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Perennial
Gardens: By
Lori Bowen
When planning for a perennial garden, keep in mind how much sun the area will get, what color scheme you want to incorporate, and whether it is easily accessible and visible. Some people will incorporate all sorts of plants in a perennial garden, whether they are herbs, roses, shrubs or evergreens. Many will also add annuals for all spring and summer color. Others may choose to have a monochromatic garden, such as a white garden. Choose the colors and perennials that you prefer. Also keep in mind if you want to go with a natural style of garden or something more formal.
Once that is done, the next step is choosing your perennials. Keep in mind the size and bloom time so that the garden will have an attractive appearance. The key is to always have something blooming. This can take some research, but it is very important in achieving an attractive perennial garden. Cut out photos in magazines, tour gardens for ideas, consult the Internet or visit your local garden center for ideas. Some great performers in the sunny areas are the following: spring blooming bulbs, poppies, salvia, daylilies, Russian sage, coneflower (echinacea), foxglove (digitalis), black-eyed susan, false indigo blue (baptisia), and there are many others too numerous to mention. For shade gardens, hostas are always popular as are astilbe, bellflower (campanula), hellebores, ferns and barrenwort (epimedium). A nice addition to a shady perennial garden is a hydrangea for a burst of summer color.
A perennial
garden will provide not only aesthetic value but a place of respite
and relaxation. Adding a bench, fountain and/or statuary will help
to create a destination. A perennial garden is also a great way
to soften an area, especially near an outdoor living space. Having
gardens within view from the inside of your home is a way to connect
the indoors with the outdoors. |
With
current trends focusing on outdoor living, incorporating garden
areas is becoming mainstream. Many people find solace in spending
time outdoors and want the areas to reflect a sense of serenity.
Perennial gardens are a great way to add color and texture to an
otherwise mundane area and can enhance any outdoor setting. 
The
next step is coming up with a plan of how the garden will be created.
Get an idea of how large you want the bed to be and the sort of
lines that you want to incorporate. Curved lines are best, if possible.
The best way to do this and keep with the shape you wan is to lay
out a garden hose in the shape you desire or spray paint the border
and follow that when digging the bed. It's best to remove all grass
and weeds before loosening the soil. The next step is either tilling
the bed or using a shovel or hoe to loosen the existing soil. After
that, you want to be sure to add compost to create healthy soil
for your plants.
Keep
in mind that when you initially plant perennials, it will take some
time for them to mature and fill in the area. It usually takes approximately
2 to 3 years for this to happen. In the meantime, just continue
amending the soil in spring and fall by adding compost to the bed.
Keeping the area mulched will help control weeds but also keep in
mind that nothing can reseed if the area is mulched, so if you want
a more natural look in the perennial garden, you may spread compost
heavily instead of mulch.