First timeperennialswere used by gardeners to decorate gardens as early as the 19th century. Initially, they were neglected and served only to supplement the existing plantings of trees and shrubs. Only the 20th century brought the fashion for these usually undemanding plants with a huge variety of colors and shapes of flowers and leaves. See how to useperennials in the gardenand what it looks likegrowing perennials
Perennials in the garden
Why is it worth growing perennials?
Perennialsis currently one of the most widely cultivated groups of plants and it is impossible to find a garden in which perennials would not be grown. From the botany point of view, perennials are all perennial plants that hibernate in the ground and dry up after the seed is released, creating underground buds ready for re-growth in the next season. They usually form storage organs (bulbs, tubers, thickened rhizomes) in which nutrients are collected, necessary to sufficiently nourish young shoots and leaves before they start the photosynthetic process, which gives them the energy necessary for proper development.
There are several reasons forgrowing perennialsin every garden, even the smallest:
- these are plants that easily adapt to new conditions,
- you can meet a number of species growing on both the banks of water reservoirs and dry rocky slopes,
- they usually reproduce very easily by dividing or sowing seeds,
- the vast majority of species are not attacked by pests and diseases,
- require little work to keep them in good condition,
- they are perfect companions for other groups of ornamental plants in mixed beds.
How to plant perennials in the garden?
To growperennials in the gardenno additional costs are required. It is enough to slightly improve the soil structure by adding a lot of compost or solidly digested manure to it. For species with specific soil pH requirements, it may be necessary to additionally acidify the soil with sulfur, acid peat (lowering the pH) or use dolomite to raise the pH. However, the vast majority of species will be satisfied with average garden soil and sunny position.
Whenplanting perennialsit is worth remembering that some species grow quite expansively and it is worth using metal sheet or rubber-lithium root septum in advance, dug in to a depth of about 50 cm.This will ensure that even fast-growing plants will not suppress the growth of their smaller companions too much in the beds. It is also worth remembering about the correct sizes of adult plants and when planting, keep the appropriate spacing between individual specimens.Otherwise, after a few years, the bed will become too tight, which will affect both the he alth of the cultivated plants and the decorative value of such planting.
How to choose perennials for the garden?
After Poland joined the European Union, the borders were opened and all varietal novelties grown in Europe very quickly find their way into our country's gardens. However, it should be remembered that the harsh climate of Central Europe is not the best for many more sensitive species, which die quickly during the first wintering.
Many species from milder climates can survive a few not too frosty winters to stay cold during the severe January frosts that can occur in Poland at least once a decade.
Perennial species , which can be grown in gardens without any problems, usually come from a similar climatic zone, thanks to which they are adapted to both hot summer and very cold winters. It is also worth planting decorative varieties of perennials found in our country, because these plants are perfectly adapted to the Polish climate. Then the success in their cultivation is almost certain.
When choosingperennials for the gardenit is worth using the plant encyclopedia, in which several hundred perennials are described, and the plant search available on the website allows you to choose plants that match our gardens, both in terms of growing requirements and and combinations with other plants.
Emil Gwizdała
