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Perennials: How to Grow Them in Your Garden rss

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Perennials are the workhorses of the garden. These herbaceous plants that live for three or more years bridge the gap between the permanence of woody plants and the transience of annuals. They easily fit gardens of any proportion and don’t have to be replanted every spring. Although most perennials produce flowers, often their foliage is so lovely that the leaves alone are reason enough to grow them. The sheer diversity of perennials makes it easy to build a satisfying garden using little else. Plant them abundantly in a border or combine them with woody plants, annuals, vines, and bulbs for a garden with a many-sided personality.

Your climate can determine the number and type of perennials you can grow, but resourceful gardeners know ways to stretch the limits. Coax slightly tender plants into overwintering in cold climates by planting them in protected spots that capture the sun’s warmth and provide shelter from wind. In the South, accommodate plants that dislike heat and humidity by siting them where they’ll have midday shade, and by providing them with generous spacing for air circulation. Some perennials have a compact habit that suits them to container use. The only special care they require is storing the containers in a place during the winter that remains around 40°F so that the plants have the dormancy they require without suffering frost damage.

Plant a variety of perennials for different bloom times and focus on long bloomers to maximize your floral show In most parts of North America, perennials go dormant in winter, providing the ideal opportunity to divide and transplant. Division every few years reinvigorates old plants and produces more plants to expand your garden or share with friends.

Use the information in this section to identify candidates for your conditions, taking into consideration sun, shade, soil type, and your hardiness Zone. You’ll soon have a list of care-free perennials custom-made for your garden.