PERENNIAL BEAUTIES

The end of June is peak gardening season

June 20 was the official first day of summer, the longest day of the year, and, coincidentally, Father's Day. A joyous moment in time, to be sure. However, while shopping for groceries recently, I must confess I was seriously tempted to throw an over-ripened avocado at an attention-seeking customer who felt the need to loudly inform anyone within earshot that the passing of the summer solstice only means the days are getting shorter.

So, with that depressing thought shelved, this is the time of year gardeners wait for. Containers and pots will be taking off and perennial borders and beds are nearing peak performance.

A resplendent perennial bed takes planning and often several years before achieving the desired result. Ideally, you want to create a succession of blooms from spring through fall. Annuals are ideal fillers while waiting for perennials to mature.

Tall perennials should be placed at the back of the border, medium-sized plant material in the middle and shorter plants, or ground-cover, in the front. Give consideration to light exposure — south facing for example — moisture accessibility and other givens. Existing hardscapes or shrubs and trees already in place will impact the overall vibe you want to create in the border or beds.

Tried and true perennials are your best bet as there can be nothing more disappointing than some trendy new plant or shrub that fails.

A perennial bed just isn't complete without delphiniums and peonies. Delphiniums will need staking as their stems are hollow and can easily topple in the wind. Full sun and lots of water are ideal conditions. Delphinium worm is a common pest and it manifests on the top leaves surrounding the emerging young spires. You can either handpick out the bright green pest or eradicate it with BTK, a biological insecticide.

Peonies, my absolute favourite perennial, will just get better and better over the years if it's in the right location, which is full sun. Peonies must be planted at the right depth with the “eyes” or top bud planted five centimetres below the surface of the soil. Tree peonies require the graft to be planted 10-15 cm deep with the tip of the top just above the soil.

Peonies will sulk if moved so think of their location as permanent. They don't need coddling. Average moisture and the occasional zot of fertilizer are about it. Ants and peonies are a given symbiotic relationship. It's hypothesized that ants eating the peony bud sap encourages earlier bloom.

Iris is another tried and true perennial, whether the grassy variety (Siberian) or the bearded variety. (Beardeds ones need to be planted so the rhizomes sit just above the soil — imagine a floating cork.)

Hollyhocks used to be a backof-the-bed staple growing to two metres tall, but they seem to have fallen out of favour. They are a short-lived perennial prone to rust. Hollyhocks will, however, self-seed.

The daylily is an absolute workhorse and can vary in height depending upon the variety. The flowers are short-lived, but the long slender “leaves” add dimension and softness to the landscape.

Spreaders — or the low-lying perennials — can be wonderful. Or a huge mistake, should you choose unwisely. Snow in summer, goutweed, creeping Charlie and “woodland violets” will overtake a bed before you know it. Plant these, if you must, in a contained spot with myriad barriers. Much better ground covers include creeping phlox, thyme and creeping Jenny.

Consider incorporating shrubs in the bed or border as well. Roses, certain hydrangea species, dogwood, and Miss Kim lilac are great choices.

Mulching beds and borders is a must as it will keep weeds down and add nutrients to the soil.

And don't even think about the minute and a half of daylight we're losing each day. I think we've all lost quite enough as it is.

This is the time of year gardeners wait for. Containers and pots will be taking off and perennial borders and beds are nearing peak performance. A resplendent perennial bed takes planning and often several years before achieving the desired result. Ideally, you want to create a succession of blooms from spring through fall. Bill Brooks

TOM DODD Creeping phlox is an ideal choice for a perennial ground cover. It forms a dense mat so weeds and grass will not compete. Sage and thyme are good choices as well.

BILL BROOKS Bearded iris is a must-have in the perennial bed or border. Its flowers are spectacular and the foliage is lovely before and after the flowers fade.

BILL BROOKS A well-planned perennial bed or border gives texture, foliage and blooms.

BILL BROOKS This unique bed-and-border interpretation makes use of cut birch.