Planting Perennials| It’s all about preparation!

What is the best way to plant perennials? Well there are several things to consider. Soil type, time of the year or the season, and the type of perennial will impact how and where you plant perennials. Knowing these simple things will assist you in planting perennials correctly and allow them to thrive for seasons to come.

Most of the state of Georgia and the southeast United States has clay soil. Clay soil is very dense and needs to have amendments added to break up the density and to allow better water drainage down through the soil, also known as percolation. The best amendment to add is soil conditioner which is a ground pine bark amendment. You should mix the soil conditioner to a 1 to 1 ratio with the existing soil. You should never mix sand with clay. They are the primary ingredients to make brick. The last thing you want when planting perennials, or anything else for that matter, is to plant them in brick.

Some additional hints for bed preparation:

Double digging a perennial bed

1. When possible, till the entire bed area to a depth of 6-8” as opposed to digging each hold individually.
2. Mix the soil amendment evenly through-out the existing soil and break up any large clogs of soil.
3. “Double dig” your planting areas and create raised beds when possible. Double digging is the act of digging in the existing earth to a depth as deep as soil you add. For example, if you can till to a depth of 8” and add 8” of soil (amended with soil conditioner) on top for a raised bed, you have in fact given the plants root system 16” of amended soil to grow in and thrive!
4. Always add a top layer of mulch to your bed to keep the soil moist and cool during the summer and warm during the winter. Pine straw or bark mulch are both good options.

The time of the year is also something to consider when planting perennials. If it is during the winter, and the plant is dormant, less water and more mulch might be needed. You do not want to have your roots staying wet during the winter and more mulch will help insulate the soil temperature. Likewise, during the summer, you will want to irrigate sufficiently to keep the soil moist. Mulch the beds to insulate the roots from the heat.

And finally, knowing what type of perennial you are planting will help you in planting during the seasons. Some perennials prefer different seasons and preparation techniques for planting. If you are not sure, please send us an email under the “Ask the Experts” tab and we can assist you in the proper techniques to planting. We want to make sure planting perennials is enjoyable and that the work you put into it is rewarded with happy and healthy plants for years to come!