Photo: Jahelen Turnbull Souza
There's nothing like a flower bed to brighten up your outdoor space. Annuals are often popular with home gardeners for their showy blooms that are on display throughout the season. But well-executed perennial garden ideas can display a continuous parade of colorful and fragrant flowers throughout the growing season. And unlike annuals, perennials come back after a few years; It is not necessary to buy and replant every spring.
The key to a perennial garden is to plant flowers, flowers and shrubs with different bloom times and colors. It takes a little planning, but even a novice gardener can do it. Don't be afraid. "But I'm not a garden designer." Creating a perennial garden means creating a practical plan for a year-round garden that will thrive in your space and delight you for years to come.
Related: 15 Perennials to Plant in Fall for Beautiful Spring Flowers
Understand your plant's hardiness zone.
The first step in planning a successful perennial garden is to determine your USDA plant hardiness zone. By understanding your biome, you can choose plants for your garden that will weather the seasons and bloom year after year, saving you money and preventing disappointment. For example, you may love dahlias (who doesn't), but if you live in USDA hardiness zone 7 or lower, they probably won't make it through the winter and will leave a hole in your garden. hole). spring in the wallet).
Pay attention to the hardness zone number on the manufacturer's label. Even if a plant is sold at a garden near you, it may not be suitable for your area.
Learn about native plant species.
You can also research the types of flowering plants in your area and incorporate them into your garden plan. Many native plants have bright, beautiful flowers that last longer than their exotic counterparts. Native plants are often easier to grow and care for than non-native species, and they support local biodiversity and provide shelter for pollinators.
Photo: Jahelen Turnbull Souza
Think about the big picture.
Before picking plants, consider some important questions: What is the purpose of this garden? Eye-catching or quiet backyard escape to reduce complexity? If the site is in a walking area, you can choose large plants with large, brightly colored flowers and low-maintenance plants such as conifers or flowering shrubs such as spirea. But if the garden is close to the back deck, where you spend most of the evenings, you can choose elegant ornamental plants and fragrant flowers, like gardens in England.
Also consider the true "big picture" - see the garden area from all sides. The best vantage point for you and your guests to view the garden will have a big impact on how you set it up. For example, the perennial garden in front of the house has "back" and "front" lights. These side gardens look best with tall plants in the back and shorter plants on the sides and front. Thinking about how and where you will view your garden will help you visualize the basic shapes and rhythms that are most pleasing to the eye.
Know the size of your garden.
Now is the time to find out what conditions your garden is in. What is already growing around? Consider flowering plants, you can keep them in your design. By paying attention to and understanding the three main gardening challenges—sun, water, and soil—you can familiarize yourself with your garden plot and decide how to prepare it for your new perennial garden. Paying attention to these conditions can be useful when choosing a plant.
Study the light.
Pay special attention to the lighting around you. How many hours is the garden lit? Are there dark edges? Many flowering plants, such as yarrow, need about 6 hours of sun a day, but others still thrive in partial sun. Remember also how the light changes with the seasons as the sun and its shadows move.
Check for water leaks.
Track what happens to your space when it rains or showers, take notes and use them to make informed decisions about what to plant and where. Are there low spots where water collects or places where the soil doesn't dry out completely in the sun? Some plants, such as lobelia, like a moist environment, while others, such as bougainvillea, can develop root rot in wet soil. Are there particularly hot and dry regions? This would be a good location for evening primrose, a drought-tolerant, sun-loving beauty.
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Healthy soil is the foundation of a garden full of healthy flowers. You can go high tech with soil testers or moisture meters, or you can do a quick basic assessment of your soil by hand. How does it feel when you rub it between your fingers? Muddy Sandy brave? Does it hold its shape like clay when pressed, or does it slip through your fingers like sand?
In the case of sandy and clay soils, the correction is the same. add organic matter such as compost, which will improve the water holding capacity of sandy soils, lighten the texture of clay soils, and add nutrients to the garden.
Photo: Jahelen Turnbull Souza
Explore and create a list of favorites.
This is the most interesting thing. Do some research and learn about perennials that grow in your hardiness zone. Consult gardening books, websites, and magazines. Discover your gardening style by noticing what you like. Take photos of nearby gardens that inspire you, and visit local nurseries to get sustainable gardening ideas and see plants up close. Enter the names of your favorites along with the manufacturer label.
- Plant height and width at maturity
- flowering time
- Light needs (part sun, full sun)
- color
Consider the conditions of your garden when making your list. Try to choose plants that will grow in your new home. For example, if half of the garden bed receives partial sun (5 hours or less), then half of the plants selected should be suitable for partial sun.
Related: 12 Perennial Vegetables That Can Grow Fresh Food For Years
List your options.
Organize your selection by sorting vegetables. First, let's list them by flowering time.
