Perennial Care & Maintenance

Email Page

Print Page

Dr. Mark Miller

Extras

Add Photo to Journal

Photo Credit: Felder Rushing

This aster could be divided and shared with family, friends or neighbors.

Your perennials have been selected and you’ve got them snug in the ground, ready to show off. Now you need to know how to properly care for them. Let the following suggestions be a guide:

Water your planted perennials regularly until they’re well-established. Encourage roots to grow deep in the soil by watering for longer periods at a time, fewer times per week. Mulch around the plants to conserve soil moisture, but don’t pile it up around the plant’s stems like a volcano. A donut of mulch around the plant – and about 2 inches deep throughout your beds – is best.

Perennials won’t need frequent fertilization if they’re planted in a well-prepared bed with average or better soil. Fertilizing too much can lead to soft, leggy growth – and you don’t want to encourage lots of growth near the end of the season either. (The new shoots will get nipped in the crisp autumn air.)

Add Photo to Journal

Photo Credit: Grandiflora™

Even ‘Miss Manners’ obedient plant can be aggressive and need division.

Your plants will let you know what they need. If your perennials appear stunted, exhibit chlorosis or show lack of vigor, then you need to fertilize. Heavy feeders like garden phlox or perennials that have been growing in a bed for many years will also need some fertilization. One method is to apply a topdressing of compost or a light application of an organic or chemical general-purpose fertilizer (10-10-10, 12-12-12 or 5-10-5) in spring. Follow directions on the label! Generally, you’ll sprinkle the fertilizer around the base of the plants and, if the soil is dry, water it in. If you think your perennials need a midseason boost, use a foliar feed with a water-soluble chemical or organic fertilizer.

Grooming and Dividing

In fall, check out your perennials around the garden. If the foliage looks diseased or is unsightly, cut it off. Compost the leaves and stalks that look healthy, and try to remove diseased parts from your garden because they can harbor pests for next year. I like to leave the majority of my perennials through the winter, standing proud and tall and providing food or shelter for wildlife.

Facts

Most perennials generally need division after three to four years.

Tips

Ornamental grasses, if left alone, can bring movement into your garden at a time when most perennials are brown and lifeless.

Definitions

Chlorosis: A diseased condition in which a plant loses its healthy green color and starts to turn yellow. (This is usually due to nutritional problems, but it could also be due to insects or disease.)

Resources

Scan our Learn2Grow site for more information, post a question or two in our forums, ask your neighbors, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service or read a local expert’s advice on perennial planting, care and maintenance.

Page 1 of 2

Next Steps

Articles

Understanding Fertilizer Numbers: N-P-K
Learn what the numbers on a fertilizer label represent and how each number affects plant growth and development.
Three Easy-Care Perennials
New gardeners interested in planting perennials should give these three easy-care plants a try for seasonal interest.
Hardy Perennials as Annuals
Without a cold winter to help them rest up for spring and summer, hardy perennials in California and other similar regions often suffer in dry summers. Give your garden a boost by using traditional perennials as annuals instead.

RATE THIS PAGE

On average this item has been rated a 4 out of 5.