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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between an annual, perennial, & biennial?2. What is my hardiness zone?
3. How many hours of sun are considered Full Sun and Part Sun?
4. How many hours of shade are considered Full Shade and Part Shade?
5. When is the best time to plant perennials - spring or fall?
6. When should you divide perennials?
7. What is the ideal soil to plant in?
8. What can I add to amend my soil?
9. What is your soil mix comprised of?
10. What is the best time to fertilize a perennial?
11. What kind of fertilizer should I use for perennials?
12. How much water do perennials need?
13. When is the best time to water?
14. Should I cut or leave faded blooms on?
15. What maintenance do perennials need in the fall?
16. What is the best way to control weeds in my garden?
17. What can I use to keep deer & animals from eating my plants?
18. What insects & diseases are common to perennials & what should I use to treat them?
19. Are there varieties of perennials that are poisonous to children or pets?
20. What are some plants that do well in shade other than hosta?
21. What are some recommended books on gardening?
1. What is the difference between an annual, perennial, & biennial?
Annuals complete their life span in one growing season and will not return again. Perennials have the longest life span, living for more than two years. They die down in winter but will rebloom again the following season. Biennials complete their life span in two growing seasons. They will usually produce leafy growth during the first year and flowers & fruit the second year. After fruiting, plants will usually die and will not return again. (back)
2. What is my hardiness zone?
Locate your hardiness zone by going to the 'How To Grow' section of our website and clicking on the icon link to the left of the page. Set up by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, consulting this map will help you find out if a plant will survive the coldest average temperatures in your area. (back)
3. How many hours of sun are considered Full Sun and Part Sun?
Full Sun means plants need at least six hours of direct sunlight. Part Sun means plants need at least three hours of direct sunlight, with shade or filtered sunlight during the remainder of the day. (back)
4. How many hours of shade are considered Full Shade and Part Shade?
There are many kinds of shade! Full Shade means plants get less than two hours of sun per day or no sun at all. Part Shade means two to four hours of direct sunlight followed by shade or filtered sunlight during the remainder of the day. Also, keep in mind that you may have certain areas in your yard that have seasonal shade, such as in the summer when deciduous trees are in full leaf. Take advantage of this by planting early blooming perennials in these areas. They will grow & finish blooming by the time the trees produce their leafy shade canopy. (back)
5. When is the best time to plant perennials - spring or fall?
Planting perennials in the fall is our suggestion. If planted by the end of September, perennials will have a chance to get well established in moderate temperatures before the cold winter months arrive. Plants planted in the fall will produce a healthy root system and reward you with a lush, colorful display the following spring. Be careful not to plant too late in the fall. Late fall plantings can cause frost heaving and possible loss of plants. Frost heaving is caused by alternate freezing & thawing temperatures which can heave or pull perennials from their planting holes in the ground. It is best to plant early in fall to avoid losing plants. Spring is also a good time to plant, however. Perennials can be planted in the spring after the danger of frost has passed. It is best to plant them in the ground as soon as possible, giving the roots a chance to become well established before the hot summer temperatures arrive. Proper watering in hot, dry weather is essential for plant health - do not allow plants to dry out! (back)
6. When should you divide perennials?
Although they will continue to rebloom every year, perennials often lose their vigor and should be divided or replaced an average of every 3-5 years. Please consult tag information or product database for recommendations on a particular perennial variety. A good rule of thumb, however, is to divide perennials when you see a decline in blooming or the center of the plant dies out. The best time of the season to divide perennials is in early spring or the fall when temperatures are more moderate. It is usually not recommended to divide or transplant established perennials during the hot summer months. (back)
7. What is the ideal soil to plant in?
Perennial varieties have different soil requirements, though almost all perennials require a well-drained soil. Many perennials need a fertile soil, although some more aggressive varieties are best planted in average to poor soil. There are perennials that require moist soil, such as Astilbe, or are drought tolerant, such as Achillea. It is best to consult the tag information or our product database for your particular perennial variety. Many
8. What can I add to amend my soil?
Mushroom compost, homemade compost (grass clippings, leaf waste, etc.), or peat moss will help aid in drainage & provide organic matter. Also, gypsum, vermiculite or coarse sand can also be added to heavy clay soils to improve drainage. It is best to add 2-3" of soil amendments. The soil and amendments should then be cultivated to a total depth of 8-10". (back)
