Swan River Gardens
Perennials Perennials are soft stemmed plants that return from their roots year after year. Swan River Gardens  grows old garden favorites like peonies, daylilies, hosta and phlox along with many others. We grow nearly 500 different kinds of perennials so you are sure to find some that will work in any spot! New varieties come to the market every year and we always try to find room for some of those too. Some old plants like Coral Bells are being tinkered with all the time and the new varieties are a lot of fun to try.Because perennials are permanent plantings, good site and soil preparation is a must. You won’t get another chance so start these plants out right in good soil that will drain properly. Amend soil with compost so it is light and full of good things for the plants to spread out in. When you are ready to choose your plants, come see our design experts for help. We can help you choose the right plants for the sun or shade your bed gets and show you plants that flower at different times so there is always something blooming. We will also help you arrange your choices for heights and habit that go together.
 While we think of perennials as permanent plantings, that does not mean maintenance is not necessary. Many kinds of perennials benefit from regular deadheading, or removing of spent flowers, to continue blooming longer through the season. This is true of any of the Salvia’s for example. Other perennials need to be divided every few years to continue thriving. Siberian Iris will start to put fewer flowers out after 5-7 years and should be lifted and divided in spring. On the other hand, it is important to always let your perennial plantings grow undisturbed for at least three years before you do any dividing or moving. We use the phrase ‘sleep, creep & leap’ when describing perennial growth. Perennials ‘sleep’ the first year, showing very little change, ‘creep’ the second year, showing modest growth and ‘leap’ their third season, generally reaching mature height and spread.
 Most perennials can be cut back to 2-3” in fall when frost has come along to knock the plant down. You can spread a 2-3” layer of compost on your perennial beds in either fall or spring to keep the soil healthy. If you are thinking about dividing any plants, the general rule is spring flowering plants get divided in fall and fall flowering plants get divided in spring. Remember though, this is a general rule. You can call us anytime you have questions and we are happy to help you!
Swan River Gardens LLP . 175 Swan River Rd . Bigfork, MT 59911 . (406) 837-3375 |
Montana Web Design by BigforkWEB Development