Protecting Perennials

Perennials are gorgeous plants that live for decades. There may be plenty of flowers suited for planting in the garden, but the knowledge to maintain those flowers is just as important as their beauty. It can be a delicate process to split, transplant, or protect perennials throughout the yearly challenges posed by the surrounding environment.

There are many variables involved in the proper maintenance of a perennial garden, and we are here to help. With only an overview of knowledge about continuing care, the prosperity of the garden will flourish. Simple actions make significant differences in nature.

Would you please look at a few specific perennial plants and some gardening techniques that will keep them blooming? Here is a quick synopsis of a year in the care of a freshly planted perennial garden area.

Deadheading

Deadheading is essential for controlling the flow of the garden. If it does not sound exciting to spend hours in the garden pulling excess growth, deadheading is of the utmost importance. Some plants produce a plethora of seeds after their flower pods die off, leading to an excess of one type of plant taking over the garden bed.

Deadheading is also crucial for the growth of some perennials. Pulling off the dead flower pods will make way for new blooms to appear. An overabundance of dead pods can stifle the plant’s chance to thrive. It will not grow as full and luscious if the deadheads are not removed regularly. This process will only take a handful of minutes to complete, so there is no reason to sweat the labor.

Pruning Techniques

Pruning shears are the best friend of a gardener. Several different pruning techniques will keep the foliage in check during the spring and summertime. Pinching, Shearing, and Cutting Back Hard are three terms to commit to memory.

Pinching is a simple process. The gardener pinches merely off the very top of each of the perennial’s stems. That will keep the expansion of the plant under control a bit.

Shearing is the quicker alternative method of pinching. It is the same concept, except the gardener uses shears to cut off the top two inches once the plant reaches a foot in height. This procedure results in each stem sprouting into several new stems, producing twice the amount of blooms on the next cycle. Chrysanthemums and Asters are excellent examples of perennials that need to be regularly pinched or sheared. Otherwise, they will end up looking thin and floppy.

Cutting Back Hard is typically only performed once or twice a year. When perennial calls for this action, the gardener will cut the plant down to merely a third of its original size. Usually, this is done to entice the plant’s growth. It can also be used as a way to shape and control some types of perennials.

Other Maintenance

Other maintenance includes weeding and edging around the garden bed to keep it looking sharp. The gardener may also need to install some bamboo stakes for plant support while growing perennials are staking their claim.

Perennials Adorn Struggling Flower Arrangements

Flowers are beautiful. With such a wide variety of flowers available at the push of a button, it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint just what will work best for the bouquet. Many growers cultivate flowers strictly for cutting and use them in an artistic design.

Perennial flowers are better suited for aesthetic purposes because they come back year after year. There is always more than one bloom to be reaped from returning patrons to a perennial garden. That provides time for perfecting the garden within.

Here is a short overview of a few of the most favored perennials planted to cut. Take a closer look at these fancy flowering friends and choose what best suits the selected layout.

Blazing Star (Liatris)

Some flowers are just not vase appropriate. However, the Blazing Star is not one of them. This herb is perfect for cutting and will add a pop of purple to any arrangement. They are also great for attracting butterflies. Place a bouquet of these flowers near an opened window, and there will be beautiful, fluttering visitors soon enough.

This plant thrives when planted within zones three through nine. Not only is this flower ideal for live display around the office or home, but it is also perfect for drying and preserving.

Coneflower (Echinacea purpura)

These purple blooming perennials are versatile and tolerant of many conditions. They usually bloom for an extended period from the onset of spring until the first frost hits. This flower has such a superb composure that even when they are dead, you can pluck their petals, and the center of the flower can still work well in an ornamental fashion.

Lilies (Lilium)

There are so many bulbs, so it is just easier to lump them all into one category. Though they are all different in their ways, Lilies of all kinds are well suited for cutting purposes. Not only are they stunning in presentation, but they will also live a bit longer in a vase than some other perennials.

Phlox (Phlox caespitosa)

As is the case with the Lily, the Phlox has several different choices regarding color and growth. That is an excellent plant for versatility and variety in the scheme of any flower arrangement. Its flowers bloom in small clumped bundles and could work as a filler in the space of a bouquet.

Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)

The Blanket Flower is the one to provide an arrangement with color that lasts longer than most. This flower is heat and drought tolerant, and it will bloom for an extended period of the warmer months of the year. It is best suited for planting zones three through eight.