A Beginner's Guide To Perennial Gardening

Many gardeners prefer to use a mixture of plants, perhaps using shrubs as the backbone and main structure of the garden and mixing in other plants to give differing colors throughout the year. Perennials are perfect for this role, particularly as there are large numbers that like to grow in the light shade that is provided by being planted under or close to shrubs.

Although shrubs form the structure, the perennials usually provide the majority of the plants. In some cases these may be a single large clump, but drifts of the bigger plants and carpets of the lower growing ones look better than scattering the plants around at random.

What are potted perennials? It is often thought that the only place for perennials is in a large garden, but perennials are suited to all sizes of garden. They can be grown in a patio garden or even on a balcony or roof garden. As long as you are prepared to water them, they may be grown in containers, which can then be placed anywhere, including in gardens that are paved over and have no native soil at all.

What are hardy perennials? Hardy perennials, as their name implies, are those that will tolerate frost and will reappear every year. Some tender perennials may be killed by frosts, although sometimes the frost will just kill off the exposed foliage, and the plant will regenerate from the roots. Although it is mainly temperature related, hardiness can be affected by soil conditions, and often a borderline plant will be hardier in a free draining soil than in a heavy damp one.

There are more varieties of perennial plants than any other type of plant available to the gardener. Some gardeners make a virtue of this and indulge their love of plants by creating special collections. Others collect a particular specifies pinks (dianthus) or hostas, for example, pr favor broader groups - variegated plants are a very popular subject.

Perennials are not dependent on their flowers for their attractions. Many earn their keep as foliage plants, with the shapes and color providing plenty of interest. Many perennials, such as lily, are ideal for tubs. Just move into position when in flower. There are also gardeners who seek out rare and difficult to grow plants, just to rest their skills, and others who might make a collection of plants mentioned in, for example, the works of Shakespeare. The possibilities are almost endless.

By: PlantNurserySupplies

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