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1. What is the difference between an annual, perennial, & biennial?
2. What is my hardiness zone?
4. How many hours of sun are considered Full Sun and Part Sun?
5. How many hours of shade are considered Full Shade and Part Shade?
6. When is the best time to plant perennials - spring or fall?
7. When should you divide perennials?
8. What is the ideal soil to plant in?
9. What can I add to amend my soil?
10. What is your soil mix comprised of?
11. What is the best time to fertilize a perennial?
12. What kind of fertilizer should I use for perennials?
13. How much water do perennials need?
14. When is the best time to water?
15. Should I cut or leave faded blooms on?
16. What maintenance do perennials need in the fall?
17. What is the best way to control weeds in my garden?
18. What can I use to keep deer & animals from eating my plants?
19. What insects & diseases are common to perennials & what should I use to treat them?
20. Are there varieties of perennials that are poisonous to children or pets?
21. What are some plants that do well in shade other than hosta?
22. What are some recommended books on gardening?
23. Where can I buy your perennials in my local area?
24. Do you sell retail?
25. Do you sell wholesale to independents?
26. What varieties and sizes of perennials do you carry?
27. I'm interested in themed gardens - Butterfly, Hummingbird, Native, etc.
What perennials can you recommend that will work best in these gardens?
1. What is the difference between an annual, perennial, & biennial?
Annuals
complete their life span in one growing season and will not return
again. Perennials have the longest life span, living for more than
two years. They die down in winter but will rebloom again the
following season. Biennials complete their life span in two growing
seasons. They will usually produce leafy growth during the first
year and flowers & fruit the second year. After fruiting, plants
will usually die and will not return again. (back)
2. What is my hardiness zone?
Locate
your hardiness zone by going to the 'How To Grow' section of our
website and clicking on the icon link to the left of the page. Set
up by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, consulting this map will
help you find out if a plant will survive the coldest average
temperatures in your area. (back)
4. How many hours of sun are considered Full Sun and Part Sun?
Full
Sun means plants need at least six hours of direct sunlight. Part
Sun means plants need at least three hours of direct sunlight, with
shade or filtered sunlight during the remainder of the
day.
(back)
5. How many hours of shade are considered Full Shade and Part Shade?
There
are many kinds of shade! Full Shade means plants get less than two
hours of sun per day or no sun at all. Part Shade means two to four
hours of direct sunlight followed by shade or filtered sunlight
during the remainder of the day. Also, keep in mind that you may
have certain areas in your yard that have seasonal shade, such as in
the summer when deciduous trees are in full leaf. Take advantage of
this by planting early blooming perennials in these areas. They will
grow & finish blooming by the time the trees produce their leafy
shade canopy. (back)
6. When is the best time to plant perennials - spring or fall?
Planting
perennials in the fall is our suggestion. If planted by the end of
September, perennials will have a chance to get well established in
moderate temperatures before the cold winter months arrive. Plants
planted in the fall will produce a healthy root system and reward
you with a lush, colorful display the following spring. Be careful
not to plant too late in the fall. Late fall plantings can cause
frost heaving and possible loss of plants. Frost heaving is caused
by alternate freezing & thawing temperatures which can heave or
pull perennials from their planting holes in the ground. It is best
to plant early in fall to avoid losing plants. Spring is also a good
time to plant, however. Perennials can be planted in the spring
after the danger of frost has passed. It is best to plant them in
the ground as soon as possible, giving the roots a chance to become
well established before the hot summer temperatures arrive. Proper
watering in hot, dry weather is essential for plant health - do not
allow plants to dry out! (back)
7. When should you divide perennials?
Although
they will continue to rebloom every year, perennials often lose
their vigor and should be divided or replaced an average of every
3-5 years. Please consult tag information or product database for
recommendations on a particular perennial variety. A good rule of
thumb, however, is to divide perennials when you see a decline in
blooming or the center of the plant dies out. The best time of the
season to divide perennials is in early spring or the fall when
temperatures are more moderate. It is usually not recommended to
divide or transplant established perennials during the hot summer
months.
