Plant Talk |
CAUTION:The information and recommendations in this article are applicable to Harnett County, NC and may not apply in other areas.
PERENNIAL FEVER
As I write this, the temperature is too low even for me to enjoy working in the garden. Yes, there are those necessary chores, such as keeping the leaves from smothering the grass, and cleaning up the flower beds and vegetable garden. But I think the cold fall days are best spent sitting by the fire to plan and dream about next year. And what could be more fun than planning a perennial flower border or bed.
The first step is to choose a location. Pick a spot in your yard where you need a splash of color. If available, a backdrop of evergreen shrubs or a fence is ideal to frame the perennial border.
Don't worry if it's the driest, shadiest, or wettest spot in the yard. That can be addressed through picking the right plants.
Next, think about the shape and size of the bed. The traditional perennial border is straight and long, but many gardeners don't have the space for such an undertaking.
In limited space, you might consider an island bed. Beds with curved borders also fit well into many landscapes.
Proper plant selection is critical to success. This includes selecting plantes that are adapted to the site, as well as considering color and size.
Consider the microclimate of the site. Different plants are adapted to different conditions, some for full sun, others for shade, still others for wet conditions. Check out the table for a list of plants to fit your conditions. Keep in mind that this is only a partial list.
The full grown size of the plant will determind its location in the bed. This seems fairly obvious, but it's an easy point to overlook. Tall plants should be planted toward the rear of the bed, medium height plants in the middle, and low-growing plants in front.
In an island bed, the tall plants are placed in the middle, surrounded by the medium and low height plants.
Also be sure to consider how wide the plant will spread. When you purchase plants from the nursery, they are small and it is tempting to place them very close together. Just remember that they will grow very quickly to fill in any empty spaces. Observe any spacing requirements listed on the tag.
Color selection is also important. Strong colors such as yellow, orange, and red tend to jump out at you, demanding your attention. They should be used sparingly, particularly in small spaces. Cool colors include white, blue, and lavendar. They tend to recede from view, having a serene or calming effect.
When placing plants next to each other, choose colors that will look good together and not clash. Plants with gray or silvery foliage, such as dusty miller (actually a biennial) or artemisia are useful for dividing and separating colors that would otherwise clash. This is especially useful for different shades of red.
At this point, you should be well-prepared to design your perennial flower garden. So pour yourself another cup of hot chocolate, pull out the flower books and catalogs, take out pen and paper, and start dreaming and planning.
For more information, feel free to give me a call, or check out the following website: http:/ /russell4.hort.ncsu.edu/slideshow/slide1.html.
| FOR FULL SUN
Yarrow Coreopsis Purple coneflower Blanket flower Sedum Lamb's ears Shasta daisy Red-hot poker |
FOR SHADE
Columbine Bleeding heart Foxglove Lenten rose Hosta Lungwort |
| WET SOILS
Astilbe Rose mallow Cardinal flower Spiderwort Foxglove Globe flower |
DRY SOILS
Yarrow Butterfly weed Blanket flower Daylily Lavendar Phlox |
www.ces.ncsu.edu/harnett/pubs/planttalk/planttlk.html