FLOWERS
Now
that spring has arrived, the thought of which flowers to choose for your garden
may come to mind. There are so many different varieties to choose from; how on
earth do you decide? I think after you have checked out whether your flowers
will be in full sun or full shade or a little of both, the first question you
must ask yourself is whether you want perennials or annuals.
What is the difference between an
Annual and a Perennial?
An
annual will perform their entire life cycle from seed to flower to seed within
a single growing season. All roots, stems and leaves of the plant die annually.
Annuals tend to bloom all season long, and are often bright and showy. Though
you will have to replant next year (or choose another plant to put in your
annual’s place), annual plants tend to be cheaper than perennials and are less
of a commitment. Some annuals are “self-seeding,” meaning you may wind up with
new flowers the following year without having to plant them yourself, though
they won’t be exactly where you planted this year. Popular annuals for the
central Alberta region include zinnias, viola, marigolds, petunias, sunflowers,
snapdragons, nasturtium, alyssum, begonia, dahlia, asters, daisy, strawflower and
impatiens.
Perennials
are plants that persist for many growing seasons; generally the top portion of
the plant dies back each winter and regrows the following spring from the same
root system. Perennials
live for three or more growing seasons. They can be planted from bulb or seed –
often bulbs must be planted in the fall to produce spring-blooming plants – or
you can purchase young plants at a nursery to plant in the spring. Perennials
generally have shorter blooming periods than annuals, so gardeners often pair
them with perennials that bloom at other times to maintain constant colour from
spring to autumn. Some cold-weather perennials include roses, peonies, tulips, mums,
yarrow, lavender, arctic fire, foxglove, echinacea, sage, hollyhocks and
daylilies. If you keep an eye out around your community, it will become
apparent which perennials do well in your region.
Gardening
Tips
Think about planting some daylilies
among your tulips in sunny areas of the garden. Emerging daylily foliage will
hide the yellowing foliage of tulips after they bloom.
Cut new edges where the garden meets the
lawn. Standing on the lawn, rake leaves from the garden. Avoid walking on the
beds until the soil has dried out some.
Avoid raking too early in the season as
emerging perennial plant tips may incur frost damage. If necessary, clean
leaves around emerging plants by hand.
Garden soil can be worked when the
ground is free of frost and sufficiently dried out. Working garden soil while
it is still wet from spring rains and melting snows can damage soil texture.
The soil is too wet to work if it forms a firm ball when you squeeze it.
Before new growth starts, cut back
ornamental grasses and other perennial plants left standing for winter interest
or those that were not cut back in fall. Cut back woody perennials, such as
Russian sage, to 12 inches in mid-April. Uproot perennial weeds, such as
dandelions, by hand. Don’t use a hoe as growing shoots below the ground may be
damaged. Remove winter mulch.
Divide summer and fall-blooming
perennials when they first start to show signs of growth in spring, ideally on
a cloudy day. Wait until fall to divide spring and summer-blooming perennials.
Use a knife or spade to help with the division. When replanting, be certain to
add organic matter to the planting hole to give the roots a healthy start.
Add perennial and grass clippings to
your compost pile. Next spring you will have fresh organic-rich compost for
your garden at no cost!
Spring-blooming perennials would make a
wonderful gift for Mother’s Day!
Kathryn Hartwell
References:
prairiegardening.org, aggie-horticulture.edu, gardengallery.com
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