Planting and maintaining a perennial garden can be hard work. But with the right tips, you can create the perfect weed-less garden ready for the next season. This article talks about these nifty tricks that will teach you how to clean up a perennial garden.
Grow Rings (peony rings)
Grow rings are essential to support the upward growth of plants that usually have a weak stem. These stackable rings can prevent your plants from drooping on the ground. You can also use twine and some wooden stakes instead of Grow rings. Grow rings can also help section off your plants, this way, you can easily separate your flowers as you like. The best time to do this would be at the start of the growth or season. But if you missed it the first season, then you should just do it as soon as you can.
Tie with Twine
If you have longer perennials, then go ahead and loosely tie them together with twine. By gathering the stems together, you can increase the support each individual flower has. Various plants need extra support and you will have to find out which flowers or vegetables can benefit the most before you tie them up. Usually it is the top-heavy tall perennials like sunflowers and fox gloves that need the most support. Make sure you don’t tie them up too tightly and leave space for air. A staking system does not have to be expensive and can be done using twine and wooden stakes.
Pruning
Pruning might seem like a scary task, but once the perennials have finished blooming, they need a bit of refreshing. Giving these perennials a cut can help stimulate the growth of more flowers and make your garden neater. Depending on the type of perennial, you could even cut back to the crown of the plant. This brings out brighter and fresher leaves. Once the perennial is done blooming, it is important to do some hard pruning, so don’t be afraid to chop, chop, and chop!
Edging
A really quick and easy way to keep your garden looking fresh and clean is to clean out the edges. Edging your perennial helps your plants stay in place but also keep your garden looking polished. Although this is usually done in the beginning of the season, you can go ahead and give your edges a toss even after the season. This way even if your plants are looking a little messy, your overall garden has a touch of tidiness. Check some of our recommendations.
Deadheading
It can be painful to say goodbye to a flower you’ve taken the time to grow. But once the plant is dead and gone, you have to deadhead your perennial garden. Using a clipper, cut off any flowers that have finished blooming. This helps stimulate another bloom while keeping the plant looking clean. Make sure you know which perennials can benefit the most off deadheading before you decide to chop everything off.
Creating the perfect perennial garden doesn’t just mean selecting your favorite flowers. To keep your perennial looking clean and polished try a little staking, pruning, and edging.
