Easy Care Perennials for Your Yard

I am not an accomplished gardener by any stretch of the imagination, but through the years I have discovered some easy-care plants that grow well for me.

I live in southern Minnesota, and the climate is one of extremes and a short growing season. Gardeners are typically advised not to plant flowers before Mother's Day and the first freeze can come any time from early September to mid-October.

Our summers are warm and humid, and winters bring many days of subzero weather alternating with temperatures above freezing creating a brutal freeze-thaw cycle.

While the plants discussed grow well here in Zone 4 on the Hardiness Zone Map (the zone in which I live), most would probably do quite well in your climate, also, unless you happen to be in a very dry area.

Perennials are definitely the way to go in my opinion. While the initial cost of perennials is higher than the cost of annuals, perennials are a better value. If you know someone who gardens, ask for plants when it's time for them to thin their perennials. They will be glad to have someone to whom they can give their divided plants. My mother-in-law has provided the majority of the perennials in my flower bed at absolutely no cost to me. After a couple of years of growth, your perennials will be ready to thin and you can spread the plant to other areas of your yard.

These are some of my favorite perennials:

CLEMATIS is a climbing plant with large dramatic flowers. It should be planted by a trellis or fence. It's fascinating to observe how the vines grow and wrap themselves around a trellis seemingly overnight. Clematis plants prefer wet feet (meaning the roots shouldn't get too dry). You wouldn't want to place clematis in sandy soil. My plants are in sunlight for only a few hours a day.

HOSTAS only flower for a short time, but their large beautiful leaves are striking all season. There are many varieties. My favorite is bluish green in color. There are also several interesting striped varieties. Hostas can grow in sun but they're a great shade plant. I planted hostas along the entire north side of my house. I divided two very large hostas I had in another spot in my yard and got enough plants to line the whole area.

Plants that grow from bulbs, such as TULIPS and DAFFODILS are the best way to extend the short growing season of my area. These flowers will come up very early if planted in a sheltered spot. Mine are planted on the south side of my garage. These "early risers" will even push through early spring snow to begin their colorful displays.

HINT: Plant tulip, daffodil or other bulbs around your hostas. By the time the early flowers are done blooming and begin to wither, the hostas will have emerged to hide the decaying stems.

PEONIES could be described as small bushes. Peony blooms are large and dramatic and emerge around Memorial Day or shortly after. They look beautiful when cut and floated in water in a rose bowl. Peonies don't bloom for long but you can enjoy the rest of the plant as a backdrop for shorter, colorful flowers.

A ROSE SHRUB is probably my favorite of all the plants I have in my yard. I've tried planting hybrid tea roses and promptly killed them all, but my rose shrub was a most pleasant surprise. It begins to bloom in early June and continues to bloom until September. The shrub loves sunlight and mine receives direct sunlight for about six hours per day. It is in a sheltered spot next to the east side my house. It does require a little attention in the form of the frequent deadheading of the numerous gorgeous blooms it produces. I cover the bud union (bump on the shrub's stem right above ground level) with dirt during the winter months to protect it from repeated freezing and thawing, but the plant is generally worry-free.

Perennials require a little patience on the gardener's part as they will generally bloom more slowly than annuals, but will bring enjoyment for years to come!