Polk County Master Gardeners
News Articles
Perennials - Lasting Beauty
The greatest thing about perennials is that one planting lasts for years. The
worst thing about perennials is that a mistake is going to be there thumbing its
nose at you for a very long time. The lesson from this is: PLAN AHEAD.
Before you start buying anything, spend some time looking at your yard. Draw
a rough plan and put in the measurements. Think about where the light will fall
in December when the trees are bare and the sun is far to the south. And think
about what parts of the yard will be like an oven in August when the sun is
reflecting from the walls. Then spend some time with catalogs getting an idea of
what plants do well in this part of the country. (Remember that Mena is in Zone
7.) Many catalogs are available at no charge. If you have access to the
Internet, try
www.gardenguides.com/catalogs/index.html.
When you fall in love with a particular plant, take the time to find out how
large it will grow (will it bring the wires down in the next ice storm?),
whether it tolerates full sun or requires shade, and what sort of care it is
likely to need.
Then walk out in your yard again and have a look at the place where you want
to put this paragon. Imagine it after it has grown for a few years. Will it
still fit well? How will it look with the other plants around it? Will the color
fit with its surroundings? Only after you’ve done all your homework are you
ready to start shopping. Your local nurseries are the best bet for most
perennial purchases - the plants will probably be larger and won’t have undergone
the stress of shipping. The downside is that the selection may be more limited
than if you order from a catalog.
All of this takes time, but planning is the secret to having your yard as
beautiful as you would like. Besides, all that thinking about it is half the
fun.
By Barbara M. Tobias
Back to News Articles
Back to
Polk County Master Gardeners
|