- Early season (eg tulips, peonies and tulips)
- Mid-season (eg conifers, phlox, dianthus)
- Late season (eg hosta, black-eyed, Russian sage)
In a perennial garden, your goal is to have about a third of each plant in the early, mid, and late season. Within each of these categories, categorize the list by height (tall, medium, short). Finally, group the plants in each zone by color.
Photo: Jahelen Turnbull Souza
Measure and weigh your garden.
Now you have your favorite loaves, you can buy them all and start farming! Hold your breath! Measuring and planning your garden before buying plants is an important step in creating a sustainable garden. When planning your flower bed, planning ahead will save you from having to move plants after they are established.
Garden planning can seem boring or complicated, but it doesn't have to be. Follow these simple steps:
- Measurement of garden area (length, width and depth).
- Trace the measurements onto paper (grill paper works best).
- Identify north and south directions and areas of full and partial illumination on the map.
- Include fixed features such as existing trees, buildings, or plants you want to preserve.
Once you've made your garden sketch, make sure you can make a few copies as a backup. Now you are ready to start painting the individual plants. An easy way to do this is to draw circles corresponding to the dimensions of the proposed plant.
Photo: Jahelen Turnbull Souza
Place the plants according to the plan.
Consider these simple design principles when choosing where to place your chosen plants on your map:
- Place taller plants behind shorter plants.
- Group plants with different flowering periods.
- Do not flood your garden. Consider the size of mature plants.
- Change the texture of plants and leaves as a flower background.
If you're having trouble visualizing and planning your garden, search the web for low-maintenance flower garden ideas for inspiration.
Enjoy the color and think beyond the flowers.
Successful perennial garden designs draw the viewer's attention to the garden and its surroundings. One way to do this is to use a color scheme. a plant that repeats colors throughout the garden so that the viewer can follow the path of color through space.
Warm colors like red and orange push things forward visually, while cool colors like blue and purple pull colors back, and you can use them to create visual interest. You can also use complementary colors (opposite colors on the color wheel) to create excitement and contrast, such as evening primrose with yellow balloon flowers or the deep purple blue of lavender.
When we think of the color of a plant, the first thing that comes to mind is its flowering. But color isn't just from flowers. Leaves, stems and even berries can add stunning color to a perennial garden. Also, pay attention to the scents of plants near the patio or put perennial herbs near the kitchen door.
Monitor the health of your garden to maximize blooming time.
Once your plants are in the ground, you're far from done. Newly planted perennials will need plenty of watering to develop a strong and healthy root system. Moisturizing once or twice a week is better than daily light spraying.
Regularly cutting off faded flowers will extend the blooming period and keep your plants looking great. Monitor the health of your plants and watch for signs of stress or pests. Healthy and happy plants bloom longer, while stressed plants bloom earlier and die sooner.
Annual light plowing or an annual application of manure should keep your lawn properly nourished.
Photo: Jahelen Turnbull Souza
Be patient with your garden and yourself.
Sustainable gardening is a long game. Some perennials do not bloom in the first or even second year of planting. Don't be discouraged if you don't see much on the ground at first. Your plants work hard underground and your patience will pay off in time.
Be patient with yourself. Do your best to place plants where they will grow and look good, but don't worry about your design decisions. If next year you find that a plant is struggling or a design you've created isn't working, it's okay to move things around or try something new. Enjoy the ride and don't be afraid to make mistakes.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Rain Gardens
Photo: Jahelen Turnbull Souza
Questions and answers about the design of perennial gardens
You know how to design a thriving perennial garden, but you may have some questions. Here are answers to frequently asked questions about permanent employees.
Question: When is the best time to plant?
Early spring or late summer/fall is the best time of year to plant perennials. Sow in early spring, but after the danger of frost has passed, most perennials can give a good start. Early fall gives the plant time to spread and spread its root system before going dormant for the winter. In summer, the plant will take root well and withstand the heat. Perennials can be more expensive to buy in the fall because end-of-season sales are usually held at garden centers.
Question: Permanent workers usually require maintenance.
Perennials can be very low maintenance when grown in the right locations. Perennial shrubs require regular pruning, and some perennials need to be divided every few years as they grow.
Question. What is the longest flower?
Perennial flowering times vary by USDA plant hardiness zone. Salvia is known as a very tall flowering perennial, with flowers lasting from spring to full sun and regular deadheading.
Q: How long do perms last?
Perennials are plants that can live in the soil for at least two years. The lifespan of plants varies greatly, some less than 3 years and others 15 years.
Q: Do perennials need to be watered?
Perennial needs regular watering in the first two years of its life. Moisturizing once a week is better than spraying every day. As the plant matures, additional watering is usually only required during periods of extreme heat or drought.
