Selecting Perennials

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black eyed susan

perennial flower

Clematis, perennial beauty

Lovely border perennial

It's that time of year again, time to start looking through those seed catalogs and planning your spring and summer gardens. Perennials are a great way to add variety and texture to your garden and they should come back year after year without you having to replant them. I consider perennials a gardening short-cut and a bargain. Here are some tips for selecting the best perennials for your money.

Be sure to choose plants with the fullest nicest foliage and the fewest blooms. We choose plants with the fewest blooms because the flowers drain the plants energy.
When purchasing perennials pop the perennial from the pot to check the roots before you head to the checkout counter. The roots should be loose, creamy white to tan, soft and tender. Avoid plants with heavy masses of thick brown roots. Healthy plants will transplant to your garden more easily and experience less transplant shock due to damaged roots and inadequate water uptake. Be advised that some garden centers won't like you doing this but it's your right to make sure what you are about to purchase is healthy and will survive.
After you have planted your perennials be sure to gently pull the flowers off to create stronger healthier roots.