6 EDWARD LEHDE NURSERIES, GARDENVILLE, N. Y. 
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Hardy Herbaceous Perennials 
Perennials are hardy flowering plants whose 
tops die down each Fall, but each Spring they 
come up with renewed vigor, increasing in 
beauty, size, and number of flowers. 
PLACEMENT ON HOME GROUNDS 
Perennials are planted in all types of gardens, 
formal, semi-formal and informal. The best 
way to use them is to plant either in straight 
beds of a formal nature, or in informal arrange¬ 
ment in curved borders with a background of 
shrubbery. Sometimes a hedge is used as a 
background, or perhaps a vine-covered fence. 
Perennials are used in rockeries; pools are en¬ 
circled by such varieties as appear to make the 
surroundings most natural; in fact, they are 
at home in any place except when planted hit- 
and-miss about a lawn. Circular or crescent¬ 
shaped beds, cutting up the lawn, are not used 
if the most pleasing effect is desired. To obtain 
the best results the perennial garden should be 
planned on paper so that the plants will be 
placed properly. 
ARRANGEMENT AS TO VARIETY AND 
COLOR 
Mass effects are most desirable and this is 
achieved by planting in groups of at least three, 
or better still, six of a kind in a group, rather 
than individual mixed varieties. Large mass 
effects of color are impressive and offer good 
contrasts; little dabs of color seem puny and 
artificial, giving us no opportunity to achieve 
color combinations. The color arrangements in 
the garden should be pleasing; however, it is 
better to love flowers and plant a riot of colors 
than fear to infringe upon good taste and plant 
sparingly. When the taste improves the plants 
can be moved. 
ARRANGEMENT ACCORDING TO 
HEIGHT 
Tall plants are set to the back of the border, 
low edging plants to the front, and those of 
medium height worked in between. This should 
not be followed too strictly, however; a little 
variation affords more interest, but at no time 
should dwarf growing varieties be hidden be¬ 
hind the taller growing ones. As a general rule, 
the taller growing varieties should be set about 
2 feet apart; medium kinds, 12 to 18 inches, 
and low growing kinds, 6 to 12 inches. 
TIME OF PLANTING 
Perennials are best planted very early in the 
Spring to obtain maximum results, or they can 
be planted in the Fall for the following year. 
They, with a few exceptions, do best in an open, 
sunny place and should have good garden soil 
containing plenty of humus such as soil from 
the woods, peat moss, or well rotted stable 
manure. Their growth can be improved by 
using, occasionally, a small quantity of high 
grade fertilizer such as Vigoro. 
SOIL PREPARATION 
Perennials require a fairly rich soil which is 
brought about by addition of humus, that is, 
Ieafmold, peat moss, or manure, worked in 
near the surface of the soil. 
WINTER PROTECTION 
A light mulch of hay, straw, evergreen 
boughs, etc., will bring the plants through the 
Winter in fine shape. Do not use leaves as they 
become soggy, pack down too tightly and are 
liable to smother the plants. This mulch should 
be applied after the ground is frozen, usually 
in December. 
