Atmospheric coloring in the perennial bed is the result of careful planning and preparation. Read this guide to learn how to skilfully plan and properly create a magnificently flowering bed with perennials. Tried and tested planting plans invite you to replant with many tips & tricks for a perennial bed in Sunday garb.

Colors, size, flowering time and other things should be considered when creating a perennial bed

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Planning and designing a perennial bed
  3. When to create a perennial bed?
  4. Creating a perennial bed instructions
  5. Perennial bed planting plan for beginners
  6. Perennial border suggestions with roses
  7. |Sunny perennial bed planting plan
  8. Narrow perennial bed planting suggestion
  9. Perennial perennial bed Planting suggestions
  10. frequently asked Questions

    11. the essentials in brief

    • A perennial bed that is beautiful all year round combines 10-15% leading perennials, 30-40% accompanying perennials and 50-60% filler perennials in the planting plan.
    • The 4 most important steps for a picturesque perennial border are preparation, soil improvement, perennial planting and initial care.
    • Autumn is the best time when hobby gardeners want to create a perennial bed with a guarantee of success.

    Planning and designing perennial beds - suggestions for the planting plan

    A virtuoso perennial composition and sober number acrobatics set the course for a lavishly blooming bed. Instead of randomly placing your favorite perennials, a well thought-out combination of leading perennials, companion perennials and filler perennials sets the creative direction. The growth height is the decisive criterion for the function. Lead perennials are enthroned above the bed with raised heads. Accompanying perennials shine in the middle level. Flowering ground covers ensure abundance, conceal gaps and small imperfections. How to plan the perfect perennial bed:

    1. Measure bed area
    2. Draw dimensions on a plan
    3. Plan 10-15% perennials as a backdrop and central eye-catcher
    4. Place 30-40% of accompanying perennials in small tuffs and evenly distributed
    5. Arrange 50-60% perennials at the edge of the bed and as gap fillers in the plan

    The combination of different large perennials is important for a beautiful result

    Include local site conditions and color choices in your considerations. May it be a colorful firework display? Do you flirt with a noble blue-white-green bed design or a romantic pink-red flower dream? The most beautiful perennial species are available as magnificent varieties in a variety of color variations. Ideally, you should place your plan in the middle of the bed area and just let your ideas flow. For your inspiration, the following table names recommended leading, accompanying and filling perennials for all lighting conditions:

    Sunny plant name semi-shady plant name shady plant name
    leading perennial + Larkspur (Delphinium) leading perennial + Giant lily (Cardiocrinum giganteum) leading perennial + Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum biflorum)
    + Hollyhock (Alcea) + splendor spar (astilbe) + forest goat's beard (Aruncus dioicus)
    + Steppe Candle (Eremurus) + Outdoor Fuchsia (Fuchsia) + monkshood (Aconitum napellus)
    + Sunbride (Helenium) + Purple groundsel (Ligularia dentata + Silver Cohosh (Cimicifuga simplex)
    + Coneflower (Rudbeckia) + Lance silver cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) + Large-leaved Funkie (Hosta)
    companion perennial + Cranesbill (Geranium) companion perennial + Japanese anemone (Anemone japonica) companion perennial + Turin Master (Asperula taurina)
    + Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) + Cowslip (Primula) + Fern Corydalis (Corydalis cheilanthifolia)
    + Bellflower (Campanula glomerata) + Beaker bell (Adenophora + Mountain forest cranesbill (Geranium nodosum)
    + flame flower (phlox) + Begonia (Begonia) + Forest poppy (Hylomecon)
    + Spurflower (Centranthus ruber) + Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) + St. John's wort (Hypericum androsaemum)
    Fill perennial + steppe sage (Salvia) Fill perennial + Larkspur (Corydalis) Fill perennial + Cowslip (Primula elatior)
    + Lavender (Lavandula) + Dwarf Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa) + Gold Strawberry (Waldsteinia ternata)
    + Field thyme (Thymus serpyllum + Elf Flower (Epimedium diphyllum) + Periwinkle (Vinca major)
    + Blue Pillow (Aubrieta) + Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa) + foam flower (Tiarella cordifolia)
    + Scabiosis (Scabiosa) + Memorial tree (Omphalodes verna) + Carpet berry (Gaultheria procumbens)

