In the south, good gardeners are known for their perennial gardens. Lantana, jasmine, peonies, and hosta just to name a few. We are also fortunate to have several options in purchasing perennials.
You can choose from container-grown perennials at your local nursery - a very convenient method, as it allows for planting whenever you wish, granted you aren't under a water ban. It is also a great help to purchase plants in bloom, so you'll know exactly what you are getting.
To plant a container perennial, first water the ground thoroughly. Dig a hole 1 ½ - 2 times larger than the pot. Next, add well-rotted compost to the hole to encourage new plant growth. Lay the pot on its side and tap
it lightly.
The rootball should come loose easily, but if it does not, you can loosen the edges with a knife. Remove any circling roots, and set the whole rootball in the hole with its top at or slightly below the soil surface. Water again, and add a little fertilizer if desired.
The second option is to order special, hard-to-find varieties and cultivars from growers. They will ship at the proper time in fall or early spring for planting, usually sending the semi-dormant roots of herbaceous perennials. Always be sure to read the grower's planting directions carefully. They are normally a great source of information.
Another possibility is to plant from seeds, which can be obtained both at a nursery and through mail order catalogs. You can also collect seeds from your own garden.
However, remember many perennials do not grow "true" from seed and, the plant you grow might not resemble the parent. Seeds from catalogs are usually planted in spring, while seeds from your own plants go into the ground toward the end of summer, when they would naturally plant themselves.
As many avid perennial gardeners do, you may decide to raise perennials from seed in a cold frame to protect them from a late season frost. After they are well-developed, sometimes requiring several months, they can be transplanted into the garden.
For more information on perennials, check out the UGA Extension Publication, Flowering Perennials for Georgia Gardens.
Billy Skaggs
Agricultural Agent
Hall County Extension Coordinator
734 East Crescent Drive
Gainesville, GA 30501
Phone:(770)531-6988
Fax: (770)531-3994
Email: [email protected]
Tuesday
August 5th, 2025
10:33PM
