This week…
By Harvey Goodman
Caution: If you are the type of gardener who loves starting from scratch each year — turning over the soil, removing the weeds, tearing up last year’s growth and buying loads and loads of new plants — then this column is not intended for you.
This week I will be discussing the art of creating a perennial garden, one that comes back year after year with larger, more beautiful foliage without hour-upon-hour of constant care and the ever-present green thumb.
This column may be used as a guide for obtaining the most outstanding results.
Let’s begin with the selection of a location that provides for good drainage and sufficient sun. Soil that contains or can be supplemented to contain ample nutrients and consistency will allow air to circulate and moisture to reach the roots.
Regrettably, most of Queens and Long Island contains a soil blend that is rich in clay. Clay has the unique, undesirable characteristic of becoming extremely hard when dry, is impervious to water and contains few nutrients.
Your preparation in this gardening area will involve tilling the soil to a depth of about 12 inches and then mixing the soil with equal amounts of peat moss, mulch and sand. Even in the best of soil conditions, the soil should be tilled to a depth of 12 inches prior to planting.
Once the field has been prepared, practice traditional gardening strategies in planting the beds. Once the plants have been placed in position, cover them with about 3 to 4 inches of mulch in order to retain moisture and to discourage the growth of weeds.
Don’t try to fill in every available spot. Perennial plants tend to spread out each year; however, if you must, try planting a few annuals between the beds to satisfy your desire to keep all evidence of bare soil to a minimum.
Most gardeners suggest that massing of like plants together creates an ideal profile. At a minimum, no fewer than three plants of a single variety should be planned for one area.
When planning your planting think in terms of three distinct growing areas: background, middle ground and foreground. Taller plants are planted in the background, intermediate-sized in the middle, and finally the lower-growing plants in the foreground.
Color, both of foliage and flowers, and textures provide beauty and enchantment to the flowerbed. You can really enliven the gardening area by selecting plants that bloom at different times of the year. A wise selection will permit a continuous display of color for an extended period of time.
Another area of concern is planting in direct sun, or too close to a building where reflected heat will result in the demise of your plants. Buildings facing a southern or western exposure are notorious for reflecting light and heat on anything that comes close to them.
Access to water is also important. Wishful thinking envisions a summer where there is little need for watering-let the rain do the job. Alas, we are all too painfully aware that the garden hose will most definitely be used throughout the summer. Thus, your planting location would be a reasonable distance from the water supply.
Finally, the gardener’s prayer to end this column — always be patient. It takes time, sometimes several years, for perennials to establish their root systems and to start producing sizable top growth. It’s worth the wait.
Questions or concerns regarding gardening or plant care should be directed by e-mail to Harvey.Goodman@att.net.
