Perennials: General Care

Planting Tips

• When planting, dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the container the plant is in.
• Use a combination of 3/4 garden soil and 1/4 compost and add to the hole, backfilling as you plant. Amend the soil with compost such as Better Earth Organic Compost®. This will encourage root growth.
• Firmly tap the soil with your hands once the plant is in.
• Water in well after planting; thereafter water twice a week. Keep the soil moist, but not wet, until the plant is established.
• Add a 2" layer of mulch on top of the area after planting. This will further help keep the weeds at bay and keep the soil moist.
• Fertilize with a time-release fertilizer such as Osmocote. This will encourage good root development.
• Always keep the information tags that come with your plants. Keep them in a plastic bag and put them in your garden journal. You can place the tags along with a rough sketch or photos of your area to refer back to if needed.

Maintenance Tips

• Remove spent blooms to encourage new bloom growth. This will need to be done throughout the growing season as long as the plant is in bloom.
• Remove any dead, diseased or dying flowers, leaves and stems as they appear. Also remove any leaf and flower litter from around the base of the plant. If you are not sure what ails your plant, bring a sample into Hoerr Nursery for diagnosis before treating for problems.
• Check the soil at least twice per week during hot weather to determine whether or not the plants need to be watered. A good indicator is either to put your finger or a paint-stirrer into the soil about 2-3" deep. If the soil feels moist, the plant likely doesn't need water. If the soil feels dry or "almost dry", it should be watered. Once established, most perennials can withstand a bit of dried out soil between waterings.
• Newly planted perennials planted in the sun may require more water than those planted in the shade. If you are not sure about the watering requirements of your plants, refer to the tags that came with your plants, or ask one of our Horticulture staff for recommendations.
• Prune back most perennial plants in the spring by removing dead stems and foliage from the previous year. This practice protects the roots during the winter from possible winter weather-related situations that may affect the health and vigor of the plant. Do this pruning when you are doing your general spring clean-up. If you are not sure about pruning back the plants you have (when, where, how much etc), refer to our Growing Guide on Pruning or ask one of our Horticulture Staff for advice.

Roughly every three years, most perennials can be divided. If they have become over-grown, bare in the middle (resembling a 'doughnut') or are just not performing as they used to, it’s time to divide them. Certain perennials prefer to be divided at certain times in the growing season. Not all perennials should be divided the same way. If you are unsure about how to divide your perennials, refer to our Growing Guide on Dividing Perennials, or ask one of our Horticulture staff for assistance.