Perennial plants are referred to as those plants which survive for more than two years. Read ahead some tips to facilitate their healthy growth.
Perennial plants add that charm to a garden with their characteristic of survival for two years or more. So, even if the other plants wither or die, these plants keep the feel of the garden unhindered.
Moreover, these plants are very easy to maintain and are comparatively hardy than other plants. The basic trick is to choose the right varieties compatible with your site and then letting them grow in that place. A brief overview of plant care tips is as follows.
Useful Tips
Perennial plants are sturdy, but water them regularly, till they are properly rooted in the earth and have settled down well. Summer watering is often preferred by them.
On an average, a perennial plant requires an inch of water. This also depends on the soil type. The important thing while watering these plants is to water them in the morning.
These perennials do not need a lot of fertilization and hence a soil of good quality is usually sufficient.
If your plants are not flowering properly, getting rid of spent flowers might help. That is called dead heading. This will increase the overall health of the plant.
Mulching, the process of placing a protective cover for altering the climatic effects, should be used particularly for some plants. It should be done in summers as well as winters. In summers, to retain the moisture of the roots and in winter to protect the roots from cold. During winter, mulching should ideally be done after the ground is frozen.
The best thing about perennial plants is that they give away signal and indications of their requirements. If the plants look stunted or show signs of chlorosis, then they need fertilizers.
With the arrival of fall, have a look at the perennials in your garden and chop off the diseased or unsightly foliage.
Sometimes you would need to divide these plants, if they outgrow their space or do not appear to be giving away the average number of blooms.
While dividing, dig the plants out of the garden and cut apart.
Another important thing is that the tall varieties are best grown when they are staked or tied up. This will avoid the tree from stumping and its beautiful blooms can be seen.
In addition to staking, you can also pinch such tall perennials along the stem during late spring. This will propagate and stimulate bushier growth rather than upward growth.
Last but not the least, do not be impatient, if your perennials are not blooming properly initially. Even though they last long, they might take some time to achieve a full bloom. Perennial flower beds and designs for garden flower beds are absolutely enchanting when in full bloom.
Caring for a perennial plant is all about having the right variety in the right soil and climatic setting. Some of the perennial garden plants are coneflowers, coral bells, blazing star or liatris spicata, seathrift and so on.