Five Reasons Perennials Are Basically The Netflix Subscription of Gardening
So you finally have a yard in Regina (hello, Zone 3!) and you’re ready to give it some personality. But landscaping can feel expensive and high-maintenance. Here’s the good news. The cheapest, easiest hack for filling your outdoor space is to get your hands on some perennials.
These hardy plants come back year after year, which means less money, less stress, and way more backyard bliss. And since fall is the best time to plant them, here’s why perennials deserve a starring role in your landscaping!
1. They’re the ultimate low-maintenance plant parents.
Unlike annuals that ghost you after one summer, perennials like lilies, irises, and peonies settle in and stick around. Once they’re rooted, they need less watering, less fuss, and less “oops, I forgot.” Their strong root systems improves soil health which also means that you don't have to fertilize as much and also reduces erosion.
2. They multiply like magic (a.k.a. free plants!).
Every couple of years, you can divide perennials and replant them. Translation: you’re basically cloning your favorite flowers for free. Fill out bare corners, share with friends, or trade plants like you’re in a secret gardener’s club. They are also easy to propograte (which is a fancy word for taking a cutting from a plant and create other plant bunches after establishing roots).
3. They’re bee & butterfly magnets.
Pollinators love perennials. Lavender, cornflowers, and zinnias will have your yard buzzing—literally. And helping out the bees = helping out the planet. Planting perennials around your garden will definitely help your veggie production and also adds vibrant colors throughout your borders.
4. They actually like our climate.
Zone 3 winters are no joke, but perennials are tough. Plant them in fall, and by spring, their roots will be locked in and ready to explode with color. Amazing perennials that do amazing in our climate are native grasses, lavender, cone flowers, and bleeding hearts. These options are pretty tough to kill as long as you don't plant them too close together (they will grow exponentially if you don't divide), make sure you are planting in the right spot for their preferred sunlight, and stake the tall stem plants like aster and peonies.
5. They save you serious cash.
Sure, that peony root costs more upfront than a tray of annuals. But once it’s established? It comes back for decades. It’s like a one-time investment that pays you back every summer with blooms. You'll also be saving a tonne of your water bill! Another option is to ask your family and friends if they have some that you can steal from their yard! You can literally fill your entire yard with sentimental memoriesfrom your grandma's garden and can be passed down from generation to generation. How thoughtful is that!
Bottom line? Opt for the more affordable way to fill in your landscaping and ditch the expensive shrubs. And did we forget to say that they add so much beauty, fragrance, and color to your yard! If you plan it right, you can see blooms all season long from the first weeks in spring all the way to the later weeks in September. Plant perennials this fall, kick back, and let your yard glow-up season after season with almost zero effort. Your future self (and the pollinators) will thank you. 🌸🐝
