Garden / Lawn
Perennial Gardening - Low Maintenance
Easier maintenance is another benefit of perennial gardening. Some good quality soil, lots of sunshine and enough water is about all you need. However there are some issues that you might want be aware of. Because perennials remain planted in the ground they are sometimes more susceptible to become plagued by insect and disease compared to annuals --- annuals grow for one season only.
The best way to prevent this is to buy the healthiest looking plants that you can find. Pay close attention for visible signs of disease, fungus, or insect infestation. Healthy, stronger plants are better able to withstand bacteria or fungi that might be in the soil.
Try to look for disease-resistant perennial varieties. These have been specially bred through a process of selective breeding to build resistance to diseases and insects making them better able to survive many of the more common garden problems.
How you water your perennials can affect their resistance to diseased. Watering from overhead --- such as sprinklers --- can cause water to pool on leaves, which can then encourage mould or bacteria to develop and spread among plants. The preferred method is to water at the roots --- drip irrigation works best for this. Not only will this keep water from pooling on the leaves but water reaches the roots sooner and uses water more efficiently.
