A perennial flower garden can provide many years of beauty and enjoyment. Careful selection of plants and planning can result in a full season of color. Perennials often require less maintenance than some annual flowers. Once established, they generally require less water than annuals and often have fewer pest problems. And most importantly, gardening designs is an individual thing and no two gardeners are going to agree on what makes a great garden design.

Maintenance during the growing season consists of periodic weeding, removal of spent blossoms (deadheading), staking if necessary, and insect and disease control. Depending on species, early spring or fall maintenance consists of trimming and removing old leaves and stems. After three to five growing seasons, some perennials may need to be divided to prevent overcrowding.

By definition - perennials are considered to be ornamental plants that do not die after one season. This does not mean they live forever. Some perennials are considered to be short-lived, lasting only 2-3 years and not all perennial plants are hardy in all areas. If a plant is considered a tender perennial in your zone, whether it survives next year depends on the winter conditions. Knowing your garden zone allows you to determine what plants will best survive in your area, unless you are the adventuresome type, like Tony Avent, plant explorer and owner of Plant Delights Nursery Inc - I consider every plant hardy until I have killed it myself ... at least three times.

Basic Gardening Tips

• Compost is the best organic fertilizer to enliven your soil. It contains virtually all the nutrients a living plant needs, and delivers them in a slow-release manner over a period of years. Adding compost to your garden is a long-term investment, helping to feed plantings for years. Synthetic fertilizers can actually destroy the beneficial organisms and organic matter within soil and only provide a short fix.
• Group plants by their requirements, sun, shade, water, high maintenance, etc. You can still mix in different bloom times and variations in color, form and texture.
• Make low maintenance perennials the backbone of your garden.
• Raised beds and containers garden are much easier to control. Beds raised up by 6 inches or more will require less fertilizer and water; are easier to maintain; promote better plant and root growth; keep weeds from your garden; prevent soil compaction; provide good drainage; and you will be saving your back.
• Reduce watering, weeding and fertilizing requirements with mulch.