Best Practices for Planting Perennials in Early Spring

Perennials that flower in late summer or early fall are generally planted in the spring, while spring and early summer flowering perennials are generally planted in the fall. We ship bare root perennials during both seasons. Here are some tips for planting your new plants to give them the best chance of a long life.

What Are Perennials?

Perennial plants are herbaceous plants that may die back to the ground, but the crown and roots remain to grow again in the spring. They will live more than two years, and many live decades if cared for properly. They are called perennial plants because they only have to be planted once to last, as opposed to annuals that must be replanted every year.

Advantages And Disadvantages of Bare Root Plants

Our perennials are shipped bare root, meaning just the crown and roots of the plant with no soil attached. Bare root plants are easily shipped, making it possible to obtain good plants from online or mail order nurseries such as ours. Some rare plants can only be obtained as bare root plants. In addition, bare root plants are the most economical way to purchase large quantities of plants. You can purchase large quantities of plants such as the cardinal plant economically for erosion control or butterfly weed to landscape a housing development.

However, bare root plants must be planted promptly and before growth begins in the spring. They also tend to be smaller than container grown plants when you receive them. Bare root plants catch up to container grown plants when they are mature.

Preparing Your Gardening Area To Plant

Before you get your perennials through the mail or at a nursery, it is a good idea to prepare the place in your garden where you plan to put them. If you have not done a soil test in the last 2-3 years, it is a good idea to do one now. When you receive the results, fertilize the area the way the report recommends.

Preparing Your Bare Root Perennials For Transplant

As soon as you receive your plants, unpack them. The packing material should be damp, but not soggy. The buds and growth tips should be green and firm. Plan to plant your new perennials as soon as possible after you receive them.

If you cannot plant the perennials within a day or two, store them with the packing material around them in an area that is no more than 40 degrees so they will not break dormancy. Keep the packing material moist. Don’t let the plants freeze.

Soak the bare roots in water for 30-60 minutes right before planting. Prune off broken or damaged roots.

Planting Best Practices

After the roots have soaked, you are ready to plant your perennial.

Dig a hole that is two to two and a half times the diameter of the plant roots. Dig the hole about six inches deeper than the roots.

Place a cone of soil in the bottom of the hole.

The crown should rest on the top of the cone, with the roots spread out fully around it.

Back fill the hole with the soil that came out of it.

Do not put fertilizer in the hole as it will burn the roots.

If the instructions that came with the plant specify the depth to bury the crown, follow them. If the crown depth is not specified, bury it just below the surface of the soil.

Make a soil ring about three inches high just outside of the hole you dug. This will hold water so it will soak in instead of running off.

Water the newly planted perennial in.

If you are planting a large number of plants, take care to keep them in a container in the shade and plant in batches. Do not let the roots dry out while they wait to be planted. Do not soak them longer than the recommended time, either. Both conditions will reduce the survival rate of your plants.

After Care For Newly Planted Perennials

You will need to water your new plants every day for the first two weeks. After that, gradually extend the time between watering until you water once a week in cool climates and twice a week when it is hot. Each time you water, fill the ring of earth around the plant with water and let it soak in. Deep watering promotes deep roots, allowing the plant to survive with less supplemental watering. Deep roots also reduce the likelihood of a plant falling over because of wind or rain.

When your plant is four inches tall, mulch around it. Make a donut of mulch with a space between the plant and the mulch of 2-3 inches, then mulch three inches deep from that point to the soil ring. Mulch will help keep dampness and keep weeds from competing with your plants for sunlight, food, and water.

Do not fertilize the plant for at least four weeks after planting. The root hairs will be very tender at first. Fertilizer can easily damage the root hairs and stunt or kill the plant.

Most perennial bare root plants are shipped as one year old plants. Most perennials, such as purple coneflower and black-eyed susan, become established one year after being planted, but some don’t really take off until the third year. You should expect flowering plants to bloom by the third year after they have been planted. Many begin flowering sooner. Berry and fruit producing perennials may not start to produce fruit until they are at least 3-4 years old. Be patient and you will be rewarded with healthy, productive plants.

We Can Help

At TN Nursery, we can help you find a perennial for practically any spot in your landscape. Give us a call at 931.692.7325 for questions and to order new plants.