HARDY PERENNIALS
The definition of a hardy perennial is a plant which comes up year after year, but dies down completely in the winter to underground buds, or at most, to a ground-hugging rosette of leaves.
It is this spurt of growth they put on during the growing season that sets them apart from shrubs and trees, which may appear less changeable over the year. Also, their growth has a generally much 'softer' appearance than woody plants, with which they provide contrast. Dead stems and flowers can be cut off in the autumn, or left on to add interest to the winter garden or provide food and shelter for wildlife. In the case of slightly tender plants, such as Penstemons, this top growth should be left on until March - April, to protect the crown in cold weather.
There are very few gardens which don't have at least a few hardy perennials, even if they are making themselves useful as ground cover in a predominantly shrub border. With their huge variety in form, size, flower or leaf colour, flowering season and habitat, there are hardy perennials for nearly every garden situation. Being easier to move and often benefiting from occasional division, means thay are more mobile elements of the garden, and can give a 'new look' very quickly, and mistakes can be more easily sorted. The shrubs and trees are static (or should be, if the garden has been properly planned), whereas the perennial planting can be revamped every few years.
If you are not sure where to start, consider our border planning service. We can also extract lists of plants for a specific purpose from our database – for instance a white border that looks good in June, plants for dry shade, low growing plants for a sunny border – virtually any combination and we will try to help!
Hardy perennials can be planted virtually any time of year, but in very hot dry conditions plants may well be better off being kept in their pots in cool shade until conditions improve. If planting has to be done in very dry conditions, the best bet is to fill the planting hole with water, let this drain away, position the plant (previously well watered) into the hole, back fill soil enriched with compost, water in again really thoroughly, then rake dry soil (or gravel or bark if you already have this) over the root ball to act as a mulch.
Autumn planting is a good idea, as the soil is still warm enough to encourage root growth, yet air temperatures should not be so high as to stress the plants, days are shortening and their is often more moisture in the air. They will become nicely established before the winter and be able to perform really well the following summer. If the soil is still on the dry side, they will benefit from the planting method described above. Only a prolonged steady rainfall can be relied upon to water plants in during the summer. Planting in frosty or very wet winter weather should be avoided. Spring plantings need care – wait until the soil starts to warm up and becomes workeable, and be prepared to water well if the weather turns hot and dry.
As you will see from our catalogue, we have a good selection of hardy herbaceous perennials for a wide variety of situations. We grow most of these from seed or cuttings and many are not readily available elsewhere. Our range is still growing, and we are very lucky in being able to utilise part of the neighbouring walled garden to plant up display beds for the majority of our perennials so that you will be able to see them growing where they belong - in the open ground. We have recently planted more borders in the walled garden, where we have also added more sales areas.