perennial help!?

Question

I live in michigan and planted some perennials last summer. I have no clue what to do with them this spring do I cut them down and how short!? Help me please!!

Answer 1

Specific plants will have different requirements but in general there are a few guide lines to follow.

STEP 1: Remove old mulch and fallen leaves from beneath the plant. Look for any signs of mold or damage and clear away anything where insects could hide through the winter.
STEP 2: Cut off faded flower stems to just above a place on the stem where you see new leaves growing. Leave at least two pair of leaves. This is usual for lavander, or other woody stemed plants. For plants like phlox or asters the old stems will snap off by hand. Stems and flowers should be left on the plant during cold winters if you live in a cold winter climate to help protect the crown - the part of the plant right at ground level - and the roots.

Some perennials are planted in our gardens specifically for fall color, like Chrysanthemums and Asters. However, these plants will bloom in mid summer if they are not cut back once or twice in early summer. Generally the plants should be cut back by about one-half to two-thirds when they are 12 to 16 inches tall. Not only will this delay bloom, it will produce more compact plants with more flowers.


STEP 3: Add a slow-release fertilizer to the soil after pruning to encourage new growth. By slow release I mean an organic blend like Whitney

STEP 4: Add a layer of fresh mulch to conserve moisture and prevent weeds from growing. A fertile mulch (Wood chips ground with manure) can replace fertilising seperately.
STEP 5: Later in the spring or in early summer, after flowering, shear with bypass pruners or scissors to cut off 1 inch evenly all over the plant, making the plant look healthier and tidier for the rest of the season and encouraging another bloom.

To make your own
From Master Gardener Jerry Baker's Files
"The Master's" All Purpose Fertilizer

* 1 can beer
* 1 can cola (any kind, NOT diet)
* 1 box or cup apple juice
* 1 cup lemon scented liquid soap
* 1 cup ammonia
* 1 cup liquid lawn fertilizer
Mix together all ingredients. If you buy liquid lawn fertilizer with a hose sprayer attachment, you can use the attachment with any 1 liter bottle to make a 50 gallon sprayer. Spray your lawn and garden with the above mixture every 3 weeks, early in the day.
For houseplants, mix 4 shot glasses of the above mixture to 1 gallon of water and add 1/4 tsp knox gelatin.

Non-Flowering Houseplant Fertilizer
* 1 tsp baking soda
* 1 tbsp Epsom salts
* 1/2 tsp saltpeter
* 1/4 tsp ammonia
* 1 gallon water
* Add 5 tbsp black coffee for acid loving plants
Water your plants with this mixture once a month.

Spring Lawn Feeding
* 1 cup Epsom salts
* 1 cup ammonia
To use with a hose sprayer, mix with enough water to equal 1 quart total volume and pour into the sprayer container. Fertilizes 2,500 square feet of lawn.

Fall Lawn Feeding
* 2 cups Epsom salts
* 3 tbsp baking powder
To use with a hose sprayer, mix with enough water to equal 1 quart total volume and pour into the sprayer container. Fertilizes 1,500 sq. ft. of lawn.

Fertilizer for azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias and hollies
* 4 cups coffee grounds
* 1 cup bonemeal
* 1 cup wood ash
Mix well. Scatter evenly over ground shaded by the plant. Use 1 pound of fertilizer for each 1 foot of diameter.

Garden vegetable and flower fertilizer
* 1 part dried poultry manure or 5 parts dried horse manure
* 1 part bonemeal
* 1 part wood ash

Answer 2

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Answer 3

No one can answer without knowing what you planted. All have different requirements.