Spring is just around the corner, and here at Bru-Mar Gardens, the anticipation for garden planning is as palpable as the first warm breeze of the season. March is a pivotal time for gardeners to lay the foundation for a garden that will flourish through the coming months and beyond. A key to achieving such vibrancy and longevity in your garden is through the thoughtful incorporation of perennials. Today, we’re excited to share how you can enhance your garden’s appeal with a selection of our favorite perennials: Hellebores, Phlox, Dicentra, and Forget Me Nots.
The Perennial Advantage
Choosing perennials means investing in the future of your garden. These plants return each year, creating a garden that not only grows in beauty but also becomes a more integrated ecosystem over time. This enduring presence makes perennials a sustainable and economical choice, providing a backdrop of color, texture, and life that annuals simply can’t match.
Highlighting March’s Perennial Stars
Hellebores: Known affectionately as the Lenten rose, Hellebores are true harbingers of spring. Their robust, early blooms offer a palette ranging from snowy whites to deep purples, all the while standing strong against the unpredictable chills of late winter. For a garden spot that’s lightly shaded, Hellebores will not disappoint, promising beauty when you most crave it.
Phlox: The quintessential spring flower, Phlox illuminates the garden with its vibrant, star-shaped blossoms and sweet fragrance. Perfect for borders or as an eye-catching ground cover, Phlox thrives in sunny spots with ample drainage, heralding the new gardening season with its myriad colors.
Dicentra: With its unique, heart-shaped flowers, Dicentra, or bleeding heart, brings an element of whimsy and sophistication to shaded areas. Its ferny foliage and graceful stems make it a standout in woodland gardens or any shaded nook, offering a charming spectacle in early spring.
Forget Me Nots: The delicate blue petals and sunny centers of Forget Me Nots symbolize the essence of spring. Ideal for filling spaces or crafting a tranquil blue underplanting, these flowers flourish in moist, partly shaded conditions, perfectly complementing both Hellebores and Dicentra.
Planting Perennials the Right Way
To ensure your perennials thrive from the start:
- Soil Prep: Enrich your garden beds with compost to enhance soil structure and fertility. Well-amended soil promotes healthy root growth and plant vitality.
- Espoma Bio-tone Starter Plus: We recommend enriching the planting holes with Espoma Bio-tone Starter Plus. This organic starter fertilizer is fortified with beneficial microbes, crucial for healthy root development and early growth.
- Water Wisely: Thorough watering upon planting is crucial to settle the soil and hydrate the roots. Maintaining consistent moisture, especially in the first year, supports strong, resilient plants.
- Mulch Matters: A layer of organic mulch around your perennials helps retain moisture, stabilize soil temperature, and suppress weeds. Plus, as the mulch breaks down, it feeds the soil, further enriching your garden’s foundation.
Wrapping Up
By choosing standout perennials like Hellebores, Phlox, Dicentra, and Forget Me Nots, and following these essential planting tips, you’re on your way to a garden that blooms with life and color season after season. At Bru-Mar Gardens, we’re dedicated to helping you achieve your gardening dreams with quality plants and expert guidance. Here’s to a flourishing garden this spring and beyond! Happy gardening!
