Perennials
Perennials are plants that come back every year. If cared for properly, they are a very Fab & Fru investment because they are low maintenance and you can spilt them and plant them in another area of garden. Luckily for all your chefs out there, many herbs are perennials!
The thing to remember with perennials is that they have specific bloom times and do not blossom all season long. This is important to know because you want to plan accordingly so there is always something blooming and vibrant in your garden.
Annuals
Use annuals to accent your perennial garden and ensure color in your garden all summer long. Although they will die at the first frost, it is worth buying a few annuals to make your garden special. One way to cut the costs of annuals is to make your own container, hanging planter, or window box arrangements. Nurseries and online stores sell beautiful arrangements already planted in pots, but these can get quite pricey. Have fun and save a bunch of cash by making your own container combinations.
Design Tips
- When designing window boxes, or other container arrangements, you want to play with height. Always have a vertical height interest as well as a plant that trails down over the pot. Your medium height addition should be one-third to one-half the height of the tallest plant. Having height variation will elongate your arrangement and make it more eye-catching & dramatic.
- Always consider color, contrast, texture, shape, and size.
- Mix annuals with perennials for constant color.
Fab & Fru Tricks of the Trade
- Divide-Replant-Trade! As plants grow and multiply you can divide them to plant in other parts of your garden or do a trade with a fellow gardener! This is a fabulous way to get new plants and share the wealth of your own garden with a friend.
- Dry or Freeze Herbs For Your Winter Spice Rack! To dry herbs, put them on a baking sheet and dehydrate them at the lowest possible oven temperature setting. Watch them carefully and remove them when the herbs are dry but not cooked.
- When freezing herbs make sure that they are not wet before placing them in baggies and into the icebox.
Fab & Fru Reasons to Get Off the Fence About Gardening!
- Cut down on your grocery bill by growing some of your own veggies and herbs. It’s the cheapest –and freshest – produce you can possibly buy!
- Even if you don’t have a lot of outdoor space, with a little bit of sunlight you can inexpensively grow an herb garden on your kitchen windowsill. What’s better than a constant supply of fresh basil, parsley, & oregano? Buying packs of fresh herbs at the grocery store can really add up, and because you generally don’t need to use the whole pack, they go to waste. Think of growing your own herbs as having pantry basics on hand –you can always throw together a tasty meal with the right seasonings.
- Not only is gardening convenient and practical, it is incredibly therapeutic and relaxing. Hmm…maybe you can cut down on your therapy bills too? And if you have kids, it is an educational, fun, and inexpensive activity for them as well. Lastly, it provides such a beautiful and inviting design element to any home. In short, gardening gives you a lot of bang for the buck – now that’s Fab & Fru!
** Renee Abel-Collinge is the Master Gardener and Proprietor of Botanica LLC in Madison Wisconsin. Botanica provides garden design services, installation, planting, container gardens, maintenance, and floral arrangements for special events. Contact Renee for more gardening advice and to hear about Botanica’
s services: botanicagardens@gmail.com.
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This spring I planted some perennials in containers, and I am not sure what to do before winter comes. Do I let them die and deal with them next spring, or do I pull them now?
Thanks.
Hi Virginia,
The great thing about perennials is that they go dormant during the winter and sprout back to life come spring! Container gardens do need a little extra protection for the winter since their roots are not protected as well as they would be if in the ground. I wrap my potted plants with burlap so air can still circulate and moisture can get in. Late October is the perfect time to prepare your garden for winter. Most hardware and garden stores sell burlap in rolls for about $8-$10 (you will probably need 2-3 rolls) It’s a little pricey but cheaper than buying new plants next year! Just unroll enough to cover the base of each plant and a little higher. This will help to better insulate the plant’s roots. Wrap it like a shawl around the plant and staple, tie, or tape it together so it holds secure.
In the spring time you should see new growth. At that time remove the burlap and the dead foliage and watch your plant come back to life!
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