Improving the curb appeal of your home is a top priority for any homeowner. Whether you live in a ranch-style house in Dallas, a Victorian-style home in Charlotte, or a modern style in Los Angeles, perennials can have a transformative impact. Experts at Redfin have shared their insights on which perennial plants will make your home’s curb appeal stand out, ensuring that your property looks stunning throughout the year.
Understanding Perennials: Benefits of Year-After-Year Blooms
Perennials, unlike annuals that complete their life cycle in one season, or biennials that take two seasons, return each year to beautify your garden. In addition to their longevity, perennials offer various benefits, such as reducing the need for frequent replanting, saving money, and fostering a healthy garden ecosystem.
Planning Your Perennial Garden
Creating a successful perennial garden requires thoughtful planning. Begin by understanding your climate and soil conditions, determining your hardiness zone, using tools like the USDA Web Soil Survey (WSS) for soil information, testing and improving your soil quality, and considering sun exposure. Incorporate design principles like layering plants for depth, planning for continuous bloom periods, and creating focal points and pathways. Select plants based on their requirements, prioritize native species, and choose a diverse mix of flowers, foliage, and textures for a harmonious garden.
“It is important to choose perennials not only for their flower color during the growing season but also for their winter interest. Plants that offer visual appeal during winter, such as spent flowers and seed pods, contribute to a habitat that supports wildlife like bees, butterflies, and birds. Delay cutting back perennials until late spring to provide shelter for wildlife. Utilize mulching mowers to cut back perennials and use the debris as a natural weed barrier and soil moisture conservation method.” – Michael Jesiolowski, Director of Horticulture at Rotary Botanical Gardens
Native Perennials: Supporting Wildlife from Spring to Fall
As the seasons change, your garden can become a vital resource for local wildlife. To create a thriving ecosystem from spring to autumn, focus on planting native North American perennials. These plants, adapted to the local environment, provide essential food and shelter for pollinators and insects, turning your garden into a vibrant wildlife sanctuary.
“To attract wildlife to your garden throughout the year, prioritize native North American perennials. For example, in New England, you can plant May’s Amsonia (bluestar), June’s penstemon (beardtongue), July’s Asclepias (milkweed) for monarch butterflies, and August’s eutrochium (Joe Pye Weed). These plants provide essential resources for pollinators and contribute to a rich ecosystem. Avoid using pesticides and herbicides, and leave leaf litter until spring to protect overwintering insects.” – Barb Young, The Big Little Garden
Amsonia Bluestar
Penstemon Beardtongue
