In Brief, The Many Virtues of Perennials 

Perennials return year after year to provide countless seasons of enjoyment.  Planting perennials and taking care of them is a good way to expand your knowledge of these incredible plants, get exercise while planting and it’s a great way to meet your neighbors. If you don’t necessarily want to meet your neighbors, then plant your perennials in the back yard. If you plant the more flamboyant varieties chances are you’ll be meeting more than neighbors. Planting perennials is an excellent way to increase property value and marketability of your home. Take photos of your gardens for future reference. 

A perennial bed takes years to create. Much of the planting is by trial and error for what works well in different locations on your property. One plant might disappear from your front yard one year and reappear in your side yard the next. Some plants that you’re certain you’ve never planted might appear here and there in your garden. Once established, most varieties will grow larger and denser thereby forming an effective weed barrier.  It can also happen that some plant that you’ve had for years and years, like a bleeding heart, just might not come back. Just as we like these plants, so do those in the animal kingdom. Rodents, rabbits and moose will gladly wipe out your best plants in no time at all. It’s all part of the food chain.

Perennials represent the first signs of life in the spring when the rest of the landscape is still dull, or technically speaking, dormant  It ‘s no accident that perennials attract birds and butterflies to your yard. In the dead of winter the perennial grower can anticipate all the areas where perennials will be bursting forth with color in the spring and summer. Perennials bring stability and predictability to your yard and garden; if not a sense of history.  Perennials in South Central Alaska can be planted from May through September. Overall, perennials will provide an excellent return on the initial investment of your time and money; and perennials will cost you both, no matter how you go about acquiring them.