Premium Perennial plants
Perennial plants give you a large selection of colour options and you can look forward to their return every year.Perennials have many uses in the garden, and since most of our perennials are offspring of our native wildflowers they are quite hardy here. There are perennials for almost every garden situation. Introduce some hardy beauty to your yard or beds.
Perennials are non-woody plants that live longer than two years.
They generally bloom once a year, for anywhere from a day to more than a month. Most perennials die back to their roots in the fall, although some varieties will remain green throughout the winter. Some perennials, such as hollyhock and delphinium have a short lifespan, and may live for only four or five years. Other perennial plants such as aster and peony can last for decades with little attention. Perennial plants give you a large selection of colour options and you can look forward to their return every year. They are also considerably easier to move than most shrubs. Do not expect your perennials to flower the first year you plant them. It usually takes these plants a full season to become well established and they will flower the second year.
With the crazy weather patterns we have experienced over the past couple of years, plants that can withstand our ever-changing climate are very appealing. Perennials such as hosta and bleeding hearts (Dicentra) are excellent in the shade while salvias and sedums enjoy the sun. We will have new varieties available to expand your collection as well. Come into the perennial area and you'll find a unique display of shade tolerant plants to give you some great options for those shady spots. We will have additional perennial displays where you can see sun loving plants, low growers and plants that are in bloom.
Try planting smaller varieties in clusters, but larger perennials should be planted on their own. Once perennials are established, they need very little maintenance. Remove debris from the area in the spring, water when needed, and fertilize in spring and early summer. In the fall, tall plants can be cut down to 18-24 Inches (45-60 cm) or left throughout the winter. They will trap dry leaves and snow, which helps to insulate the roots over the winter.
greengate Garden Centres is pleased to offer Heritage Perennials. Look for distinct blue pots by Valleybrook Gardens, a Canadian family-owned nursery. One of North America's largest wholesale producers of herbaceous perennials, Valleybrook Gardens grow millions of plants annually at two facilities: Abbotsford, British Columbia and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
Perennials are a hardy and attractive addition to any yard. They require little work, and come back every year bigger and better. Consult our knowledgeable greengate Garden Centres staff for recommendations and helpful advice.
Perennial vines will come back again season after season, unlike tender annual vines. These hardy vines flower on old or new wood and provide excellent privacy or decoration when grown up a trellis or a wall.
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Keep in mind that plants like Hops, Grapes, Virginia Creeper, Honey Suckle, and Clematis are perennials.
Consider using them in your garden to add vertical interest!
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Know your garden. It's important to plant perennials in a location they will thrive.
Watch the light and how it moves through your garden or yard. Take note of which areas get more sun or shade throughout the day. There is a perennial for just about every situation. If you have a sunny area plant sun lovers, shady areas get shade plants… For areas that can be both, don't be afraid to experiment!
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When purchasing a perennial always remember that essentially you are buying a root.
Some plants look just great, flowering and everything, but some will look a little disheveled because they have finished flowering. Don't let this deter you. If the root is good then the plant is good no matter how much of the leaves showing or the overall look of the plant. If you are looking for just buy and plant it. Next year it will show you what it really is.
Clematis
These hardy perennial vines are known for their profusion of colourful flowers. Due to the differences in pruning requirements for various clematis they are classified into three major pruning groups for maintenance. Group A or 1 – These clematis flower only on the previous year's growth. When blooming is finished in June, prune off dead or weak stems.
Group B or 2 – These clematis bloom on previous year's growth, often in early summer and again in late summer. Unfortunately, they are not hardy enough here for the summer's growth to survive the winter - they die back to almost ground level, so they rarely bloom here. They are a challenge.
Group C or 3 – These clematis flower only on the current years growth. They are the most commonly grown, as they flower most of the summer, with little care.
Clematis need varying amounts of sun for healthy growth. Some need full sun, while others can tolerate almost total shade. Read labels or ask questions before making a choice.
Note: Clematis should be planted approximately six inches deeper than they are in the pot.
Dividing Perennials
If the flower quality and quantity drop in your mature perennials this may be a sign of overcrowding and they may need dividing.Some simply outgrow the place they are in; other plants, as they grow, can create too much shade for sun loving perennials. Many perennials form clumps of stems. These stems are actually individual plants with their own root systems. Some perennials cannot be divided if they grow from one central stalk. Early blooming perennials should be divided in early fall. When all the leaves have fallen, gently dig up the plant and separate the roots of the individual clumps to be removed. Replant the removed plants in an appropriate place in the garden. Later flowering perennials should be divided in the same way in the spring, as soon as they are showing growth.
Perennial Maintenance
Routine feeding and watering will generally be enough to satisfy the nutritional needs of perennial plants through their growing season.Remove spent flowers on perennial plants or deadhead to encourage flower production. Prune back and mulch for extra protection in the fall. Remove this mulch in the spring. If you do not wish to mulch, leave foliage on plants, as leaves will collect snow for insulation and moisture during the winter. Prune away the dead foliage in the spring.