Perennial Plants
People who own gardens or who hire gardeners to take care of them usually prefer to work with perennial plants. Perennial plants are plants that have a lifespan or at least two years, although most of them live longer than that. Perennial plants are the opposite of annual plants. Annual plants have a 1 year lifespan; usually dying in the winter due to the cold weather, although some die also soon after flowering or setting seeds.
Perennial plants, on the other hand, survive winters. There are many reasons for this. One of them is that they have more resistance to winter weather. Woody perennial plants are specially resistance to them, thanks to their wooden trunks. Also, some perennial plants have strong roots, and when winter comes, their seams and leaves die, but the root survives under the ground. These perennial plants grow back again when springtime comes. Finally, some perennial plants survive winters because they grown in areas where winter isn’t cold and there isn’t any snow, for example, in tropical or sub-tropical climates.
Although when it comes to being presented as individual flowers or plants, perennial plants don’t really have an advantage over annual plants, which tend to be a bit more colorful, perennial plants shine when it comes to tending and preparing big gardens that are meant to last. With the right type of perennial plants and proper tending and care, a gardener can prepare a garden that can last for several years, only replacing a few plants each year. On the other hand, gardens that are made with annuals need complete re-planting every spring, harsh winter or not.
When preparing a garden, it’s important to take into consideration several factors, not only the look of the plants, but also their resistance to the weather, humidity, sunlight time and approximate snowfall in your area. One way to do this easily is to use the United States Department of Agriculture system of hardiness zones. This system consists in a map that shows a general approximation of the expected winter conditions in a given area. Most florists and plant traders have a ranking for their products, which tell you what hardiness area they are most suited for. Although this system has its drawbacks, as it doesn’t contemplate other factors, it’s a great start. And if you just get more information from your supplier or from books or sources about the plants you’re planning to buy, then you’ll be making a much better decision.
Because of all these advantages, it’s not wonder that gardeners keep preferring them for long lasting works.
