Perennials That Hit the Spot

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Elizabeth Navas Finley

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A child’s playhouse becomes a picturesque landmark when surrounded with flowering perennial borders.

Want to grow perennials? Then you’ve got to walk around your yard and evaluate the possibilities. While most perennials are easy to grow, they’ve still got specific sun (or shade), soil and water requirements. Some also need wind protection. By getting to know your site’s exposure, microclimates and soil conditions, you’ll be able to select the right plants that will thrive beautifully in your garden.

Your garden’s microclimate is a huge factor in the success of individual plants – the topography of your site and even the position of your house on the lot affect it. If you live on the top or side of a hill, your garden will be windier but less frosty than one in a valley. A north-facing yard is colder than a protected south-facing one.

Take a close look at the different areas of your yard and watch how much sun each spot gets. Full-sun perennials need 6 hours of sun a day, so site them in sunnier south- or west-facing locations. Part-sun perennials need 4 hours of morning or late afternoon sun, and they’ll do well in east- or west-facing gardens. Shade perennials prefer north-facing sites with protection from the midday sun. But in moist, cool climates (like the Pacific Northwest or nearby British Columbia, Canada), partial-sun perennials take more sun, while in the hot, dry Southwest, they’ll want more shade.

Sometimes planted paths can be more decorative than functional. Consider such plantings for seldom-used areas of your yard.

Shelter from the wind is also important. Not only can too much wind damage plants, it dries them out at a significantly faster rate. A hedge, fence or building provides a nice windbreak, or try a simple screen of lattice panels in exposed areas to help moderate gales.

Of course, you can’t forget about the soil – most perennials require theirs well-drained. Far more young plants die of fungal disease caused by soggy soil than drought. If your soil drains poorly or is marshy, amend it or consider building a raised bed to plant them in. If your soil is just too wet, work with what you’ve got and build a marsh garden. Just excavate a depression for a little pond and plant the edges with aquatics and other bog lovers like plantain lily and masterwort (two plants that tolerate continuously damp soil).

If you plan your garden well, it can serve almost any purpose. Sure, you want color and beauty all season long, but consider the other things perennials can do for you: Do you want to accent or hide other elements in your yard? Would you like to invite birds, butterflies or other wildlife over for a visit? Dream about getting the kids or grandchildren involved in gardening? Perennials can do all that – and more!

Warnings

The most important thing when planning a child-friendly garden is to avoid planting potentially dangerous plants – like those with thorns or ones containing toxic compounds, like foxglove, monkshood and oleander.

Tips

To thoroughly understand your garden’s soil, perform a soil percolation test (to check for drainage), as well as a soil test (which checks for soil nutrient content, pH and texture). You can buy soil test kits at your garden center, or your local Cooperative Extension office can steer you to soil labs that test samples (if it doesn’t already offer the service).
Double-digging a flower bed is a good way to help amend the soil in a small area, adding nutrients and air into the soil. It’s also much more effective than using a rototiller. Just remember: Wait at least 24 hours before planting so the bed has time to settle.

Come to The Garden Party and share your perennial garden with the rest of our Learn2Grow community. Post pictures, write a blog, or connect with our gardening experts and other home gardeners nationwide to share more gardening tips and ideas. Have a question about growing perennials? Visit the Learn2Grow Forums and post a question for experienced gardeners to answer.

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