So what are perennials? Simply put, plants that survive the winter in the garden and return year after year are perennials! Generally speaking this category only encompasses herbaceous plants that die back to the ground and do not grow woody stems the way a shrub, tree, or rose bush do. Perennial gardening is a great way to beautify your property without having to buy and plant fresh plants every year.

June is designated as Perennial Plant Month and we are going to be focussing our next few newsletters on helpful info on how to choose, plant and grow them. Here at Rekkers, we strive to bring you the best selection of perennials possible and bring in more weekly all summer long. Our knowledgeable staff are always on hand to help you choose the right plant for your space.

You have perused the gardening magazines, scanned the amazing pics on Pinterest, and are now ready to plant your own perennial garden. Before you venture out to your favorite garden centre, its important to have some information in hand. Most garden centres who bring in or grow their own perennials will have picture tags on the pots. These tags hold information for success. Take a look at the desired spot before you buy or dig. Make a note on how the sun moves over the bed.

Here's a basic checklist to fill out before you shop for perennials:

Garden size: length____ & width____

Amount of sun:

• 4 – 6 hours
• 3 – 4 hours
• less than 3 hours
• all shade

Soil type:

• sandy
• clay
• amended/enriched

Soil moisture:

• wet
• slightly moist
• well-draining
• dry

Other things to consider are plant height, colour choices and bloom time. If you want your garden to bloom through most of the growing season, then you have to seek out plants with different bloom times. Staggering heights, bloom times, foliage textures and foliage colours can provide you with a very stunning and impactful garden.