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Larry Sagers Horticultural Specialist Utah State University Extension Service Thanksgiving Point Office © All Rights Reserved
Planning Spectacular Perennial Gardens
To register for these classes, call Gretchen at (801) 768-7443 or log onto http://www.thanksgivingpoint.com/
Passionate about Perennials Tuesday June 7, 14, 21 and 28 10:00 AM -Noon with Larry Sagers and Gretchen Campbell If you love perennial gardens or the cottage garden look then you will love this class. Learn about perennial plants and how to select them according to their water and light requirements. Fee: $40.00
Basic Landscape Design Tuesday June 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2:00-4:30 PM or 6:00 -8:30 PM with Larry Sagers Whether you're designing a first-time landscape or remodeling an existing landscape, learn steps for creating a look that you will enjoy. The class covers creating focal points, entryways, how to frame your home or preserve a view and water-wise landscaping. There will be USU Extension Service Master Gardeners available for a 15-minute individual consultation on the last day of class. Fee: $40.00
Hopefully you have caught on to growing perennials. Herbaceous perennials are becoming more and more popular. New varieties, greater availability of plants from local nurseries play a part in the resurgence of perennial gardens.
The desire to include something a little different in the garden is also driving yhr perennial boom. Perennial gardens are more than just choosing certain plants. Those that are successful for the long term include proper attention to soil preparation, mulches and weed control.
Perennial gardens are real treasures if they are done correctly but they are not without peril. In my opinion, the greatest risk comes from weeds. Weeds use as much or more water than the plants themselves. Garden plants can never thrive if the weeds are stealing the water.
Perennial weds in perennial flowers are certain disasters. The worst offenders are those outlaws with their pictures on the Post Office Wall so to speak. Once planted the perennials are there to stay and taking out the problem weeds is next to impossible.
These noxious weeds include field bindweed, whitetop, quackgrass, Bermudagrass and several others. All have deep spreading taproots that are likely to go deeper and spread more aggressively than your chosen garden perennials.
If you have these weeds in the area you want to plant, get them under control before you plant. This process will usually take several seasons.
Never skimp on soil preparation. Perennial enthusiasts recommend double digging the beds where you dig the beds deeply and turn the soil over while adding insubstantial amounts of organic matter. Soil preparation is essential.
With perennials it must be done before the plants are put in the ground because unlike annuals beds you cannot till and add organic matter every year.
Mulches are also important assets in water thrifty gardens. Organic mulches improve the soil as they decompose, they help control the water robbing weeds and they cool the soil and reduce the evaporation. Be generous with the mulches as you grow your perennials and the flowers will reward you well.
After thoughtful preparations, spend some time selecting the plants. The challenge with perennial flowers is to select those that need the same conditions. Many gardeners start out to design a perennial planting but they fail because they are not well cared for.
