In the simplest terms, a perennial is a plant that lives for at least 3 or more years.  We usually use this term to describe herbaceous perennials when talking about gardens.  Trees and shrubs last for many years too of course, but these are woody plants.  The life span of a perennial varies quite a bit, depending […]

Surely spring is the busiest season of the year for the avid perennial gardener.  Fortunately, most of us have been cooped up indoors all winter and are anxious to get outside anyhow, and the cool but pleasant spring weather beckons to our gardening spirit!   Is it time yet? The dead tops of perennials that […]

One of the most rewarding aspects of perennial gardening is the fact that most plants actually increase in size over the years.  After a time, some of your perennials are going to benefit from being divided, and in most cases spring is a terrific time to go about this task.   We divide perennials for […]

PLANTING STEPS (a)  After preparing soil, dig a hole deep enough to hold root ball. (b)  Remove the pot, break up root ball if root-bound. (c)  Place root in the hole, fill with water. (d)  Refill with soil. Root ball should be slightly below soil surface. (e)  Water a second time. 1.  CHOOSING PERENNIALS When […]

While visiting those wonderful spring garden shows (like the Philadelphia Flower Show or Canada Blooms), it’s hard to resist the urge to purchase at least a few plants, only to get home later and realize it’s probably too early to plant them directly outside. Keeping them alive and healthy until mid-spring is really quite simple. […]

If you love the idea of starting a wide range of your own perennials from seed, be prepared to do a bit of searching for some of the more rare and unusual types.  A good starting point is your local Heritage Perennials Dealer.Garden centers generally bring in a fresh stock of packaged seeds in early […]

For hybrid selections of things like Daylilies (Hemerocallis) or Hosta, just be aware that the resulting seedlings are not likely to resemble the parent plant.  Seed saved from a ‘Stella de Oro’ Daylily, for instance, will probably not produce the same constant-flowering, dwarf plant with golden-yellow flowers.  Instead, a range of shades will result and […]

Anybody who grows perennials in their garden is familiar with the idea of cutting off the dead tops of their plants in late fall or early spring.  By nature, most flowering perennials will die back to ground level in the fall, leaving behind their dried-up tops; cutting these back at the appropriate time is a […]

Container Garden Considerations From patios and balconies to decks and porches, container gardens can add colour and interest to any area around your home… and you don’t even need a garden.  There is a lot to consider in planting and maintaining container gardens, but these tips should provide enough information to make your first attempt […]

See Bonus Tables below 1. Gardens & Nature In addition to being beautiful, gardens can be a place where humans and nature meet and interact in a positive and beneficial way. Imagine watching colorful butterflies flitting around the border, moving from flower to flower in search of the tasty nectar within. Or sitting perfectly still […]