Helpful Tips on Growing Perennials In Your Garden

Tips on Growing Perennials 


Consider perennials as the foundation of your garden, and you'll enjoy a spectacular display of vibrant flowers, lovely leaves, and attractive seedheads. Perennials vary in how much sun they want to receive during their blooming time. But they all share one thing: they flourish when properly planted. When you improve your gardening technique and prepare your perennials for the future, you can give them a solid foundation essential to everything.

Technically speaking, you can plant perennials whenever the soil can work. The best time to plant perennials is in autumn or spring. The seasons are ideal for plants to settle and develop root systems before the summer's heat and dry weather come in.

Planting in the summer is acceptable; however, you must water your plants regularly. If you grow your plants in the fall or spring, it is possible to follow the natural cycles of nature to provide plants with optimal conditions for growth. Utilize these helpful strategies for gardening perennials for a successful plant.
Selecting the Right Site:

After selecting the ideal plant for your garden, you must choose the best location for them to flourish. Perennials require specific growth conditions, including good drainage, sufficient sunlight, and consistent water.

Before you plant:

Look at the soil quality, sun exposure, and water supply.
Select the site that gets at least six hours of sun each day.
Consider using a soaker pipe and drip irrigation systems to ensure regular water.

 

Choosing The Right Perennials:


If you're looking to choose perennials that flourish within your backyard, you must consider a few things to think about. First, consider the climate. Select plants that fit your region, as some perennials cannot survive at extreme temperatures.

It is also essential to consider your garden's soil type and sun exposure. Some perennials like well-drained soil with a high percentage of organic matter, while others thrive in thick clay soils. Furthermore, certain perennials need full sun, and others require partial shade.

Another aspect to take into consideration is the leaves of your annuals. Certain perennials, like ornamental grasses or hostas, are adorned with attractive foliage that adds interest even when it's not blooming. The texture and color of the foliage can also provide dimension and depth to the design of your garden.

Consider the overall purpose the garden serves. If you plan to create a garden to attract pollinators, pick plants that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, like coneflowers or bee balm. If you plan to build cutting gardens, select plants that produce good-cut flowers, like daisies or asters.

Black-Eyed Susan


It would be best to adorn the garden with these yellow flowers, which bloom from mid-summer until autumn. The foliage is compact, clumping style, as well as the enormous flowers. Be sure to read the tag, as some perennials have a long life, and others are short-lived perennials or annuals. Plus, they reseed, which means more plants are free as time passes. Make sure they get full sun.
Dianthus

Dianthus plants are stunning, long-lasting, durable, and ideal for gardening. They make the perfect addition to add color to your garden. The charming plants offer the most beautiful bright blooms that are vibrant in shades of red, pink, white, and purple. The unique foliage gives an intriguing design to the garden too.

A beautiful lawn of dianthus is stunning to look at. The flowers will fill up your yard in the spring, summer, or autumn with gorgeous and fragrant flowers. The season's foliage is lovely, and the plant's longevity can be measured in years.
Blazing Star

The Blazing Star (Liatris spikecata) is a native wildflower that draws insects to your garden. It is a fan of moist, organically-rich well-drained soil.

The blazing star plant loves to soak up the sun and loves hot and humid conditions. It also can tolerate dry conditions but will require your assistance during prolonged drought. It is okay with soil types. Mix in occasionally a bit of compost to provide it with food.

Butterfly Milkweed Plant

This beautiful North American wildflower can attract butterflies to your backyard and support your monarch population. It's unique with its orange flowers, which bloom all summer long and is drought-resistant!

Butterfly Weed is a North American native planting, perfect for naturalizing most sunny spots within your yard. Asclepias tuberosa is an essential element of the butterfly garden. Its big, flat-topped bright orange flowers shoot upwards and extend to two feet, drawing many butterflies.
Check The Hardiness:

The plant's hardiness is a factor. It will only withstand winter if it's hardy in your zone. You can refer to the USDA Hardiness Zone Map to figure out the area you reside in.

Although knowing the zone you live in is vital, the altitude and the exposure to wind, soils, and snow cover could affect the hardiness of plants, thereby changing the hardiness rating of your garden up to a complete zone. To get the best results, select plants that are within your region.

Dividing and Propagating Perennials:

In time, perennials get crowded and lose vitality. Therefore, to maintain their health and be attractive, it is essential to separate each year. It involves digging the plant, breaking it into smaller pieces, and planting those sections in new areas.

Dividing perennials keep them healthy and allows you to plant new plants in your garden.
Maintenance and Care:

Regular maintenance and treatment are essential to ensure your perennials appear the best. It includes fertilizing and watering all through the season. Most perennials require 1 inch of water weekly through rainfall or supplemental watering.

