Perennials in beds and pots – planting and care

To succeed with perennials, it’s a good idea to plan carefully before planting. The first step is to decide whether to plant in the ground in the garden or in pots, and of course, to choose which perennials you want.

Here’s what you should consider before choosing perennials:

Location
Is the area sunny and south-facing, shaded and north-facing, or partial shade to the west or east? Is it damp or dry? Choose your perennials based on these factors to ensure they thrive where you plant them.

Hardiness
Our perennials are labeled with letters A–D depending on how hardy they are, meaning how well they can withstand the winter in the Nordic climate. The most hardy perennials are labeled with an A. Some perennials particularly need well-drained areas. These are also marked with a star (*). If planting in pots and planning to overwinter the perennials there, it’s especially important to choose those that are among the hardiest.

Sketch
Draw a simple sketch if you’re planning to plant an entire bed. Think about the height of the plants and when they will bloom. Tall perennials are best placed at the back, near a wall, or together with shrubs.

Number of plants
Plan for about eight plants per square meter in the bed, and try grouping the same type in clusters of three to five plants. This creates a more harmonious look.

Blooming period
Choose perennials with varying blooming times. In pots, it’s especially important to select perennials that look good both in and out of bloom. In the garden, you often have room for several types together, and a perennial bed can bloom from early spring to the first frost in the fall.

It’s a good idea to choose one or more perennials that provide a nice, green base for your planting. Here are some suggestions:

• Sedge (Carex)
• Hosta
• Pigweed (Chenopodium)
• Sedum (Stonecrop)
• Ferns

Starry bloom, lavender, bergenia, and asters are some easy-care varieties that bloom for a long time. Other varieties bloom for a shorter period but are so spectacular that they are still worth growing. Examples of such perennials include peony and poppy. Here are some examples of perennials that bloom at different times:

Early perennials

• Aubrieta, moss phlox, and foamflower.

Spring perennials

• Bleeding heart, alpine asters, and bellflower.

Summer perennials

• Delphinium, red coneflower, black sage, and garden mint.

Autumn perennials

• Autumn anemone, grape hyacinth, and monkshood.

How to plant perennials in the garden:

1. Dig into the soil and remove weeds.
2. Mix in new planting soil and cow manure.
3. Place the plants and consider if you want to change anything from your sketch.
4. Plant the roots and gently press around them.
5. Water generously as soon as you've finished planting.
   
   

Tip! Did you know that it’s completely possible to create a new perennial bed without digging? Check out our guide on how to create a "no dig" perennial bed.

1. Choose a large pot with drainage holes at the bottom, so the perennials have enough space to grow and excess water can drain out.
2. Ensure the drainage works well over time. A tip is to place 10 to 15 cm of expanded clay balls at the bottom of the pot and cover them with landscape fabric before adding soil.
3. Use good soil for perennials, such as Plantasjen's Premium Flower Soil.
4. Check the placement of the perennials, plant them, and then water generously.

Perennials are generally very grateful plants. Once they get a good start, they won't require much work each year. A little fertilizer 3 to 4 weeks after planting is beneficial for the perennials. Water regularly during the first season. Remove wilted flowers to encourage new blooms. Also, remove weeds so the plants don’t face competition and can grow at their own pace.

Once the plants have established themselves, a good pruning in spring, along with some fertilizer and water throughout the season, is all that’s needed for the perennials to return with plenty of color and joy.

It’s also fine to divide and move perennials. The best time to do this is early spring or late autumn.

If you’ve planted in the garden, the perennials will take care of themselves—as long as you've chosen varieties that suit the space and are hardy enough. In the fall, simply let the perennials wither, so they can form a natural protection against frost for their own roots.

If the perennials are in pots, you have a couple of options. You can choose to treat them as annuals and compost them, or you can make an effort to protect the roots from the cold so they can come back to life when spring arrives. The safest option is to bury the plants in the soil in the fall and replant them in pots come spring. You can also place the pots against a wall and wrap them in insulating material. Be sure that excess water can still drain out of the hole in the pot, for example, by placing the pot on some blocks. How well the perennials overwinter depends on where you live in the country and which perennials you have in the pots, but it is certainly possible to grow perennials on the terrace, balcony, or near the entrance.

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