Kathy’s Home & Garden Tips – Keep Perennials Healthy and Growing

Perennials are often forgotten in the landscape, although they still seem to carry on year after year. But if you give them a little extra care, they will reward you with more numerous, bigger blooms and more attractive plants.

Soil is the first thing to consider. Some people are blessed with good, rich soil but I’m not one of them. A good all-purpose fertilizer will benefit all perennials. Many perennials, like azaleas, are acid loving. Unfortunately, most soil does not have much acid. Miracle Grow makes a fertilizer called Miracid which is very good for many perennials and evergreens too. Make sure to read the directions carefully, as you can over fertilize! Sometimes too much of a good thing is bad. It can burn the plants, especially during summer heat.

Pruning is a good way to keep plants healthy and productive. Perennials that bloom need to be dead headed regularly. Removing spent blooms will encourage more blooming. Prune dead or non-producing branches. Be prudent, less is often more. Prune large bushes to keep their size and shape. Here again, less is more. Some overgrown plants will need to be done in stages. Take off a few inches every two weeks or so. Some plants will benefit from a complete cut down. Check online before you take such a drastic step. I’ve done this with clematis and climbing roses and it worked well.

Many perennials, like hostas, benefit from dividing. This will give you many plants from just a few and will prevent overgrowth. Water the plant well two days before dividing. Take a spade and make shallow cuts 8 inches around the plant. Lift the entire plant, root ball and all. If the plant is smaller with 6-10 stems, divide in half. Larger ones can be quartered. Gently tease the roots apart and cut through with a sharp knife. Place in holes that are slightly more shallow and two inches bigger around. Fill with good topsoil augmented with root developer. Water daily for a week until plants are established. This works well with all bushy, blooming perennials like Daylilies. Divide fall bloomers in spring and summer bloomers in fall.

KATHY WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO