Gardening By Christen Thomas
Why Perennials are (Nearly) Perfect for Your Garden
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pring is around the corner and displays of beautiful plants at the local Big Box store have you thinking it is time to turn your attention to your yard. However, there is a little voice in your head reminding you, that you do not have a green thumb, and your desire and interest to garden will not last through this Saturday afternoon. If you find yourself thinking this way every spring, fear not! Perennials might be the perfect kind of plant for you. Perennial plants are plants that last more than one season. They differ from annuals, which only provide a single season of color. Lazy gardeners rejoice! Plant once and enjoy year after year. Some perennials will have a magnificent seasonal bloom time and will generally die back with the first frost. Nevertheless, they are not gone for good! The following spring watch for their tiny green little plant heads to begin peeking out through the mulch looking for that warm, spring sun. One of my favorite parts of gardening is taking a daily lap through the yard to see what is popping up! Another great reason to choose a perennial plant is variety. Here in the South, our mild winters mean there are many great perennial plants from which to choose. There is a perennial for garden interest in any season! A garden growing all year is not
plants have deeper root systems and can tolerate dry spells more than some annuals. That same deep root system will also reduce erosion and create interest when perennial ground covers are used on a slope. If you are ready to take the perennial plunge, many great and exciting options will be available at the annual:
just pretty; it is great for our pollinator and bird friends too. A garden with year-round blooms provides pollen, nectar, seeds and nesting material for birds and insects. Perennials are the garden gift that keeps on giving. Plants such as Day Lilies, Hosta, Iris and Canna Lilies, can be divided into several smaller plants every few years giving you an endless supply of plants for your landscape. If you are new to gardening or on a budget, this is a great option. I once was fortunate to receive a Hosta division from my Grandmother and that single plant has been divided nearly 20 times over the years. If easy and inexpensive has not convinced you to run right out and fill up your trunk with perennials, here are a few more reasons to shop. Perennial plants tend to be hardier and require less all over care. Well-established
Paulding County Master Gardener Plant Sale! This year’s sale will be held at the Paulding Meadows Pavilion, at Earl Duncan Park, May 4, 2019 from 8am to 1pm. Along with perennials, there will be trees, shrubs, vegetables, and annuals for sale, as well as gently used garden tools and equipment. Also onsite, dozens of smiling, Master Gardener faces, ready to help you make your purchase and answer any of your gardening questions! Proceeds from the sale fund outreach projects of Paulding County Master Gardeners including the Master Gardener Scholarship, awarded annually to a Paulding County student, demonstration gardens, gardening education for adults and youth. Christen Thomas is a Paulding County Master Gardener Extension Volunteer. These volunteers are trained experts, who answer questions about home horticulture, sustainable landscaping, and environmentally friendly gardening practices. For more information on gardening in Paulding, contact the Paulding County Cooperative Extension Office at 770-443-7616 or visit ugaextension. org/Paulding.
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