9. What is your soil mix comprised of?
Our soil mix is comprised of peat moss, composted barks, rice hulls, and slow release fertilizers. (back)
10. What is the best time to fertilize a perennial?
The best time to fertilize perennials is in the spring after danger of frost has passed. It is not recommended to fertilize in the fall, as plants produce soft growth that can cause winter kill of perennials. (back)
11. What kind of fertilizer should I use for perennials?
It is best to use a slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote, or a water soluble fertilizer. Check product labels to ensure a fertilizer is recommended for use on perennials. (back)
12. How much water do perennials need?
Did you know that water is the main constituent of plants? Herbaceous plants contain 80 to 90% water by weight and every plant process is affected by or dependent on water. Also, 95% of the water a plant takes up through its roots will be lost through a process called transpiration. This is essentially the plant 'sweating' out the water it takes up by expending energy to convert liquid water to water vapor and then releasing it through tiny openings on the leaves. Typically, perennials require at least 1 to 1¸" of water per week from rainfall or from irrigation. Because plants will transpire more during hot temperatures, they will require additional watering. Be sure to check plants for signs of wilting, which is their natural response to insufficient water. After planting, be sure to water plants thoroughly. It is also important to water plants adequately during the first few weeks after planting while the roots are developing. Also, be careful not to over water plants, which can result in root rot and plant death. Water plants thoroughly and deeply at the crown and allow soil surface to dry before the next watering. It is best to avoid wetting leaves & flowers, which can encourage insects & diseases. Soaker hoses or drip irrigation are both effective methods of watering. (back)
13. When is the best time to water?
It is best to water plants in the morning before 11:00 AM. During hot summer months, plants will often need a second watering, which is best done in the late afternoon around 3:00 PM. It is important to allow plant foliage to dry off completely before dusk to prevent plants from becoming susceptible to insects & diseases. (back)
14. Should I cut or leave faded blooms on?
It is best to remove spent blooms as this encourages many perennials to rebloom again. By removing spent blooms, plants will no longer expend their energy setting seed. (back)
15. What maintenance do perennials need in the fall?
Generally, perennials should be cut back to a height of 1"and all foliage should be removed. A 2" winter mulch should be applied to plants after the ground freezes, usually around mid to late November. It is important not to use heavy mulch or pile mulch on the plant crown, as this can cause crown rot. It is best to use woodchips, evergreen boughs, straw, or loose mulches and to avoid using leaves or grass clippings. Winter mulches should be removed in mid to late March, allowing new plant growth to emerge. (back)
16. What is the best way to control weeds in my garden?
The answer is good old fashioned prevention and hand-weeding! Start by applying mulch or using landscape fabric, and follow it up with spot hand weeding as needed. Using herbicides can be tricky business - you must be careful using them so they do not harm children, animals or plants. (back)
17. What can I use to keep deer & animals from eating my plants?
Start by planting deer resistant perennials. These plants are most likely to be passed over by deer. And you can try Liquid Fence, which is an all-natural product that is guaranteed to repel deer & rabbits. It is safe for humans, animals, pets, plants, & vegetation. It is available at many large retailers -for more information go to www.liquidfence.com. Also available at many large retailers, you can try Deer-Off, Deer Away, or Not Tonight Deer - these are other all natural animal repellents that work on a variety of herbivores. These products deter animals by using odor & taste barriers. Good Luck! (back)
18. What insects & diseases are common to perennials & what should I use to treat them?
Slugs, aphids, whiteflies and thrips are insects common to perennials. Botrytis, powdery mildew and leaf spots are diseases that are common to perennials. Go to your local garden retailer and check the labels on chemicals to treat your specific problem. If you have children or small animals and are concerned with using chemicals or pesticides, there are some organic products available to treat various pests & diseases. Review labels carefully! (back)
19. Are there varieties of perennials that are poisonous to children or pets?
Yes - there are several and this is important to consider when developing your garden and home landscaping. For example, Digitalis (Foxglove), although very beautiful, is poisonous to pets, animals or children if ingested. There are many websites which list these plants - simply do a search on "Poisonous Plants" and you will be provided with a wealth of information about varieties of poisonous plants. (back)
20. What are some plants that do well in shade other than hosta?
Though Hosta were voted "
21. What are some recommended books on gardening?
Please see the 'Recommended Reading' section to the left of our FAQ page. (back)
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