Perennial flowers are a beautiful way to add color and interest to your yard, and you can choose many types of plants that will grow in your yard. You can also use some unusual planters in your yard. For instance, you can use sawn birch logs for plant holders. These have pale bark and darker markings and make an interesting addition to your garden. You can plant ornamental grass or red azaleas in them. Other interesting planters include peonies, which come in different colors such as white, pink, and red.
Daylilies
If you want a bright and colorful perennial flower bed, daylilies are a wonderful choice. They are robust plants that multiply well over time. You can plant them in mass plantings of the same color or mix them with different plants to add contrast and color to your flower bed. Daylilies are best grown in full sun, though they can also tolerate partial shade.
Daylilies should be planted in well-amended soil and planted at least 12 inches apart. You can divide a daylily every three to five years. Repeat-blooming varieties should be divided every two years. After transplanting, keep the soil moist and weed-free. Make sure to cut off dead leaves and old foliage, which can kill the plant. Daylilies are cold-hardy, so you don’t need to add winter mulch.
Daylilies come in a wide variety of colors and forms, so choose a color that works best with the background of your landscape. A variety with the same hue will blend better with existing plants, while one with contrasting hues will draw more attention. Choose a darker variety if your garden gets afternoon shade. A dwarf variety will look better in a rock garden or patio.
Catnip
A perennial catnip flower bed is an excellent choice for a flower bed. The plant is easily grown from seed and can be planted at any time of year. It requires a sunny location and well-drained soil. It should be watered occasionally to promote prolific leaf production. Plants should be spaced about 18 inches apart. Once established, catnip can be transplanted to a larger container.
To make your catnip perennial flower bed more beautiful, consider pruning the plants in the spring. Pinch back the top growth a couple of inches from the ground, but leave some of the plant’s leaves on the ground. Once the plant has completed its blooming cycle, it will return to its full height in the next growing season.
Although catnip grows best in slightly acidic or slightly alkaline soil, they will grow well in rocky, dry or poor soil. Ideally, the soil pH level should be 6.1 to 7.8. Catnip does not like waterlogged soil, so it is important to maintain adequate drainage. A good mulch will also help retain moisture in the soil.
Salvia
Salvia perennials are excellent choices for shade gardens. They have long blooming, showy flowers that are perfect for cutting. They are also resistant to deer and rabbit browse. Moreover, they are nectar-rich, so they attract a wide range of pollinators. Among them are butterflies, hummingbirds, and birds.
Once established, salvias don’t require a lot of water. However, they do look better when given a light watering once or twice a year. You can harvest the seedpods by drying the flowerheads and placing them in jars to keep the seeds. Salvias don’t require much fertilizer, and a light application of compost or balanced fertilizer will do. And they are relatively resistant to disease, so you can enjoy their beauty throughout the year.
Another salvia perennial that will add color to your flower bed is autumn sage. This perennial plant produces hot pink flowers from summer through early fall. It comes in two cultivars: Wild Thing and Raspberry Delight. The former is a more cold-hardy variety, while the latter offers deeper pink blooms. It prefers afternoon shade and attracts butterflies and bees.
Bells of Ireland
If you’re looking for perennial flower bed ideas for your home, you may want to try planting some Bells of Ireland. These plants are quite hardy and grow best in zones 3 to 8. However, they will not grow as well outside of this zone. In the winter, they will die back. You can help them by watering them frequently. Also, you should avoid planting them in humid climates or greenhouses.
Bells of Ireland can be grown by direct sowing in spring or by starting them indoors two months before the last frost. They prefer a well-drained, rich loam soil. However, they do well in average soil, as long as it has good drainage. Once you’ve finished your planting, be sure to thin the soil and remove weeds. You should also use a grow light to provide light to the seeds, which will increase the germination rate.
Bells of Ireland are known for their stiff calyxes. When fresh, bells of Ireland can last up to two weeks in a bouquet. However, once dried, they will lose their green color and turn tan. Spray painting dried bells of Ireland can give them a fun bouquet twist.
Dusty miller
Dusty miller is a great plant for a flower bed, and it’s easy to care for. Although it can grow in partial shade, it prefers full sunlight for better color and compact growth. Although dusty miller can tolerate hot temperatures, it’s best to avoid watering it during extremely hot weather. In mild climates, dusty miller can tolerate weekly watering, while it needs twice-weekly watering in hotter climates. To prevent rotting, keep the soil well-drained and make sure to leave space between plants.
Dusty miller is hardy in most climates, and it will grow well in your garden. It thrives in dry and hot environments, but it can also be susceptible to root rot in wet surroundings. To prevent this problem, keep your dusty miller plant in a well-drained soil with sparse irrigation. Also, be sure to avoid mulching around dusty miller plants, as it encourages fungal diseases.
To plant Dusty miller, you can either start seeds indoors about ten weeks before the last frost. The seeds are tiny, and they need light to germinate. Make sure to keep soil temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the seeds germinate, plant them outdoors two to three weeks before the last frost. You can also start them indoors from seed or stem cuttings. If you don’t have the space to transplant them outdoors, you can plant them in pots.
Daylily
When planning a flower bed, consider including several types of daylilies. They are very hardy and can fill in large areas. One or two daylilies will fill in the bed gradually, but three or more can make an even more dramatic impact. After planting the daylilies, make sure to mulch the area around them to maintain moisture and prevent weeds from taking over. Daylilies grow in clumps and need adequate moisture and nutrients to thrive.
Choosing a color that complements the foliage and flowers of daylilies is crucial when designing a flower bed. A combination of colors makes the bed look more cohesive. For instance, combining purple daylilies with red or white daylilies would create a colorful border. In addition, daylilies have a stunning contrast of form and texture.
When choosing a location for a daylily, consider the sun exposure of the area. They do not like shade, so try to choose a sunny area if possible. Another advantage to daylilies is that they do not need to be divided for four to five years. If they grow too big, they will lose their blooms. Moreover, daylilies do not need fertilizer, so you can easily maintain them without having to worry about replanting them.
