How to fix Common Perennial Garden Mistakes

 7 Common Perennial Garden Mistakes to Avoid

Did your plants not look as green and colorful as you expected? Make sure you do not commit any of these wrongdoings. Perennials are the stars that return to the garden, returning every spring after being idle in the winter. That is, you can plant them once and then enjoy them for many years. Healthy, happy perennials such as long-blooming conifers and shade-loving hosts will actively grow, expanding your own garden or creating new plants to share with friends. But sometimes, your perennials may not produce many flowers or they may not grow. Chances are you missed something they need to thrive on. The most common perennial garden mistakes you make and how to fix them so you can enjoy the season-long color scene again.

Mistake 1: Putting perennials in the wrong place

"The right plant, the right place" is an old garden proverb that means the plant's light needs and soil preferences should be matched to where you want to place them. Some perennials like conifers and yarrow enjoy the bright sun from morning to night, while others, such as astilbe and antique bleeding heart, work best in the afternoon shade. As for the soil, some perennials need fast-draining sandy soil, while others thrive in moist but not moist soil. Just like checking the plant label when you are in the garden center or consulting the plant encyclopedia, it is easy to know the preferred growing conditions for perennial plants. Combine the light and soil properties of your garden with the plants that thrive in those conditions for a successful combination.

Home Garden Tips 👇

Mistake 2: Ignore your zone

Each perennial plant has a hardiness zone range, based on the low temperatures experienced by different regions on average. Based on the USDA Hardiness Zone Map, be sure to select plants that thrive in your specific zone. For example, if you live in Zone 5, hardy plants in Zone 5 and below will survive the winter in your area. Plants rated as Zone 6 may not be without some extra protection from the cold, such as a thick layer of mulch in the winter.

Mistake 3: Ignoring maintenance

The best things in life often require a little work, and that is for perennials. While these plants are usually low maintenance, they are even better when you add two important tasks to your garden work list. In particular, regular deadheading, or removal of spent flowers, encourages plants to expend available energy to create a healthy root system, and in some cases, another flush of flowers later in the season. The division helps to revive many perennials. Aim to separate your perennial plants every three years.

Garden Related links 👇

Ground Cover Plants

4 Problems in Growing Lettuce

Fence Line Privacy Plants

Mistake 4: Do not plant for color by seasons

Most perennials will bloom in about three weeks. When you plant a variety of perennials together, your garden will bloom at least three seasons a year. With early flowering species like Hellebore and Trillium, don’t forget to think about color at the beginning of the season. Then mix in plants that extend the flower show until the fall, and pick late-season perennials such as aster, black-eyed Susan, and Russian sage. Perennials, whose foliage is valuable, such as hosta and sedum, add both color and texture when flowering with high-gloss flowering plants.

Mistake 5: Too much or too little mulching

You add mulch, right? A 3-inch layer of organic mulch, such as shredded bark, can help reduce weeds and retain moisture in the soil longer. But when you use it, place mulch at a distance of 2-3 inches from the crown or growing point of each plant. Applying mulch very close to or above the crown can help catch diseases or cause the plant to suffocate slowly. The mulch will break down over time, so you should spread a new layer every year. A very thick layer of mulch (6-8 inches) can be used to insulate autumn-cultivated perennials from severe winter conditions. If you use a mulch blanket for newly planted perennials in late fall, be sure to remove it in early spring so the soil warms up well when the air temperature rises.

Home Garden Tips 👇

Mistake 6: Planting too close

Crowded perennial plants create disease-promoting conditions. Although difficult to imagine, a young perennial in a 4-inch pot can easily expand several feet over a period of three years. When adding new plants, pay attention to the width and height you can expect them to reach. Select planting sites based on the full size of the plant in relation to structures and paths and other vegetation around them. Then wait patiently. Perennial fruits grow slowly in the first year. In the second year, you will notice a rapid increase in growth, and in the third year, they usually reach full size.

Mistake 7: Do not move the tall stems

Some perennials need a little help to stand tall. Delphiniums, peonies, and asters are some plants that have long or slender flower stalks that fall to the ground when they start to bloom. To get the most out of their flower show, they need to do some stockings well in advance of the flowering season. Depending on what works best for the plant you want to support, you can use a single stake or a growth-through phase ($ 35, target). Or, if the stocking is a chore and you want to avoid it, look for small varieties of your favorite perennials that do not need support.

Vegetable	Garden Tips 1	Garden Tips 2
Vegetable Garden	Vegetable	Tomato Garden
Container Garden	Garden Ideas	Garden Tips
Indoor Plants	Repal Plants	Weed Control Tips

If you've made some of these perennial garden mistakes in the past, you can easily fix them as these types of plants are very forgiving. Adjust your bugs to enjoy and memorize these horticultural techniques so you can start growing perennials like a pro.

 Front Yard Garden 

Garden Tips

Garden Tools