Perennial flowers can add color, elegance, and beauty to a flower garden all year long. With spring just around the corner, perennial flower gardeners have been planting their flower seeds for this season. Flowers bloom all throughout the growing year, not just in spring. Most annual flowers come up for only one season, but perennials return for many seasons so they are a wise investment for your landscape garden. They also generally bloom for a much shorter period of time (usually late, mid-season, early season, and late in the perennial season.)
In order to appreciate your flower garden all year long, it is important to understand that perennial plants bloom during each season. Some flowers, such as shrubs, can have one bloom period in spring. Other annuals, such as herbaceous perennials, may bloom for several seasons. To make sure you plant your annuals in the right season, check the National Gardening Association’s Annual Plant List.
The Annual Plant List is very helpful because it breaks down how much time the different flowers will spend blooming in each zone of your garden (e.g., coastal, desert, etc.). This information is especially helpful for the novice gardener because it helps them plan accordingly. However, if you cannot locate the list online, search for “annuals” or “perennials” in your area nursery. The good news is that most nurseries these days are willing to provide a phone number and chat with you to answer your gardening questions.
The climate zone of your yard will determine whether you should plant annuals, perennials, or both. It is also important to consider what type of landscape you have. If you have more of an open landscape, then you need to consider whether or not you want to layer or mix these three garden components. For instance, a border garden is more appropriate for taller perennial flowers, whereas a shady yard is ideal for shady annuals.
The most beneficial aspect of planting flowers in your landscape is the beauty they will bring to your yard. There are two main factors that influence the growth patterns of flowers. One is the growing season and the other is sun exposure. When planting, pay close attention to the type of flowers you are planting and make sure they receive the proper growing conditions. For example, if you are planting roses in your garden, you should plant them after the last frost because they will need the adequate sunlight in order to thrive.
Many perennials do extremely well in the colder months because they are able to utilize the heat from the ground to keep the leaves cool. This is why you often see rose buds appearing in late spring and early summer. Planting them in a shaded area will allow them to get the sunlight they need without the risk of going dormant. Be careful not to plant a flower in a location where it will get heavy rain. The roots may break but this could cause problems in the future.
Certain flowers prefer full sun while others prefer partial shade. Knowing the plant’s actual growing zone will greatly help you determine which of these plants will be suitable in your area. While the majority of perennials like full sun, there are a couple exceptions such as California poppy and calendula. If you are not sure what zone your bloom should be in, you can purchase a zone map at your local nursery.
In the summertime, many flowers prefer the grassy ground cover in order to avoid the drying wind. However, the flowers return in late fall or early winter, usually blooming in the spring. Spring bulbs such as tulips and daffodils are perfect for spring. If you plan on using flowers in your landscape for the entire season, you can buy them ahead of time and prune them when the flowers start to appear in the fall. Do not forget to water in between the blooms though as the soil will dry out if you do not water the grassy ground covers.