Fertilize your perennials during the spring using a slow-release fertilizer to promote vigorous development and flowering. Prune your perennials when needed to manage their size and shape, and then deadhead blooms that have been discarded to encourage reblooming.

Mulching:

Applying mulch made of organic material around your perennials will offer many benefits, such as conserving soil moisture, controlling plants, and holding temperatures. Organic mulches like leaves, straw, or wood chips can also break down and add fertilizers to your soil as time passes. Make sure you maintain the mulch at least one inch from the plant's stems to avoid the buildup of moisture and stem root rot.

 


Soil Testing and Amendments:



Before planting perennials, it is a good idea for you to examine your soil to determine the pH of your soil and the number of nutrients. To do this, you must purchase soil test kits from the local garden center or send a soil test sample to a laboratory to be analyzed.

Once you have a clear picture of the pH of your soil and deficiencies in nutrients and weaknesses, you can amend it with organic matter like manure or compost that has been well-rotted to increase its fertility and structure.
Winter Care for Perennials:

In cooler climates, perennials require particular care to endure through winter. Before you get the first snow, trim the leaves of your perennials up to a few inches over the surface. It will stop the damage from the freezing temperatures.

It is also possible to protect your plants by mulching them with organic material like leaves or straw. In more excellent conditions, perennials won't have to undergo as intense winter maintenance; however, it is still essential to watch them for indications of damage or stress.



 

 

Cardinal Flower - TN Nursery

Cardinal Flower

The Red Cardinal Flower has vibrant red blooms and tall, erect stalks. It adds color and elegance to gardens, parks, and various outdoor spaces. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, it offers several advantages, making it a popular choice for landscapers and gardeners. The scarlet-hued Lobelia cardinalis is a perennial in the bellflower family. Its tall, nectar-filled bloom spikes attract hummingbirds and create a beautiful display in your garden. The plant's common name refers to the red robes a Roman Catholic cardinal wears.     Natural Habitat Of The Cardinal Flower Lobelia is native to the North and South American continents and blooms from July through September. This moisture-loving plant grows on stream banks and in low woods, marshes, and meadows across the United States. If you want to create a handsome show in your garden, Lobelia will surely delight. The plant's fiery spires yield brilliant red blooms that open gradually from the bottom to the top of their racemes. Each long, narrow, tube-shaped blossom has two flat upper petals and three lower petals at the tips. The delicate plant crown leafy 2’-4' stems, covered with shiny, lance-shaped, bright green leaves that sometimes have a bronze or reddish tint. The leaves alternate as they climb the stems, enhancing the blooms to create a lively riot of color. Cardinal Flower is a favorite of gardeners who love adding bold splashes of crimson. This plant is perfect for shady woodland plots, wet meadow plantings, water gardens, pollinator gardens, and rain gardens. Its long stems can add height to borders and create depth when placed in the back sections of your landscape. The blossoms are most spectacular from midsummer into fall and make excellent cut blooms. Ecology Of The Cardinal Flower Some people say Lobelia will bring hummingbirds in from the sky. The plant's blooming period coincides with the late-summer migration of ruby-throated hummingbirds traveling south to Mexico. The birds pollinate the plant by dipping their beaks into the plants' long, red tubes. The blossoms are also beautiful to swallowtail butterflies and bees, making them a wonderful centerpiece in a pollinator garden. Cardinal Flower Is A Bold Statement In Any Garden  When you want to make a bold, beautiful statement in your garden, include the Cardinal Flower in your plan and celebrate the summer season.

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hosta plant - TN Nursery

Hosta

Hostas are shade-loving perennials known for their large, heart-shaped, and often variegated leaves and spikes of bell-shaped flowers, making them popular choices for garden borders and landscaping in low-light areas. They are renowned for their lush foliage and graceful appearance, which offer many benefits when incorporated into landscaping designs. These versatile perennials have gained popularity for their ability to enhance outdoor spaces with their aesthetic appeal, adaptability, and ease of maintenance. Hosta is an attractive herbaceous plant that can grow up to 4 feet in height, although a height of 18 inches is more common. There are several species of them, each with slight differences in leaf color. Each species has a different bloom, making exceptional focal points in any garden. Hosta Has Stunning Leaves The type seen most commonly in the United States is the "Keepsake." The charming green leaves ringed with yellow accents are popular because of their hardiness in different climates and the beautiful vistas they create in a garden. Sometimes, the lighter color rings are shades of white rather than yellow, but they don't lose any eye-catching effects. They have leaves of a single color, usually dark green. All their leaves are sturdy and ribbed, even if they're longer and tapered rather than cheerfully oval. Most versions have pretty purple or white flowers that bloom in the early summer through the beginning of fall. The flower buds form in the middle of spring and are generally the same color as the flowers. Even when they're just budding, they are beautiful plants that complement everything else in the garden. Once the buds bloom, the flowers form trumpet, bell, or elongated pendulous shapes. Only one version of these flowers has a strong scent, called the "August Lily." It's a shy flower, blooming in the evening and closing up again by morning, so it'll brighten up any garden when the sun goes down. Hosta Does Great With Other Plants When they are surrounded by flowers of similar colors, such as California bluebells for the species with violet flowers or tuberose for the white-flowered species, it creates a breathtaking effect. Alternating the various species in concentric rings would increase their appeal and let them truly shine. This Hosta Is Good for Pollinators Hosta blooms are essential for pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The flowers provide nectar, and the leaves collect dew in the mornings, allowing these little creatures to drink while visiting the garden.

