There’s something about the feeling of waiting to see your perennials bloom every year.
It’s like Christmas with warm weather and yet there are those who also like the look of a brown, blank canvas of soil.
It’s a question many ask themselves every spring, perennials or annuals? That’s an even tougher question if you live in the dry climate of Alberta. Growing anything can be difficult here unless you have the right know how and a little help from your local greenhouse.
“There are a number of perennials that do really well here in Alberta, you just have to know what to look for,” said Craig Belway of Anything Grows Garden Centre.
No matter what your needs, Belway says they’ve just what you’re looking for and even a few things you didn’t know you needed.
If you’re into perennial flowers, while the name might seem a little violent, Bleeding Hearts are a good option for the avid gardener.
Or if you’re looking for something to bring a little green back to your soil, Hostas would do the trick.
“Bleeding Hearts are really popular right now, we’ve got one called Valentine that everyone has really liked, but it really depends on what you like,” said Belway.
But if you like the challenge and enjoy changing up your garden for a new look every year, there are options out there.
No matter if you enjoy the yearly challenge or just want to anticipate the first bloom of the season, it’s important to plan out your garden properly.
Things to remember:
• If you chose perennials, plan your garden and stager the planting time, because there is a shorter period of flowering for these types of flowers and it’ll give you more to look at throughout the year if you stagger your planting.
• If you choose annuals, make sure you read the little cards that come with them and plant where they will have the best chance of survival for the short summer months.
• Plan out what type of soil you will use. Look for something with organic materials like peat moss.
• And lastly, consult a landscaping company if you have any questions on where the best placement would be and they will be able to help with specifics.
No matter what you chose to do this spring, always make sure to have fun and try a few different things if you’re unsure.
