Perennial Plant Care

Perennial plants are referred to as those plants which survive for more than two years. Horticulturists and gardeners apply this term, 'perennial plants', specifically to perennially herbaceous plants. Many of us have perennial flowering plants in our homes. So for more on perennial plant care, read on.
Perennial Plant Care
Who would not want a nice quaint garden just outside their house? To add to the beauty, if the garden has perennial plants, it could be the best thing to happen, won't it? 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, perennial plants are very easy to maintain and are comparatively hardy than other plants. The basic trick for flourishing perennial plants is to choose the right plants compatible with your site and then letting them settle in that place. A brief overview of plant care tips is as follows.

Perennial Plant Care Tips
  • Perennial plants are sturdy. Agreed, but hey, they need to be watered well, whether they have been recently planted or its been some time since they have been planted. This is a very crucial aspect with regards to perennial plant care. So water the plants regularly, till they are properly rooted in the earth and have settled down well. Summer watering is what is preferred by the perennials. They can grow properly, even if the watering is infrequent, but it should be deep.
  • On an average, a perennial plant requires an inch of water, according to 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 often when planted in an appropriate soil bed having good quality soil. Excessive use of fertilizers can result in a soft leggy growth around the trees.
  • If you feel your plants are not flowering properly, you can increase the flowering and its frequency by getting rid of spent flowers. That is called dead heading. This will increase the overall health and strength of the plant.
  • Mulching, the process of placing a protective cover over, for altering the climatic effects, should be used particularly for some plants. Mulching 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. In winters mulching should ideally be done after the ground is frozen.
  • Just like babies give away signals when they are hungry or the likes, 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 to remember is that the perennial plants, which grow tall, 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, in late spring you can also pinch such tall perennials along the stem. This will propagate and stimulate bushier growth rather than them growing upwards.
  • 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 come to their full bloom. Perennial flower beds and designs for garden flower beds are absolutely enchanting when in full bloom.
Perennial plant care is all about having the right kind of a plant 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. These are basically low maintenance and fairly undemanding plants. But then, you would say, that if they are undemanding, what's the catch? Well, the answer would be they still need nurturing and care. At the same time gardening would be an enjoyable activity with these plants!

So are you going green with the perennial green friends? I am sure you would love to! I sign off here!

By Medha Godbole
Published: 9/7/2009
 
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