by Shari Brennan

Question: What types of plants return annually, deter weeds, require little fertilizer, are resistant to disease and pests, tolerant of their growing conditions and are beautiful to boot? Answer: perennials. Read on for a step-by-step guide to fill your garden with these low-maintenance residents.

Poppies come in a variety of colors and are hardy in many zones. (Photo: Shari Brennan)

Step One: Make a Design Plan
First draw out the existing landscape. Use a ruler and graph paper to draw it to scale. Include everything you don't plan to move or remove, such as your house, garage, trees, bushes and swing sets. Once you have the base plan, start your new design. Look for inspiration in your neighbors' yards or in garden magazines and books. Consider the colors, textures and plant heights you want. You can create a formal style with straight lines and symmetrical beds or a more informal look with curving lines and asymmetrical beds.

Step Two: Choose Plants
Choose your plants before you even enter a nursery. Use your final plan to decide which plants to buy--and how many you need. Consider the growing environments and make notes on each bed's lighting (shade, bright sun, partial sun) and moisture (dry, wet, normal) conditions. Next, make a list of your favorite perennials with the growing conditions they prefer. Select varieties native to your climate and growing region first, then simply match your dream list of perennials to your own climate and conditions. Place them into the design based on where you want certain heights, colors and textures. Know that perennials sometimes take multiple seasons to fill in and spread, so it's all right if it takes a few years for you to acquire all the plants in your plan.

Step Three: Prepare the Beds
Mark off the beds you've designed with a hose and start working the soil. Always make sure you amend the soil before you plant. (You can have your soil tested by your local extension office to determine what amendments may be missing.) Prepare your beds by turning over and working the soil approximately 8 to 10 inches deep, adding organic matter as needed. If you have poor soil, consider using raised beds, which can be filled with pre-packaged soil that already has the right mix of organic matter.

Bright white daisies can add interest to your garden at dusk. (Photo: Shari Brennan)

Step Four: Set a Planting Schedule
Check each specific plant for the best time to plant it. Traditionally, younger perennials are purchased and planted in the spring, after the danger of frost passes. Remove any flowers and dig a hole large enough for the root system. Water the plant thoroughly and then be patient: Perennials develop root systems first and flower later. Some, like prairie grasses and flowers, can take two to three years before they start to flower and spread. However, once perennials take off, they will choke out weeds and require little watering because of their deep root systems. Also, spring is not the only time to plant. Fall is a great time to plant perennials because they are working on their root development rather than trying to create blooms.

Step Five: Caring for Perennials
Perennials are among the easiest plants to care for. But newly planted perennials need extra care at first, so make sure they receive enough water, and remove weeds until the new plants have acclimated to your beds. (Consider adding a layer of mulch to keep weeds out.) And remember to deadhead your flowering plants to extend flowering time. You can also stake taller plants to prevent them from falling. Come winter, consider covering your perennials with a layer of mulch after the tops have died back to the ground to help insulate the root systems.

Step Six: Divide Perennials
Once your plants start to spread and fill in your beds, it is time to divide them. On average, most perennials require dividing every two to three years after becoming established. If you don't divide them, they can crowd themselves out or spread into neighboring plants. Look at the plant to decide where a good division point would be. The soil should not be too wet or dry before dividing. Once you divide the plant, either transplant it to another bed or trade or share them with neighbors and friends.

Bright white daisies can add interest to your garden at dusk. (Photo: Shari Brennan)

Six Popular Perennials

• Lavender: Famous for its attractive flowers and beautiful fragrance. Hardy in zones 5 to 9.
  
• Daisies: Blooms all summer with flowers in white, purple and yellow. Hardy in zones 4 to 9.
  
• Daylilies: Plants come in almost any size or color including yellow, red, pink or purple. Hardy in zones 3 to 9.
  
• Hostas: Do very well in shade, with new varieties being grown specifically as showy flowers. Hardy in zones 3 to 9.
  
• Poppies: Bright orange flowers. Other varieties include salmon, yellow, pink, white and purple. Hardy in zones 2 to 8.
  
• Yarrow: A traditional plant with fern-like foliage and bright yellow, pink, white, red and salmon flowers. Hardy in zones 3 to 9