MAKE your garden sing with Perennials!!

Still can't decide what flowers to add to the garden this year? Make sure you have at least a few easy care, low maintenance perennials in your border. Let's face it, as much as we love working in the garden, there's a lot to be said for the pleasure brought by plants that are undemanding and able to perform well on their own. Yes, they do exist. You just have to be selective.


Few things delight gardeners more than awaiting the yearly return of their perennials. Perennials are distinct from annuals in that they return year after year, eliminating the need to buy new flowers every spring.

Choosing Perennials

Perennials represent a truly diverse group of plants. Choosing which to grow in your garden shouldn't be overwhelming. Use the following tips to help find the best perennials for your garden.

Choose healthy plants. For the inexperienced buyer, this may be easier said than done in the spring. Potted perennials may be showing only a little foliage, not providing much information about the health of the plant.

Look at the plant crown, the place where the shoots emerge from the soil. The emerging stems and leaves should be nicely green and showing no sign of wilting or rotting. Study the foliage and soil surface for signs of pests, which might be feeding on the crown, beneath the leaves, or fluttering up when you move the pot. If you find extensive evidence of pests, buy your plants elsewhere. Ask a sales clerk if you can look at the plant roots. Turn the pot over and slip the root ball out. The roots should fill the pot, but not be crammed into it, and they should be healthy and firm.