Growing Perennial Flowers Lawrence KS

Perennials are the backbone of a flower garden. Annuals put on a beautiful show, flowering all season long in many cases, but it's the perennials that give a garden character, reliably returning year after year. Most perennial flowers die back to just a crown and root system each year; the crown and roots are dormant during the winter, then the top growth returns in spring. Most perennials bloom for only a few weeks during summer, so careful planning is necessary to ensure color in your garden all season long.

1. Perennial plants fall into one of two classes. There are woody perennials, such as trees and bushes, which do not die back each year and there are herbaceous perennials, which do die back. Most perennial flowers are herbaceous.
   
   
2. Perennials are much more expensive than annuals. You'll probably want to plan your garden on paper before setting any plants in the ground, so that you don't have to move them later. An alternative is to grow them from seeds, although perennials can be notoriously difficult to sprout. Some have to be exposed to cold temperatures, then warm; some need to be soaked in water; and for others, you'll need to scrape the seed coat, which is called scarification.
   
   
3. Consider when each plant will bloom. Do you want a continuous show of color all summer or do you want a burst of riotous color all at once? Also consider which perennials will grow best in your location. To help determine this, it's helpful to consult a USDA Zone map. If you have your heart set on a particular species that is too tender for your area, it may be possible to grow it in a pot during the summer and bring it inside when temperatures start to drop.
   
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Author: Tonya Sandersfeld