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A Perennial Garden for the New Year

© Georgene A. Bramlage

Every flower about a house certifies to the refinement of somebody. Every vine climbing and blossoming tells of love and joy.
Robert G. Ingersoll (1833-1899)

Homeowners wanting to integrate thriving perennial gardens into their plans will find, whether novice or sophisticated gardeners, that designing them is a little like planning a successful party. Two core items are essential:

1. An appropriate setting for guests. A formal dinner requires polished furniture, starched linen and fine china, floral arrangements and candlelight. A barbeque flourishes with rustic tables and chairs, paper goods, field flowers in canning jars and a homey bonfire.

2. The right mix of guests. Just as too many comedians in the group leave none to laugh at their jokes, too many plants of one form, color or texture are boring and detract from a coordinated look and feel to the finished design.

The setting and its initial preparation are essential for the comfort and nourishment of desired perennials. They will flourish, much like guests at a party, when basic requirements are met. What are these basic requirements?

The choicest and easiest place to plant perennials is an area that receives sun for at least half the day from spring to autumn. This is usually a south- or west-facing site with a few deciduous trees to filter some light and heat.

A Small Intimate Location Next To a Driveway, Viewed from Up Close.

A Larger More Elaborate Site, Somewhat Shady, Viewed From a Deck.

1. A sun-drenched location needs proper soil to produce strong plant growth. Soil, with its physical as well as chemical composition, is to perennial plants like food to human guests. Soil characteristics, pH, and nutrients may easily be unseen or even disregarded by gardeners in a rush to get perennials established, but plants are decidedly unforgiving about soil.

   Soil tests can answer homeowners' fundamental questions about soils and advocate remedies for some basic problems. What are some of these problems?

   
   
   1. What are the structure and composition of the soil in the area I have in mind for a perennial planting? How much loam is present in the current composition? Will adding compost improve the structure?

   2. What is the soil pH? How much lime is required to raise the pH, or on the other hand, how much sulfur is needed to lower the pH?

   3. What kinds of nutrients are present? Do these need to be increased, decreased or their balance changed? How much and what kinds of fertilizers should be added?