Our garden
can bloom from early spring until late fall if you plant different flowers that
bloom at different times. Some early flowers will even bloom in the snow! And
in a sheltered, sunny spot, late flowers can bloom until Thanksgiving.
Many flowers
can be dead-headed to encourage repeat blooming. Once the flower has died, cut the
stem back to just above the next full set of leaves.
How to plant perennial
Allow dead flower
heads to remain on the stem in fall. Some will drop seeds. Others may attract the
bird. Turn and enrich your soil with compost before planting. A sprinkle of
bone meal will encourage large, brilliantly coloured flowers. Water new plants
often and well. Water deeply to encourage root growth. Make sure you plan
appropriately. Some plants need full sun while others prefer shade. Learn the pH of the soil in your area. Certain plants prefer acid soil; others need
slightly alkaline soil. Scatter plants that flower at the same time throughout
the garden. Mix them all up for a better show. Plant tall flowers in the back,
small ones in front for best viewing.Plant spring-flowering bulbs in fall. The perennial flowers that bloom from spring tofall and depth you plant bulbs depend on which type that you plant. Check the
plant tag for instructions.
Spring flowering bulbs
If
your neighbourhood has experienced several cases of disappearing tulips, plant
the bulbs a few inches deeper than suggested. In winter months, mice and voles
tunnel under the ground and will eat the bulbs. For each bulb planted, add a
tablespoon of bone meal at the bottom of the hole. If you did not plant bulbs
in fall, you can purchase tulips, daffodils, etc in bloom during springtime.
Enjoy the flowers indoors, then plant outside after the flowers have faded to
enjoy next year.
Crocus - come in a rainbow of colours. Some are striped! Plant in your
lawn for a delightful spring surprise. (But when the lawn mover chops down the
foliage, this lawn planted crocus will not come back next year)
Hyacinths are strongly scented flowers. Tiny, waxy flowers grow on a
sturdy stem about 12" tall in white, purple, yellow, pink, and violet-blue.
Tulips, the queen of spring flowers, bloom in mid-spring, 1' - 2' tall in
a wild variety of colours - red, white, peach, pink, yellow, purple and
variegated combinations of colours including green.
Final Words
I
love perennials because they come back every year: Plant them once and enjoy
them for years! This makes perennial plants a great value, but it also means
you have to plan your garden if you want them blooming in spring, summer, and
fall. While annuals bloom for months, most perennials bloom for weeks.
