Annuals vs Perennials

Annuals last only one season generally, however, in some climates they will bloom year-round. Perennials return every year and cost less because you don’t have to buy them again. Many can be divided every year based on the plant and soil properties. Other plants are still great candidates for division, just less frequently.

You can easily double the number of plants in your garden once they are established, and this also saves lots of money.

Size does matter. When purchasing plants, a smaller container costs less and is frequently the same size plant that you would get in a larger more expensive container.

My advice is to shop when the plants first become available. That way, you have a better chance of getting larger plants in smaller pots, and sometimes you can find two plants in a smaller or larger pot.

Plus, earlier shopping means you have a better selection to choose from.

Most of my plants are perennials, and the majority of them can be divided every year after they are established in the garden. But, I must admit that I am blessed with wonderful soil so your experience may be different than mine.

My favorites are Hostas, Daylilies and Liriope.

Hostas

There are many different types, sizes and colors. Originally, hostas were all some shade of green, but now there are also blue shades which require full shade and golden hostas which will tolerate some sun.

The smaller hostas can be divided frequently either in fall or spring. In my experience the larger varieties don’t multiply as quickly as the smaller sizes. Too much sun will burn hosta leaves, and you have to watch for snails, slugs and deer because they will eat your hostas. There are different products and home remedies that protect your hostas from pests.

I don’t have a deer problem so I prefer Slug Bait. And believe it or not, hostas can survive in pots over the winter if you place your pots under a covered area. Just make sure they get water or they will die.

Daylilies

Daylilies come in many different colors and will do well in full sun. They generally bloom only once a year. However, the Stella D’Oro blooms twice, but the second bloom is much smaller. In my garden, they are also the first daylilies of the year to bloom. I literally dead head over 200 blooms a day during their peak season. Removing the dead flowers keeps your plants looking fresh and healthy.

Most of my daylilies have been purchased from Walmart. I’m not endorsing Walmart, but you can buy them for much less than Lowes and most Nurseries. However, shoppers may find more varieties at a retail nursery or online.

I buy most of my daylilies in early spring when they come in packages instead of pots and typically have 2 or 3 roots in each package. The downside of purchasing them in packages, is that when they bloom, the flowers don’t always look like the picture on the bag.

They are usually less vibrant than the picture. And on occasion, they don’t look anything like the picture on the package. But otherwise, I’ve had really good luck purchasing my day lilies there.

Like everything else, every year you may get fewer roots for more money. If you wait to purchase daylilies when they are blooming you know what color you’re actually getting, but it will cost you quite a bit more.

Daylilies can be cut back once they have bloomed and you will get a fresh-looking plant, although it does not rebloom.

Liriope

Some people call it monkey grass. It can be solid green or variegated. The solid green plants spread year-round, giving you lots of new plants each year. The variegated type does not propagate as well as the solid green ones and the foliage burns easily if it gets too much sun.

However, it can provide interest in the shade garden with the lighter foliage and the clumps gradually increase in size.

Both types have purple spikes of flowers in late summer. I started out with maybe 10 or so plants, and now I have them bordering most of my flowerbeds.

You can cut them back in the fall or the spring and you will get new, fresh growth. Since 90 percent of my plants are perennials, I like to have something green in the garden during the winter season so I wait until Spring to cut them back.

Ann Houston is a Barry County Master Gardener and may be reached at stakes.houston@gmail.com.