Build a lasting garden with Perennials

Perennial plants offer the gardener many years of enjoyment, and many get bigger and better each spring.

There are a tremendous number of perennial plants available today - so take a garden 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. (Most perennials can be dug up, divided and moved later with few problems.)

Planting your perennials

When you bring your perennial plants home form the garden center, it helps to get them into the ground quickly. Cooler, slightly overcast conditions are ideal for planting, to help reduce heat stress and wilting, and to keep plants from drying out.

As you plant, put a good quality fertilizer into the hole where it will be readily available to plant roots as they establish themselves. PINK All Purpose Garden Food is ideal for this.

Water the new plants in well, and keep the soil moist (but not water-logged) for a few days to help plants settle into the soil.

Keep a watch for pest and disease problems throughout the growing season- some of them can make a mess of your efforts in a hurry. Your garden center can advise on how to control these problems - if possible, take along a sample of the damage for reference.