Frequently Asked Questions

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

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.

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.

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.

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)

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.