Perennials That Hit the Spot

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Elizabeth Navas Finley

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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.

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

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

You can screen out unsightly views or give your yard extra privacy with perennials. Here, morning glory does an attractive job of hiding an unsightly view for pool splashers.

Define outdoor rooms and paths with decorative perennial edging.

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.

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!

If you’ve got a view you’d like to screen out (think unsightly pool equipment, air conditioner condensers, tool sheds, etc.), use a perennial vine. Just give the plant the right growing conditions and a sturdy wall to climb on, and you’ll have a lovely screen that comes back year after year.

Or consider creating a garden within your garden: Different needs call for different plants. Kitchen gardens, for example, look lovely surrounded by a hedge of lavender with accents of sage – and just think of how these herbs will expand your culinary pleasure while they hide the functional areas of your yard. Want something to make your evenings spent on the patio more relaxing? Consider a moonlight garden by your patio, featuring white and pale yellow flowers that open at twilight like evening primrose and night-blooming daylily.

If you’d like to lure your children into the habit of gardening, include them in your perennial garden plans. Delight their senses with plants like fragrant sweet violet near their playhouse. And don’t forget to include lots of flowers to pick like Shasta daisy, false indigo and tickseed.

Perennials are also terrific for attracting all kinds of wildlife. For a garden that brings in birds and butterflies, choose a sunny spot sheltered from wind, provide a ready source of water and avoid using synthetic chemicals to control pests. Then lure these beautiful creatures to the area with their favorite foods. Adult butterflies sip nectar from the tiny blooms of most daisy-like flowers, while their larvae chew on the foliage. Seed-eating birds will snack on purple coneflowers, among others, while hummingbirds whir and flicker around sages, lupines and red-hot pokers. If you like a good view to watch the wildlife, create nearby seating by another beautiful planting bed so you can sit back and enjoy the outdoor living experience.

Perennials are such versatile plants, it’s easy to find all kinds of reasons to use them. So challenge yourself – I bet you won’t have a hard time finding a perennial to fit almost any garden purpose. Just remember: In the end, the success of your garden really depends on the legwork you do before you ever start planting. Knowing your garden’s growing conditions – and how you can work them to your advantage – will help you create a thriving garden that works with you for long-lasting beauty and enjoyment.

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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