The Master Gardener Articles

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SO, YOU WANT A PERENNIAL FLOWER GARDEN?
Written by Mary McCord, Union County Master Gardener

Part II

In Part I, you learned how to draw a bedding plan and how to select the plant material you will use.  You have been reading catalogs and surfing the net finding dozens of beautiful flowers that you really want. Let’s go back to the drawing board, again! 

First, look at the size of your plant selections compared to the area you have to fill.  For perennial gardens, it is usually better to plant several of the same plant in a group (or mass) in order for them to stand out. This is called a drift. Use circles or ovals to show the drifts inside your planting area.   Do not make all of your drifts identical in size or shape.  Break up your patterns and change the directions of your drifts.  

Make X’s inside each drift to indicate the number of plants you will need.  Look at your height and spread information for each plant type you have selected.  It is better to use odd numbers (3 or 5) of a particular plant choice depending on it’s (full grown) size.  Do not line up your plants in rows like little soldiers (boring), stagger them.  Within a drift, plant 2 back and 1 up, then reverse this in a similar drift on the opposite side of your planting bed.

A general rule of thumb is to put shorter plants in front and taller in the back, or shorter around the edge and taller in the middle, in the case of a bed that will be viewed from all sides.  Once you have filled in all of your area, go back one more time and check for color and form.  Do you have too much of the same color together or too many of the same shape (mounds, tall spikes, creepers) or growing pattern together?  Also do not forget about small shrubs and ornamental grasses to add variety to your plan.

You are now ready to prepare your bed.  If the selected area is covered with sod, you will need to remove this.  If the bed is to be in a low area, you might consider creating a raised bed (6” – 8” above the surface of the surrounding area) by adding more top soil.  Turn over at least 8” to 10” of the soil and add your organic amendments – this will also help to improve your soil’s fertility.  Mix all of this well and have it ready before you bring your plant material home.  You may also want to purchase some organic mulch to cover the soil area around your plants, once they are in the ground – this will help hold in moisture and help reduce weeds in your bed.

Grab your shopping list, your sketch of the planting bed and go purchase your planting material.  You may find that some of the plants you selected are not easy to find at your local nursery so be prepared with a second choice or plan to order these through a nursery catalog.

Remember to water your plants before removing them from the pots – this will make it easier to get them out without damaging the roots.  You will need to gently open the root ball at the bottom and spread out the roots before planting – this will help them start growing faster.  Put each plant into the soil at the same level it was while in the container.  Water all plants thoroughly and then spread your mulch.  Remember that new plants will need frequent watering until their roots become established.  The best time to water them is early in the morning so they have all day to use it. 

OK, go get the camera – take a picture now, then monthly through the growing season.  Keep these with your sketch and list of plants.  Next year you will want to add or change things – your garden is alive and ever changing.  Creating a “knockout” garden is an ongoing process – this is just where the fun begins!