June is Perennial Gardening Month
In this month’s blog we will be focussing on all things perennial. A perennial plant (or shrub) is one which grows for at least two years, with most of them flowering between spring - autumn. Although there are some winter flowering varieties such as Hellebores, Winter Jasmine and Snowdrops.
As the spring bulbs die back, now is the perfect time for the perennials in your garden to shine. You might not realise it, but many of the plants that form the backbone of your garden at this time of year fall into the perennial category such as roses, poppies, dahlias and lavender.

3 popular perennials for your garden

1. Roses - Surely no British garden, especially a Cottage Garden, is complete without a rose or three. They come in all shapes and sizes from small shrub roses to the larger rambling or climbing roses which grow on average between 2-4m.
Whichever variety of rose you choose for your garden, you will need to make sure you protect them from any pests to ensure they stay healthy and look their best throughout the growing season. Our Ecofective Rose Defender is a pesticide free way of controlling common garden pests such as whitefly, aphid and red spider mite. It also helps to provide foliar nourishment and can be used on other ornamental plants and edibles.

2. Hostas - Hostas are a fantastic plant for the shadier areas within your garden. They are mostly grown for their vibrant green foliage, although many varieties do produce small flowers in summer. Hostas are fairly hardy, however their foliage does die back in winter so it is best to prune them at the end of the growing season. They are also famous for being very attractive food for slugs and snails.
One way of protecting them is to grow them in containers (although slugs and snails might still find a way in). Or, you could try Ecofective® Slug Defence Plant Spray which will give your hostas an ability to withstand slugs or snails whilst ensuring they are all unharmed. The spray can be used on all plant types and it also contains nutrients to help your plants grow.

3. Penstemons - Penstemons are a fantastic plant to grow as they have a very long flowering season and are hardy enough to survive a British winter. They also come in an array of colours from the deepest purple to the palest pink and will thrive in a sunny flower bed. If you’re short on space, then they can be grown in containers and pots, although you will need to keep them well watered in dry spells.
To help cut down on watering in containers, before you plant your penstemons, try adding Ecofective Natural Water Storing Granules to your compost. The starch-based hydrating granules can absorb over 80 times their own weight in water and are perfect for adding to all types of pots and hanging baskets. They are also non-toxic, biodegradable and odourless and help to retain nutrients as well as water.

How often should I feed my perennial plants?
As well as keeping them well watered, especially during drier weather, it is a good idea to feed them regularly as well. Ideally, you should be feeding your plants with a good organic feed once a week. Our Ecofective Organic Pour and Feed is a natural based feed, with added bio-stimulant which is suitable for both indoor and outdoor plants. The feed is easy to use as you simply add one capful to the base of each plant every 7 days after watering.

Can I remove garden pests without pesticides?
Yes, our Ecofective Bug and Mildew Control has been specially formulated to tackle aphids, whitefly or other common pests without the use of pesticides. With regular use it will help to control pests and powdery mildew by physically washing the foliage to remove active mildew spores. The formula also provides foliar nourishment to encourage healthy plant growth.

How do I keep my perennials flowering all summer?
As well as regular watering and feeding, many perennial flowers require deadheading in order to keep flowering all summer long. How you deadhead your flowers may depend on the type of plants you are growing, but as a general rule, you shouldn’t just snip off the dead flower, but cut back to the next bud or leaf.

Finally, don’t forget to enjoy your plants after all the hard work you’ve put into growing, feeding and watering them! We love to see your photographs, so tag us into your posts so we can see your fantastic perennials.