Day 7: 21 Signs of Garden Fatigue

Perennials

The beauty in having perennials in your garden is that they don't need to be replaced each year. They can be just as showy as annuals but no way near the amount of work. They will give your garden a framework in which to plan and strategise about your flower colours, foliage, textures and heights.

Perennials and annuals seem to have much in common, so apart from lasting more than one season what differences do perennials have? Read on for more info...

GARDENING TIPS...

• Maintenance - perennials such as daylilies, agapanthus, dietes and other rhizomous plants need to be divided probably every 2-3 years. This will encourage more blooms and a better looking plant. Other perennials need to be pruned by at least 1/3 each year to give better shap but also to avoid problems of becoming leggy or crowding your garden.
  


• Pest Control - unlike annuals which you can rotate each season to avoid soil-borne diseases, perennials are likely to stay in the same place in your garden and provide their own struggles with pests and disease. As diseases and pests can differ greatly between plants the best advice would be to take a sample of your infected plant to your local nursery and get their opinion. Having said that, many nurseries are likely to try and sell you a product to cure the ailment so be wise and not accept their remedy as gospel. If possible, look for an organic alternative before pouring chemical on the problem.
  


• Seed Outbursts - with annuals it's great to have them self-seed. However, with perennials this can become a nightmare. Plants like Rose-of-Sharon from the Hibiscus family can become a pest as seedlings grow and multiply. To remedy plants that do this, make sure there is a thick layer of mulch around the base of the plant to dissuade seeds from reaching the soil and germinating.
  

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