Perennial plants and flower care

Perennial gardens can be very easy to upkeep and maintain as perennial flowers and plants are typically considered to be very hardy. By providing ongoing care for your perennials, you'll produce better results and create a much more attractive display. Follow these simple tips and you'll be well on your way to success in your garden.

• Perennials will generally need summer waterings and will thrive when waterings are deep but infrequent. Depending on the specific type of soil, perennials will need at least 1 inch of water per week and they should be watered in the morning so that they can dry off by the time it gets cooler in the evening. Cool and wet leaves in the evening will make them more susceptible to disease.
• You can increase the flowering quantity and frequency by removing spent flowers, or dead-heading. Dead-heading will also promote overall healthiness in your plant which will increase its strength as well. For perennials that self-seed, dead-heading can also be done before it goes to seed which will prevent invasive perennials from taking over your garden. Dead-heading doesn't need to be done in cases where you may want to save the seed or with perennials that produce ornamental seed heads.
• Mulching can be very important for many types of perennials and should be done in the summer and winter. Mulching during the warm season will keep the plants roots cooler and not allow moisture to evaporate as quickly. During the growing season, mulching will also help add nutrients to the soil while preventing weeds from sprouting. In colder climates, mulching during the cold season should be considered after the ground has frozen. This will protect the plant's roots from extreme changes in temperatures. Remove winter mulch gradually as the weather begins to warm again.
• Even with some mulching during the growing season that will help stop most weeds, occasional weeding will also probably be need for most perennial gardens. Weeds sap nutrients and water away from your plant and limit healthy growth. Weeding will need to be done on an ongoing basis as it is easier when weeds are smaller. Technology hasn't been able to replace the simple effectiveness of weeding by hand but hoes can also be used for larger gardens. When using a hoe to weed, take care to not damage the roots of your other flowers and plants nearby.
• Perennials that grow to be tall will thrive far better if they are staked or tied up. Staking a tall perennial will prevent slumping and allow for the attractive blooms to be seen. Alternately, tall perennials can also be pinched in the late spring. Pinching your perennials along the stem will promote bushier, rather than upward, growth and will make it less likely that they will need to be staked.
• Many perennials propagate by division and some will need divided every couple of years in order to prosper. The best way to divide your perennials is by digging them up and removing the entire plant from the ground. Perennials should usually be divided in the fall, although some fall-flowering plants should be divided in the early spring.
• Keep in mind that some perennials, although they will last for a very long time, may take a while to flower and bloom. This is especially true when propagating perennials by division. Plan and design your perennial flower garden with that thought always in mind so that blooms will continue to appear every year.
• Make sure to pick plants suited for your location and specific growing conditions.