Planting Perennials - Tips to Get Them Thriving This Season

Our Oropi Rd nursery is bursting with pretty perennials right now — daisies, salvias, echinacea, lavender, and all their flower-powered friends are waiting to head home with you. But what’s the best way to get them off to a flying start in your garden? Here are our top tips for planting out your perennials this season...

 

1. Pick the Right Spot

Most perennials love sunshine — think six hours a day minimum. But some (like hostas or heucheras) prefer a little shade. Check the plant tag or ask us when you’re here so you can match the plant with the perfect patch in your garden.

 

2. Prep Your Soil 

Healthy soil = happy plants. Loosen up the ground where you’ll be planting, dig in some compost, and break up any clumps. Perennials don’t like soggy feet, so make sure drainage is decent. If your soil is heavy clay, adding gypsum or organic matter can help lighten it up.

 

3. Plant at the Right Depth

When you pop your perennial in, keep it at the same level it was sitting in its pot. Too deep and the crown can rot, too shallow and roots may dry out. A nice firm pat down around the roots helps remove air pockets.

 

4. Water Well (But Not Too Much)

Give your new plants a big drink when they first go in — think of it as a “welcome home” cuppa. After that, water deeply but less often, encouraging roots to head down into the soil. Mulching around the base will help lock in moisture and keep weeds away.

 

5. Think Long-Term

Perennials are the gift that keeps on giving — they’ll come back season after season. Plant with the future in mind, allowing enough space for them to spread and flourish. A crowded bed can turn into a plant punch-up!

 

6. Feed Gently

A sprinkle of slow-release fertiliser or a splash of liquid seaweed every few weeks will help your plants settle in. Go easy though — too much nitrogen will make them leafy but shy on flowers.

 

Bonus Tip: Don’t forget to deadhead! Snipping off spent flowers encourages many perennials to bloom again and again.

 

So, are you ready to plant a perennial paradise? Swing by Kererū Gardens at 341 Oropi Rd, Tauranga this weekend between 10am–2pm and fill your trolley with colour. With 300+ varieties of natives and exotics, you’ll find plenty of leafy (and flowery) treasures to make your garden shine.

Or browse our selection online here.

 

Back to Journal