The Weekly Gardener 1

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All Year Perennial Care

In Spring

Chamomile

Gardening tasks begin with spring cleaning, as unappealing as it may sound, and it is ideal to do this as soon as the weather permits, preferably before the plants emerge from the soil and their delicate stems require protection.

This task entails pruning the dried aerial parts left over from winter, clearing away the spent evergreen foliage, and getting rid of the surprisingly large amount of debris that gathers in a meticulously cleaned garden during the cold season.

Amend the soil as needed and add a side dressing of fertilizer to give the perennials a good start for the year.

Cut back the roses that require pruning when the forsythia is in bloom. Find additional details about this task .

After the danger of frost has passed, divide, replant and move fall blooming perennials.

divider

In Summer

Purple Coneflowers

The garden never looks prettier than it does in June, when the foliage is young, healthy and bright green and everything seems to be in bloom, but soon after the faded flowers need dead heading, the excess foliage, which the plants discard, needs to be removed from the borders, and the fight for dominance and control the plants engage in with gusto needs an intervention.

Blooming requires a lot of energy, so make sure to provide ample fertilizer and water regularly, especially the plants in containers that tend to dry out quickly.

Late summer presents a good opportunity to introduce new perennials to the garden and divide the spring and summer bloomers: the temperature is moderate, which prevents heat stress while allowing the plants time to acclimate before winter.

Finally, we must remember summer gardening is a constant battle against the weeds, which seem to grow overnight with almost magical speed.

Keep up the regular lawn maintenance for the sake of the grass and yours; as the lore says, one year's seeding is seven years' weeding.