Perennials form the basis of a mixed border.
Rosy Hardy, the owner of Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants, was kind enough to answer my questions about choosing and growing perennials.
Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants has won 24 Gold Medals in the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Chelsea 2020 was to be their final show. They designed a border just for the show. The show was cancelled, and the date of this year’s RHS Chelsea has been moved to September 20, which will affect the choice plants.
They decided to recreate it at their nursery in Hampshire.
What are perennials, and what do they look like?
Rosy says a perennial is a plant that grows in the soil from year to year.
Herbaceous perennials are plants that die back in the winter and then reappear in spring.
Why is it important to have perennials in your garden?
Rosy says that perennials are the backbone of our flowering border. Perennials can flower in the spring, summer, and autumn. Some even bloom in the winter. Perennials come in different heights and can be used for either shade or sun.
Perennials will give you a lot of colour throughout the season. They are less work to maintain because they grow year after year.
What is a perennial hardy?
Rosy says that a perennial is one which grows, blooms, re-grows and flowers. It’s a perennial if it survives for three years.
Half-hardy perennials are perennials in their country of origin. We have to replant them each year because they can’t survive the winters in our country. In this country, we often use half-hardy annuals for bedding plants.
Annuals are plants which grow, flower and set seed in a single year. The plant itself does not return, but its seeds do.
Over the last decade, perennial garden planting has taken on some new and exciting directions. Naturalistic Planting is a beautiful, easy-to-care for option.
Can plants grow through mulch or landscape fabric?
Rosy explains that some plants do not like their crowns to be covered. When adding mushroom compost to borders or garden compost, make sure you leave a space around the plant’s head.
You will need to cover your dahlias’ crown if you want to protect them over the winter. I add several spadefuls. Here’s more information about dahlias during a UK winter.
You shouldn’t, however, use weed-suppressant landscape fabric around perennial borders. Rosy explained that the fabric used to suppress weeds is designed to kill and cover them. The same will work for perennials.
Some people suggest making a small hole in the fabric to allow the perennials to grow through. Rosy, however, says this is only suitable for shrubs that stay in the same place and do not spread. Perennials, on the other hand, spread underground via their root system. Landscape fabric can stop this from happening. Your perennials will not survive.
How and when should perennials be divided?
Perennials are known to spread and will require dividing every couple of years. Rosy suggests that a perennial with a rapid growth rate will need to be divided every 2 or 3 years. Divide the slower-growing perennial every 3-4 year.
Rosy says that you’ll be able to tell when perennials are in need of division because their centre will start to die. You should dig up your plant if you notice a bald spot in the middle.
Divide perennials are easy. Dig it up. Next, cut out the centre of the plant and split it. Rosy advises using a spade.
Some people recommend using two forks in a row to separate the roots. This method has never worked for me. Rosy also says it’s okay to cut the roots at certain places.
This post contains the truth about how to divide perennials.
What perennials flower the longest?
Rosy suggests hardy geraniums. These are the plants that will come back every year and not the shrub salvias.
A shrub is any plant that has a woody stem and stays above ground year-round. Shrubs get bigger but don’t spread.
What perennials prefer shade?
Rosy advises that anything labeled as a “woodland” plant will thrive in the shade.
All of these plants are good for the shade: epimediums and pulmonaria. Rosy says that hardy geraniums, in particular, are her favourite plant. Geranium macrorrhizum is one of the plants that thrives in shade. It was also featured in ‘s post on low-maintenance plants.
The shady side of the Hardys Cottage Gardens Plants show border. Rodgersia Podophylla is the large, bronze-leaved plant, and it’s paired with hostas (perennials that tolerate shade), maianthemums (false Solomon’s Seal) and ferns. Dianthus ‘Blushing Star’ is the low-growing pink flower at the front. It thrives in either sun or partial shade. The border’s edge will be the most sunny part.
Rosy says that many perennials in shade will flower in the spring. Most of the perennials have interesting leaves, which can provide a good ground cover. Good leaf cover also deters weeds as it prevents the annual weed seedlings from getting sunlight.
What perennials do well in pots?
Rosy claims that all perennials grow well in pots. You must make sure that you place the pot in a sunny place and shade-loving perennials in a shaded area.
You can grow any perennial in a pot if you follow these three steps.
What perennials are resistant to deer, rabbits or slugs?
Rosy explains that the RHS website has lists of plants which are resistant to deer, rabbits, and slugs. You’ll find someone to tell you if a rabbit or deer has eaten your plant.
She suggests building a fence higher if deer are an issue. A fence is also the best way to keep rabbits out, but use wire with small openings. Many people use wires with large holes, which rabbits can easily get through.
She uses organic pellets to protect her hostas and other young plants from slugs. This is only for the young, new shoots. She says that once the plant grows larger, it can survive a few small holes.
And Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants are very friendly to wildlife. We have birds, butterflys, newts frogs toads voles owls… They eat a lot of slugs, snails, and other slugs.