Perennial Basics

Perennial gardens are rewarding because they offer you long-term growth, sensational blooms, and lush green growth. Our experienced staff know what questions to ask to take some of the difficulty out of the process! In order to do that, you need to do a few minor tasks so we can help you the best we know how.

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What to Look For

1. Measurements

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Measure your space exactly and take notes on those measurements. If you have multiple spaces, you may want to give them names that are easy for you to remember, like "beside the fence," or "along the garage," or "under the dead tree." These are easier to recall than numbers, and help to keep the plan clear for you and the Dutch team.

A diagram can be helpful here, but isn't totally necessary. If you want to bring in a drawing, try to make it to scale (half an inch = one foot, for example) and bring in a couple copies, so you can make a few different drafts of the plan. Otherwise, a general idea of the shapes as well as distances is helpful.

Perennials you purchase in the greenhouse all start in four-inch or one gallon pots, but their mature sizes is what we think about in the plans. We like to know how much space we're working with!

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2. Sunlight Direction

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The first thing we need in each part of the garden is the direction: what direction is the light coming from? You can add to this: are there physical barriers in front of the light, and what time of day are they in the way? This can include other buildings, but might also be things like your neighbours’ trees, or your collection of dinosaur statues. You do you, friends. There's no judgement, here: we just need to know what kinds of things may present variables in the kind of light that the plants receive.

Sometimes, people skip this step and will say something like, "oh I don't know the direction. But it's hot!" When I ask for more information, this sometimes turns into, "It's really hot when I go out for my morning coffee!" This is an important detail because, while it feels hot to you, plants experience the light in terms of its intensity, so a hot, bright morning is actually known as partial shade!

This is why the direction of the light is actually the information we need most: perennials flourish best in spaces with correct lighting, so if you have the correct directions, we can give you plant ideas which will be most successful.

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3. Soil

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Whether the soil on the property is new or new to you, you should check out the soil and see if you need to augment the soil before you do any planting.

• Newer developments typically use soils that are not very high in nutrients or good drainage. Feel the soil in your hands - does it seem soft and loamy, with white bits (called perlite), or small bits of organic material, like bark or peat? These are good signs! If the soil is dry, hard, or rocky, you may wish to add other materials.
• Dig down several inches and see if the soil abruptly changes density. Hold the soil in your hand, and make a fist. When you open your fist, does the soil hold the shape? If so, you have either encountered a rare stream of play dough, or you may have clay. Clay is really not good for planting; it created pools under the topsoil which collect water, and effectively drown the plants above. Avoid this altogether by adding gypsum to the soil: it works by reacting with the clay and causing the soil to become usable.
• Use a home soil test! These are inexpensive tests that look for a range of qualities. Test for Ph - whether the soil is acidic or basic - to see if you need to neutralize the soil in either direction. Tests can also look for nutrients; these will tell you if you need to add anything beyond a basic fertilizer. Maybe you need compost? (Check out our blog on how to make your own!)

Soil is part of the process of a successful garden: be sure to prepare the space before you have the plants in front of you, since the ground might contain some fun surprises!

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4. Drainage

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Where does water go in your garden? New and old gardens have their own ecosystems, so take the time to figure out where water comes from and where it goes. Allow me to explain: is this spot of your yard underneath a downspout? Does the water drain to one area of your yard? Or does it seem to stick around in certain places? This may also be an indicator of clay, but you may need to add other materials. For really poorly draining areas, check for clay, or remove the soil, place in gravel, and replace the soil on top. *Be sure to not create drainage towards your foundations while you're at it!

There's nothing worse than planting your perennials in your new house and then discovering it was an empty space for a reason. Before your plants start wishing they had an Ark, save them the trouble of looking for Noah: discover the low parts of your yard by watching snow melt or looking at the area after a lot of rain.

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5. Other Features

Are there existing spaces in the planting area that we should take into account? Here are some questions to get your noggin joggin':

• Do you have a fountain that needs to remain in view? Is there other decor, like a bird bath or arbour?
• Or, conversely, an unsightly electrical box [what is the name I'm looking for here?] that you wish to cover up?
• Are there other perennials, trees, or shrubs that need to be incorporated into the plan?
• In your plan of measurements, be sure to include heights, too: if you want a plant to reach midway along the new fence, what is the total height of the hence, and what is the range of heights you would accept?

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6. Inspiration

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Finally, if you have colours, styles, or ideas for plants you want, add that! Is there a plant you have always loved and need to include? (Or, conversely, a plant you hate and never want to see again?!) Everyone has their tastes and ideas, so let's be sure to get you the perennial garden of your dreams!

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Once you have your checklist complete, head down to the garden centre and let us help you put together your perennial plan!