You can have a beautiful landscape without spending weeks planting new plants every spring. The secret is to include plenty of perennials in your design. Perennials are plants that come back again and again. Luckily, many attractive perennials grow well in New Jersey. Here are a few that we often see and admire when looking at Ridgewood homes for sale.
Daylilies
Daylilies are known for their plush, green leaves and long-stemmed flowers. They can be pink, orange, yellow, or even red in color. These flowers thrive in full sunlight and can bloom from spring into early fall on the east coast. They also attract butterflies and honeybees, which makes them an eco-friendly choice.
The best time to plant daylilies is in early spring. Make sure you choose a site where tall flowers will look nice. Daylilies tend to spread, so if you plant a couple, you can look forward to a full grove within two or three growing seasons.
Hostas
Hostas are a great perennial to plant if you're worried about deer, rabbits, and other pests eating your garden. Most pests won't bother them. Hostas are also very tolerant of shade and drought, making them a good choice for a low-maintenance garden.
There are tons of varieties of hostas to choose from. Big Daddy Hostas are known for their huge, green-blue leaves. Gold Hostas have streaks of yellow running through their leaves, and Stained Glass Hostas look reflective and colorful in the sunlight.
Tulips
Tulips are some of the most gorgeous perennials you can plant. The best time to plant them is in the fall. You simply put the tulip buds in the ground, spaced a few inches apart, and then cover them with 2 - 3 inches of soil.
Tulips come in many different colors. You can plant all one color for a monochromatic garden, or you can choose tulips in many different colors for more variety. Since tulips can tolerate some shade, they're a great perennial to plant along fences or the side of your garage.
Coneflowers
Coneflowers are shaped like inverted cones. They have many long, slender petals. Since coneflowers have some drought tolerance, they're a good choice for homeowners who don't want to spend too much time watering and fussing over their gardens.
Coneflowers are also a favorite of birds. You can expect to see more chickadees, bluebirds, and even hummingbirds once you plant them.
Black-Eyed Susans
Black-eyed Susans are great for lining the backs of garden beds and planting along fences. They have dense green leaves, and the yellow flowers themselves tower above the leaves.
Black-eyed Susans bloom in late summer and early fall, which makes them a good counterpoint to most perennials that flower in the springtime. They spread a bit over the years but are unlikely to out-compete other flowers and take over garden beds.
Asters
Asters are smaller flowers. They have bright yellow centers and many thin, tiny petals. Their foliage is pale green with a rough, textile-like texture.
Since asters stay so low to the ground, they are a good choice for filling out garden beds. They do best in partial shade and cooler areas. Plus, you can count on them to bloom well into early fall. Look for them in white, purple, and even pink.
Perennials are gorgeous, and they also make gardening easier. Plant a few of these stunning plants, and experience the ease for yourself. Also, don't hesitate to contact us if you're considering moving. Our real estate agents will be happy to help.
