Planting Perennials

The best time for planting perennials is normally in the autumn or early spring, but as with all plants for the garden now, they can be bought all the year round as potted plants, and so can be planted at any time of the year. Perennials planted in late spring and summer, will need a little bit of extra care to ensure that they establish properly. In particular, they will need regular watering to allow their root system to establish into the surrounding soil. Drying out of newly planted plants in summer is one of the main causes of death!

Don't forget that your herbaceous perennial is going to be in the same place for many years. make sure that the soil where it is to be planted has been well manured and fed, as well as being dug over to break up the soil. this will allow air into the root zone of your newly planted herbaceous perennials.

Many perennials are available as mail-order plants, but there is usually a good range at most garden centres also.

Plant them as normal – a trowel is normally the best tool – and add a little bit of rotted compost or multi-purpose potting compost to the planting hole. Make sure that the perennials are firmly planted, and that the soil is pushed well down into the planting hole. Give them a good soak of water. This will also help to settle the soil down around the plant roots.

Leave enough space around these small plants for them to grow into their proper size! As well as using a plant label, it might be a good idea to make a note of the names and positions for future reference, in case and inquisitive squirrel makes a run for it with your labels!

A few days after planting – not in very hot weather – you can give your new perennials a week feed of Tomato feed – just to help it on its way in its new home.

Support

Taller perennials will need support – either with a single cane if they are just a few stems, or perhaps with some twiggy branches if they are twining plants. You can also get a range of ornamental supports from any garden centre. It is better to do this at planting time, for once your perennials start to grow, the growth rate is normally quite quick! If your garden is in a very exposed situation, it will probably be better if you use shrubs as the taller plants, and then plant lower growing perennials in sheltered places.