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Perennials are great. They are easy to grow and transplant and they come up every year like clockwork. Once you have a nice perennial garden established, you only have to make minor aesthetic adjustments in the spring and your regular weeding, watering, and fertilization maintenance throughout the growing season. Take some time to sketch out a garden plan for your perennials before you plant.
When To Plant Perennials - Fall
When should you plant perennials? Well, everyone has their personal preference, but it really depends on your location and growing conditions. Spring and fall are the most optimum times to plant, due to the cool, moist soil conditions. Many people like to plant in the fall and if the weather stays warm enough for your plants to establish their initial root growth that is fine. Your perennials should be in the ground for four to six weeks before the first heavy frost. The plants can handle a light frost or two, but soil temperature should be at least 40 degrees for the full time period.
When To Plant Perennials - Spring
Spring, on the other hand, is when most people seem to get geared up to garden and start thinking of new and exciting plans for their flower beds. With spring planting, the key is to get the plants in the ground as early as possible. Once the danger of frost is past, and the soils can be easily worked, go ahead and plant. This will give your perennials time to get their root growth established before serious summer heat kicks in.
When To Plant Perennials - Summer
You can even plant perennials during the summer, but that is putting more stress on the plants to establish in summer heat. They will definitely need additional moisture and fertilizer to survive the less than optimum growing conditions. When setting perennials, in any season, you should always finish your beds with about two inches of mulch. This will inhibit weed growth and help retain moisture. As with any new plants, you need to ensure they are getting adequate moisture, so monitor the soil conditions and adjust accordingly. If you plant your perennials in the spring or summer, they should receive a light application of fertilizer to help them establish. However, fall plantings should not be fertilized. This encourages top growth just when the plant should be entering dormancy. When planting perennials in the fall, wait until spring to fertilize.
Perennials are wonderful additions to flower beds and landscapes. Once established, they provide low maintenance beauty to your property. Perennials can be planted any time that you can work the soil. However, to give them the best chance to grow and flourish, you want to plant in the cooler temperatures of spring or fall. Then kick back and watch them grow.
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Author Bio Box: Patricia Wainwright
Get all the facts about perennials and gardening articles at GreenThumbArticles.com!
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