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Best Sellers

Black Eyed Susan - TN Nursery

Black Eyed Susan

Black Eyed Susan has vibrant yellow petals and dark, contrasting centers and is a popular and delightful addition to any landscaping project. This native North American wildflower offers a host of pleasing attributes that make it a sought-after choice for gardens and outdoor spaces. From its adaptability to its visual appeal and ecological benefits, it stands out as a versatile and attractive plant. Why Choose Black-Eyed Susan The Black-Eyed Susan or Rudbeckia Hirta is a beautiful and popular flower that blooms each year in North America. With yellow flowers surrounding a dark circular center, this plant serves an aesthetic purpose in any landscape and draws in bees and butterflies. Due to its hardiness and versatility, the plant is suitable for growing in the garden for beginners and professionals.  The Black Eyed Susan is valued for ornamental purposes and its contribution to the maintenance of ecosystems. Moreover, black-eyed susan plants for sale have stunning flowers that can be added to your garden for curb appeal. Features of Black Eyed Susan Plant The Black-Eyed Susan has bright yellow petals with a dark brown or black Eye in the middle, which makes it a vivid plant that would look great in any garden.  This plant attracts bees, butterflies, and many other beneficial insects, so it should be included in any pollinator garden. The black-eyed susan plant is relatively adaptable. It does well in arid conditions and simple soil types, making it a perfect pick for any low-maintenance garden. It prefers regions receiving full or partial sun exposure. It has a growth habit of 2 to 3 feet tall with a similar width, enhancing the green appearance of areas where it is grown. This plant does not need much attention once established and usually grows well. It is relatively immune to many garden pests and diseases. Growers of black-eyed susan plants can also contribute to habitat and care for one's patch of land by offering food for pollinators and other more valuable insects. Black Eyed Susan Perennials Returns Every Spring and Summer Season Buy black-eyed susan plants and add these beautiful flowers to your garden, like our other popular ornamental plants, such as echinacea, shasta daisy, or coneflower plants.

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Blazing Star - TN Nursery

Blazing Star

Blazing Star's visual appeal is unmatched. Its tall, slender spikes are adorned with fluffy, cone-shaped flower heads in beautiful shades of lavender-lilac. This stunning and vibrant flowering plant is known for its striking appearance and numerous benefits to the environment and garden landscapes. Native to North America, it is popular among gardeners and landscape enthusiasts. Why Choose The Blazing Star  Blazing Star (Liatris), also known as Gayfeather, is a perennial prized for its unique, tall, spikey, purple-pink flowers that bring striking beauty to any landscape. This sun-loving wildflower also features delicate green leaves, almost like grass, that blend well with neighboring plants and flowers.  Native Americans have a somewhat exciting name for this plant. They call it "crow root" because, during the fall, the cows dig them up and eat their roots as a food source. They also use this Liatris blazing star perennial for its medicinal benefits. It can help alleviate painful period cramps, reduce inflammation, and even act as an antidote for snake bites.  They bloom in summer, fall, and winter, making them an eye-catching addition to any outdoor space with year-round interest. So, if you've been looking for a low-maintenance plant, blazing star perennial will allow you to turn your dull garden into a beautiful, inviting space.  Features of Blazing Star  These showy plants thrive best in full-sun gardens with well-drained soil because they'll rot in wet and soggy soil.  Blazing star perennial attracts pollinators and provides food for birds and other wildlife, supporting biodiversity and helping the local ecosystem thrive.  Blazing Star's Flowers  This plant is famous for its showy, tall, and upright flowers that can grow up to 3 to 5 feet in height, depending on the species and growing conditions.  Blazing star is a dream of lazy gardeners because it is easy to grow, care for, and drought-tolerant. You can plant them in your garden and enjoy their distinctive beauty for years. If you’re a lazy gardener who prefers plants that require less effort to grow and maintain, blazing star plants for sale from TN Nursery care for your garden. You can pair blazing star plants with other perennials like Black-Eyed Susan, Purple Coneflower, and Monarda Bee Balm to add striking beauty to your yard. 

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