later on.

An overcast day is ideal for planting, because there's less risk of the plant's tender roots and shoots drying out. Keep the root ball well watered in any case, and protect the plant from harsh sunlight until you're ready to put it in the ground. Dig a hole a little larger than the root ball, and carefully remove the plant from plastic pots. For peat pots, slit the pot in several places to allow the roots to exit, and tear off the upper rim. Place the plant in the hole, fill and firm soil around the top. Water in well, and feed regularly with a high quality fertilizer like PINK Vigoro.

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