The Basics on How to Design and Care For a Perennial Garden
by John Yazo
Soil conditions are a factor when creating a perennial garden. Perennials like primroses, like a deep humus soil along with plenty of shade and other plants like threadleaf coreopsis and cushion spurge will wilt away if not grown in well-drained soil and full sun. Other perennials contain themselves in a neat mound and others like the gooseneck loosestrife will take over your entire garden. Some species need be cut back in mid season and others, like hybrid lilies, can die if you remove their foliage.
There are just about an unlimited amount of different species and cultivars of perennial flowers to choose from that a very few people ever become completely familiar with all the options. Research is very important in choosing the proper plants to grow in your area. Books and online sources are a very valuable methods of resourcing when planting perennials. Both will provide you with photographs for identification, cultural information and can be very descriptive of growth habits, bloom time, color along with characteristics of special cultivars.
Traditionally, perennial gardens have been laid out in one of three ways: a border, an island bed and a natural garden among wooded areas. A border garden is typically a long, rectangular flower bed that is about two to four feet deep and can be any length you desire, a few feet long to a couple hundred feet and normally viewed from one side along with having a natural background setting. A background is usually created with a fence, shrubs or stone walls and the front edge of the garden is well defined with a border. To start it is best to keep it to a size that is easily manageable, like 3 feet wide and 10 to 15 feet long.
Island beds are gardens that are a stand alone garden. It usually has an irregular shape, no sharp corners, with gentle curves and designed to be viewed from all sides. When layout is done for this type of garden, the taller plants are planted along the center and working to the outside edges with the shortest plants being around the edge. Rock gardens are one type of garden that can be designed as an island garden.
Natural gardens are ones that are created into the existing landscape. These can also be shade gardens that are planted in wooded areas. They also are often irregular shaped to fit into the natural environment. These natural gardens are often created with pathways that lead you through the garden area.
Perennial gardens are easy to create and along with being enjoyable, they can be very rewarding.
More on Perennial Flower Gardens
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