(back)
8. What is the ideal soil to plant in?
Perennial
varieties have different soil requirements, though almost all
perennials require a well-drained soil. Many perennials need a
fertile soil, although some more aggressive varieties are best
planted in average to poor soil. There are perennials that require
moist soil, such as Astilbe, or are drought tolerant, such as
Achillea. It is best to consult the tag information or our product
database for your particular perennial variety. Many
Midwest soils are
clay-based, which means you must add soil amendments and organic
matter to improve drainage. You can purchase a soil testing kit at
your local garden retailer that will help you determine what kind of
soil you have. A pH of 6.0 to 6.5 is ideal for most
perennials.
(back)
9. What can I add to amend my soil?
Mushroom
compost, homemade compost (grass clippings, leaf waste, etc.), or
peat moss will help aid in drainage & provide organic matter.
Also, gypsum, vermiculite or coarse sand can also be added to heavy
clay soils to improve drainage. It is best to add 2-3" of soil
amendments. The soil and amendments should then be cultivated to a
total depth of 8-10".
(back)
10. What is your soil mix comprised of?
Our
soil mix is comprised of peat moss, composted barks, rice hulls, and
slow release fertilizers. (back)
11. What is the best time to fertilize a perennial?
The
best time to fertilize perennials is in the spring after danger of
frost has passed. It is not recommended to fertilize in the fall, as
plants produce soft growth that can cause winter kill of
perennials. (back)
12. What kind of fertilizer should I use for perennials?
It
is best to use a slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote, or a
water soluble fertilizer. Check product labels to ensure a
fertilizer is recommended for use on perennials. (back)
13. How much water do perennials need?
Did
you know that water is the main constituent of plants? Herbaceous
plants contain 80 to 90% water by weight and every plant process is
affected by or dependent on water. Also, 95% of the water a plant
takes up through its roots will be lost through a process called
transpiration. This is essentially the plant 'sweating' out the
water it takes up by expending energy to convert liquid water to
water vapor and then releasing it through tiny openings on the
leaves. Typically, perennials require at least 1 to 1¸" of water per
week from rainfall or from irrigation. Because plants will transpire
more during hot temperatures, they will require additional watering.
Be sure to check plants for signs of wilting, which is their natural
response to insufficient water. After planting, be sure to water
plants thoroughly. It is also important to water plants adequately
during the first few weeks after planting while the roots are
developing. Also, be careful not to over water plants, which can
result in root rot and plant death. Water plants thoroughly and
deeply at the crown and allow soil surface to dry before the next
watering. It is best to avoid wetting leaves & flowers, which
can encourage insects & diseases. Soaker hoses or drip
irrigation are both effective methods of watering. (back)
14. When is the best time to water?
It
is best to water plants in the morning before 11:00 AM. During hot
summer months, plants will often need a second watering, which is
best done in the late afternoon around 3:00 PM. It is important to
allow plant foliage to dry off completely before dusk to prevent
plants from becoming susceptible to insects &
diseases. (back)
15. Should I cut or leave faded blooms on?
It
is best to remove spent blooms as this encourages many perennials to
rebloom again. By removing spent blooms, plants will no longer
expend their energy setting seed. (back)
16. What maintenance do perennials need in the fall?
Generally,
perennials should be cut back to a height of 1"and all foliage
should be removed. A 2"
winter mulch should be applied to plants after the ground freezes,
usually around mid to late November. It is important not to use
heavy mulch or pile mulch on the plant crown, as this can cause
crown rot. It is best to use woodchips, evergreen boughs, straw, or
loose mulches and to avoid using leaves or grass clippings. Winter
mulches should be removed in mid to late March, allowing new plant
growth to emerge. (back)
17. What is the best way to control weeds in my garden?
The
answer is good old fashioned prevention and hand-weeding! Start by
applying mulch or using landscape fabric, and follow it up with spot
hand weeding as needed. Using herbicides can be tricky business -
you must be careful using them so they do not harm children, animals
or plants. (back)
18. What can I use to keep deer & animals from eating my plants?
Start
by planting deer resistant perennials. Look for the Deer Resistant
icon on our labels.
