Perennial Care Guide

Bringing Plants Home

Transport Tips: Keep plants upright. Protect from wind, heat, or cold during transport.

 

If Planting is Delayed: Place them in a shaded area, water as needed, and don’t let them dry out or sit in standing water.

Choosing the Right Location

Light Requirements:

Full Sun (6+ hrs/day): Coneflower, salvia, daylily, peony.

Part Shade (3–6 hrs): Astilbe, hosta, bleeding heart.

Full Shade (<3 hrs): Ferns, Solomon’s seal, lamium.

 

Space Considerations:

Know the mature size of each plant to avoid overcrowding. Provide good airflow to minimize disease.

Soil Preparation

Soil Type: Most perennials prefer well-draining, fertile soil.

 

Amending Tips: Add compost or well-rotted manure before planting. Adjust soil pH if needed (e.g., lime for clematis, peat for acid-lovers).

 

Drainage: Perennials dislike soggy roots. Raise beds or add sand/organic matter if needed.

Digging the Hole

Depth & Width: Dig a hole twice as wide and the same depth as the root ball.

 

Bare Root Perennials: Soak roots in water for 30 minutes before planting.

Planting Perennials

Handling Tips: Gently loosen roots if pot-bound.

 

Positioning: The crown (where roots meet stems) should sit at soil level.

 

Backfilling: Use amended or original soil. Water as you fill to remove air pockets.

 

Mulching: Apply 2–3 inches of mulch, keeping it off the crown to avoid rot.

Watering

Initial Watering: Give a deep soak right after planting.

 

Ongoing Care: Water 1–2 times per week during the first growing season. Deep watering encourages deep roots. Established perennials often need less frequent watering, except in heatwaves.

Feeding & Fertilizing

When to Start: Most perennials benefit from a spring feeding once new growth appears.

 

Fertilizer Type: Use a balanced fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10) or slow-release granular.

 

Frequency: Apply once in early spring and again in mid-summer if needed. Avoid late-season feeding.

Staking & Support

When & Why: Tall or top-heavy varieties (e.g., delphinium, peony) may require staking.

 

Tips: Use plant supports early to avoid damaging roots. Tomato cages, peony rings, or bamboo stakes work well.

Pest & Disease Monitoring

Common Issues:

Pests: Aphids, slugs, earwigs, Japanese beetles.

 

Diseases: Powdery mildew, rust, leaf spot, crown rot.

 

Prevention Tips: Ensure good airflow. Water at the base, not the foliage. Remove affected leaves promptly. Use neem oil, diatomaceous earth, or slug traps as needed.

Deadheading & Pruning

Deadheading: Remove spent blooms to promote reblooming and tidy appearance.

 

Midseason Cutbacks: Some perennials (e.g., catmint, salvia) benefit from a hard shear after first bloom to rebloom or regrow clean foliage.

 

Fall Cleanup: Cut down deciduous perennials after frost. Leave seed heads on some (e.g., coneflowers) for winter interest and bird food.

Seasonal Care

Summer: Deadhead and water during dry spells. Mulch to keep roots cool and weeds down.

 

Fall: Divide or transplant mature clumps (if needed).

Mulch for winter protection once the ground cools.

 

Winter Protection (Zone 5): Apply a loose layer of mulch (e.g., straw or leaves) over crowns to prevent freeze-thaw heaving. Avoid heavy wet mulch like bark in winter.

Overwintering

Don’t cut back everything: Leave stems on marginally hardy or woody perennials (e.g., lavender, Russian sage) until spring.

 

Containers: Move to a protected area, or wrap with insulating materials if kept outside.

 

Frost Heaving: Re-firm lifted plants in early spring.

Container Care

Pot Size: Use large enough pots to accommodate roots and prevent drying out.

 

Soil: Use well-draining potting mix. Add compost or slow-release fertilizer.

 

Winter: Containers may need extra protection or storage in sheltered locations in Zone 5.

Helpful Extras

Dividing Perennials: Most can be divided every 3–5 years in spring or fall to rejuvenate growth.

 

Pollinator Friendly Choices: Coneflower, bee balm, rudbeckia, yarrow.

 

Deer Resistant Options: Hellebores, lavender, salvia, peony, Russian sage.

 

Fragrant Varieties: Dianthus, phlox, lavender.