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Designing Perennial Beds





Cheral:

I'm a relatively new perennial gardner as compared to those who subscribe
to this list.  I can understand your confusion when planning a new bed.  My
first one was small (less than 8 feet long) and I, too, planted three of
everything.  I ended up paying for that mistake by the second year!  I
failed to keep in consideration the size of my bed and the mature size of
the plants.  The first year was great; most of the plants bloomed and, boy,
did they grow!  The second year I had to divide most of the plants out and
I didn't have enough room for the transplants.  I gave away a lot of plants
-- made lots of new friends, ended up with a hole in my pocket.

My advice would be to consider the mature size of the plants you want.
Smaller plants (up to 12") look good in groups of three or more.  Larger
plants, at least in a small bed, should be used as specimen plants.  For
example, I purchased three malva 'fastiagata' plants in 3" pots the first
year.  The second year they had "matured" to a tune of 4' high and about 3'
in circumference.  Needless to say, I had to move the two of those (hence,
I now have three other perennial beds that contain plants that I purchased
that first year -- a vicious cycle!).  Also keep in mind that a lot of
plants spread in places they like.  My "moonbeam" coreopsis after three
years has grown to be about 24" in circumference (that's EACH plant and I
bought three).

The bottom line is up to you.  Do you want an immediate impact and don't
mind the dividing that you'll have to do later?  Or do you have the
patience to wait until your plants mature to make an impact -- and face a
rather scraggly first year?


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