Perennial Planting Guide: From Bed Prep to Post-Planting Care

Preparation

The hardest part is prep. Transfer your design to the bed. Know each plant's mature size (check tags or research). Arrange plants with correct spacing; let pots sit a few days to view from all angles.

Best Time to Plant

Cold climates: late spring/early summer for full season before winter. Mild regions: fall (moist, cool, no freeze). Wet/dry climates: start of rainy season.

Mulch

New beds need mulch for moisture and weed control. Mulch after planting for large plants; before for small/bare-root. Quality mulch needn't be expensive—many municipalities offer free composted yard waste. Read more about mulching.

Perennial Storage

• ≤1 week: Shade/sun plants in shade, air circulation, water when dry.
• >1 week: Shade plants as above; sun plants need 4+ hours sun daily.

Start Digging

Hole no deeper than root ball, few inches wider. Remove rocks. For bare-root, form a mound to spread roots.

Choosing Planting Tools

• Digging/round-point spade: Sharp bed edges, large holes.
• Short-handle shovel: Small holes, easy on knees.
• Transplanting spade: Narrow blade for existing beds.
• Hand trowel/hoe: Small pots, loose soil.

Pots, Roots, and Crowns

Water before planting. Remove from pot by inverting, tapping, or rolling. Loosen pot-bound roots. Expose crown to set planting depth. Remove biodegradable pots unless roots penetrate or pot is decaying.

Planting Depth

Most perennials: crown at soil level. Test with tool handle across hole. Exceptions:

• Above-grade (crown slightly high): Daylily, lady's mantle, lamb's ears, bearded iris.
• Shallow (1–2 inches below): Bee balm (1"), bugbane (2"), hosta (1"), peony (1" warm, 2–3" cold zones).
• Deep (4 inches): Crocosmia, ornamental allium, variegated Solomon's seal.

How to Plant Container-Grown Perennials

1. Dig generous hole. Small pots: trowel. Large: spade. Old beds: 1–2x pot width, no deeper. New beds: as wide/deep as pot. Slope sides.

2. Check Depth – Crown level with soil. Use spade handle across hole.

3. Remove Plant – Flip, tap, or roll pot.

4. Tease Roots – Loosen circling roots or slice root ball.

5. Set Plant – Spread roots, recheck depth.

6. Backfill – Halfway, firm, water, finish, firm, water gently.

How to Plant Bare-Root Perennials

1. Check Roots – Remove packing moss.

2. Trim – Remove dead/broken roots.

3. Soak – 1–2 hours in water (+ root starter).

4. Dig – Width = root spread, depth = root length.

5. Form Mound – Center of hole, crown at soil surface.

6. Remove from Water

7. Set – On mound, spread roots, half backfill, water.

8. Finish – Backfill, firm, water, mulch, water again. Keep moist until established.

Post-Planting Care

Mulch exposed soil. Water thoroughly (soak top 8"). Check saturation away from plants. If runoff, pause 30–45 min. New perennials: 1"/week. Check 3–4" deep. Established: ½"/week. Adjust for moisture-lovers and drought-tolerant.