Seasonal Tips

Information on Growing Perennials

Perennials are truly the soul of any garden. Although the tops of these plants die back to the ground in winter, their roots remain alive and the plants renew themselves the following growing season. Year after year, they reappear in the garden.

Here at Minor's Garden Center, we have a large selection of perennials which are sold in a variety of sizes. The most common size is the 4 1/2" pot that usually will produce a mature plant in three years. The second most common size is a gallon pot which will take about a year to reach maturity. Quart, 2 gallon and 5 gallon sizes for some plants are also available. Groundcovers usually come in smaller sizes than the 4 1/2" pot and are normally sold by the flat.

Before you plant any perennials the most important ingredient is good soil preparation. Good soil preparation is key to longevity and performance. Most perennials prefer soils that are loamy, well drained and high in organic matter. As a general rule add organic materials such as peat moss, rice hulls, cocoa bean shells, leaf compost, mushroom compost, or other such materials to your soil. These materials should be added to your soil to a depth of 8- 10" by either digging in or rototilling.

An example of the ingredients for a 100 square foot area would be as follows:

1- 4 cubic foot bag of peat moss, mushroom or leaf compost
1- 6 cubic foot bag of rice hulls
1- 3 cubic foot bag of cocoa bean shells
2 pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer
1 pound of garden sulfur
More exact formulas can be devised for your own garden needs by having your soil tested.
Most plants prefer neutral to slightly acidic soils.

Once the soil bed is prepared, you can begin to choose your plants. Plants generally are divided into 3 groups for light growing purposes here at the garden center. They are full sun (at least 6 hours of sun per day), sun/part shade and shade (sun for 1/2 the day) and shade (especially northern exposure). Read pot sticks and plant descriptions to determine the plant's needs. This information will usually include the needed soil moisture content, blooming season and general maintenance requirements.

If at all possible develop a garden plan. If you need assistance, we will gladly offer suggestions for your consideration and will assist you with a plan.

After you have purchased your plants and prepared your soil bed, you are now ready to plant. Allow the container soil to dry slightly. This helps to remove the plant easily from the container. If the plant is root bound, score the bottom of the roots with a knife without disturbing the root ball. Keep as much soil around the roots as is possible. Dig a hole at least 6 inches larger than the pot and place your plant in the hole at the level it was in the container. Give the plant a good thorough watering and check daily as to its water needs. Generally speaking if you can place your index finger into the top 2 inches of the soil and the ground feels moist, don't water.

Don't forget, perennials require care. As plants mature they will need to be pruned and divided. Pruning extends the bloom time, encourages lush new growth, staggers plant heights, reduces plant height, keeps plants in their own space and keeps the garden clean. As a general rule, spring flowering perennials can be reduced by 1/2 of their height in early summer. Summer flowering plants should be deadheaded by removing dead or fading flowers. Division of plants is needed when you notice the flowers are getting smaller, clumps are overgrown or are open in the center (Iris are a good example) or the plants have reduced vigour.

For winter protection, most experts recommend leaving the plant in its natural state over winter and cutting back to ground level in early spring before new growth appears. Use of hay or evergreen boughs applied in late November helps with winterizing tender varieties.

The staff here at Minor's Garden Center hope the above information will assist you in enjoying your perennial garden. Feel free to ask us questions and if there is a plant you don't see, our perennial sales manager will make every effort to find it for you. Since our customers have special needs, the garden center has lists of plants for specific uses.

The plant lists cover the following conditions:

dry soils and hot dry conditions
moisture tolerant
shade-consistent moisture
shade-dry conditions
early and late flowering
flower again after being cut back and flowering twice per season
attractive to hummingbirds, song birds, butterflies and other insects
fragrance
colourful foliage
rock gardens
containers
ground covers
where rabbits are a problem
where deer may leave alone

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