Caring for perennials

Perennials are defined as a plant that comes back every year, so they aren’t evergreen but the roots stay alive over winter, this means protecting the plant's roots is important to good plant survival because many perennials will die if their roots are unprotected from extreme cold-weather temperatures, especially after a dry autumn. In addition, roots will rot if they are planted in areas with poor drainage. Areas in which water puddles around the roots are especially detrimental to perennials.

Many people like to cut the remaining autumn growth to keep the garden tidy but you need to be careful when trimming flowering perennial shrubs. Always follow the growers instructions to avoid trimming off next years buds as there is nothing more annoying than having a plant with no flowers.

Every perennial species is different. Following growers' instructions is very important to maintaining healthy plants. Many perennials can be divided, but again you need to follow the rules for your particular plant – basic guidelines are:

Water plants to be divided thoroughly a day or two before you plan to divide them. Prepare the area that you plan to put your new divisions in before you lift the parent plant.

Prune the stems and foliage to 6 inches from the ground in order to ease division and to cut down on moisture loss. Use a sharp pointed shovel or spading fork to dig down deep on all four sides of the plant, about 4 to 6 inches away from the plant. Pry underneath with your tool and lift the whole clump to be divided. If the plant is very large and heavy, you may need to cut it into several pieces in place with your shovel before lifting it. Shake or hose off loose soil and remove dead leaves and stems. This will help loosen tangled root balls and make it easier to see what you are doing.

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