How to Plant Perennials

Perennials are long-lasting flowers that add beauty and variety to a garden. They grow in the spring, then die during the winter. With proper care, perennials reappear during the spring planting season. Peonies, day lilies and chrysanthemums are some of the well-known perennials.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Choose the best-looking perennials from a garden store during the early spring. Keep the perennials watered in their containers for up to 3 weeks if you have to wait to plant them. Place them outside in above-freezing temperatures or in your garage until you're ready to plant.

2. Select a location in your garden. Make sure that the soil is rich, loosened and not prone to hard overnight frosts. Dig a hole with your garden trowel big enough to cover the roots. Add water to the hole, then place the perennials in an upright position.

3. Cover the roots with the soil, then pat it down to mix it with the water. This helps to eliminate air pockets from the soil. Spread mulch about an inch deep around the perennials after planting, but don't let the mulch touch the stems of the plants.

4. Water the perennials right after planting, then continue the watering once a week during the first 2 weeks. Care for the perennials by watering them as needed to prevent drought.

5. Fertilize the perennials with compost, or with a liquid or slow-release granular fertilizer. These products can also be found at the garden center. Apply the compost or fertilizer at least once a year to establish your perennials. Fertilizing helps the perennials return yearly.

Tips & Warnings

• Prune or cut perennials back yearly to encourage new growth and keep your garden tidy. Spring-flowering perennials like forsythia and lilac should only be pruned right after flowering; they need the rest of the year to develop buds. Cut summer-flowering plants and shrubs to a few inches above the ground either in late fall or early spring.
• Cut peonies back to ground level and remove and destroy all leaf litter in late fall to prevent the black mold, to which these plants are vulnerable.