These plants are most
likely to be passed over by deer. And you can try Liquid
Fence, which is an all-natural product that is guaranteed to repel
deer & rabbits. It is safe for humans, animals, pets, plants,
& vegetation. It is available at many large retailers -for more
information go to www.liquidfence.com. Also available at many large
retailers, you can try Deer-Off, Deer Away, or Not Tonight Deer -
these are other all natural animal repellents that work on a variety
of herbivores. These products deter animals by using odor &
taste barriers. Good Luck! (back)
19. What insects & diseases are common to perennials & what should I use to treat them?
Slugs,
aphids, whiteflies and thrips are insects common to perennials.
Botrytis, powdery mildew and leaf spots are diseases that are common
to perennials. Go to your local garden retailer and check the labels
on chemicals to treat your specific problem. If you have children or
small animals and are concerned with using chemicals or pesticides,
there are some organic products available to treat various pests
& diseases. Review labels carefully! (back)
20. Are there varieties of perennials that are poisonous to children or pets?
Yes
- there are several and this is important to consider when
developing your garden and home landscaping. For example, Digitalis
(Foxglove), although very beautiful, is poisonous to pets, animals
or children if ingested. There are many websites which list these
plants - simply do a search on "Poisonous Plants" and you will be
provided with a wealth of information about varieties of poisonous
plants. (back)
21. What are some plants that do well in shade other than hosta?
Though
Hosta were voted "
America's Favorite
Perennial", there are many plants that do well in shade and provide
interesting color & texture: Ajuga, Astilbe, Athyrium,
Convallaria, Dicentra, Dryopteris, Galium, Lamium, Pulmonaria,
Tiarella & Viola to name a few! To search for a listing of shade
plants, go to our 'Products' section, type 'Shade' in the 'Search for' box, and 'in the following category'
select 'Exposure' from the pull down menu and press "Search for Products' button.
You will then be provided with a complete list of all shade plants
in our product line. (back)
22. What are some recommended books on gardening?
Please
see the 'Recommended Reading' section to the left of our FAQ
page. (back)
23. Where can I buy your perennials in my local area?
At
your local Home Depot stores - see 'Where to Buy' section for our
on-line store locator service and enter your zip code to find a
store nearest you. (back)
24. Do you sell retail?
No,
we only sell wholesale at the present time. (back)
25. Do you sell wholesale to independents?
No,
our inventory is currently sold out. (back)
26. What varieties and sizes of perennials do you carry?
We
carry over 800 varieties of perennials in quart (starter), 6 pack, 1
gallon (#1), 2 gallon (#2) and 3 gallon (#3) sizes. For a complete
listing of all the varieties we carry, please go to our 'Products'
section and click on the link to the left to 'See our complete
product line'. Not all varieties are available in all sizes. Also,
as perennials have different bloom times, not all varieties are
available at all times. Please use the 'Contact Us' section if you
have a question on a particular plant variety. (back)
27. I'm interested in themed gardens - Butterfly, Hummingbird, Native, etc. What perennials can you recommend that will work best in these gardens?
You
can get a complete listing of these by going to our 'Products' page
and clicking on the underlined categories such as 'Butterfly'. You
will then be provided with a complete listing of all varieties we
carry that are Butterfly Attractants. There are several search
categories available: Butterfly, Hummingbird, Native, Deer
Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Shrubs, Vines and
Groundcover. You can also search by Exposure (Sun or Shade), Bloom
Time, Bloom Color, Hardiness, and a few others! (back)
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