    A garden without a perennial bed is a mistake. (Karl Foerster, 1874-1970, gifted perennial gardener)

    The best time is in autumn

    The best time to plant a perennial bed is in autumn. September and October are ideal months for soil preparation and planting because at this time of year the earth is deeply warmed and teeming with life. Perennials get excellent conditions in the humus-rich garden soil and start the next spring season with a vital growth advantage.

    If you miss the ideal time, you don't have to worry. In spring, a second time window opens during the months of March and April. To compensate for the growth advantage of perennials planted in autumn, simply pull your favorite perennials on the bright windowsill from February.

    Creating a perennial bed - step-by-step instructions

    A good plan is the be-all and end-all when creating a perennial bed

    Once created, you do not have to replant a perennial bed every year. Perennials are hardy and magically repeat their festival of flowers every year. The key to horticultural success is competent tillage and planting techniques. The following instructions explain how to properly create a perennial bed in 4 simple steps and how to make the location appealing to the floral protagonists:

    preparation

    In the first step on the way to the new perennial bed, please remove all weeds, dig up the soil and mark the planting area. How to do it right:

    1. weed weed
    2. Remove branches and stones
    3. Dig up the soil to the spade
    4. ideally, sift excavated garden soil
    5. Flatten the soil with a rake
    6. Mark the bed area with chalk or sand according to the plan

    At the end of the preparatory work, it is a good time to set a planned edging of curbs or in the form of a low wattle fence. Modern it succeeds as a bed border made of corten steel or stainless steel.

    soil improvement

    Breathe new life into exhausted garden soil with a natural, organic soil amendment. Natural hobby gardeners with their own compost have a clear advantage. Work in 20 to 30 liters of mature, finely crumbly compost per square meter of bed area. Alternatively, the Oscorna soil activator can be used in an economical dosage of 100 to 150 grams per square meter. After the freshening treatment, the perennial bed area is watered with a fine spray.

    plant perennials

    The plants come directly from the pot into the bed

    In the third step of planting the perennial bed, place all the plants (still in the pot) ready to hand and take your plan to hand. Position each perennial in its intended location in the bed. Step back and let the picture sink in. Juggle with the installation positions, taking into account the respective planting distance, until you are completely satisfied with the arrangement. How to plant perennials with gardening expertise:

    1. Place potted root ball in water until no more air bubbles rise
    2. Meanwhile, dig the planting hole with twice the volume of the root ball
    3. Pot out the water-soaked root ball and place in the middle of the pit
    4. Align and stabilize the perennial vertically with one hand
    5. fill up the soil with the other hand (important: maintain the previous planting depth)

    Press the bed soil firmly with both hands to ensure that the planted root ball is firmly attached to the ground. Water each perennial generously, preferably with collected rainwater.

    First care

    The most critical phase in the newly created perennial bed are the first few days and weeks. The drier the weather, the greater the risk of drought stress. Lack of water is the most common cause when new perennials in the bed do not take root and die. A warm layer of mulch on the root disc helps to protect against unannounced cold snaps in autumn or spring. The following tips summarize the care with which you pave the way for young perennials:

    • If there is no rain, water the newly laid perennial bed every 1 to 2 days
    • please note: in winter without snow and rain continue watering on mild days
    • raking and weeding regularly (at least twice a week)
    • mulch with leaves, dried grass clippings or bark mulch

    Native perennials are hardy. However, the plants must first develop this winter hardiness. A protective layer of mulch is welcome for the plants in the first year until a stable, frost-resistant root system has developed.

    digression

    Plan perennial beds as bee pasture

    In the natural garden, the flowering perennial bed is a popular destination for busy bees, buzzing bumblebees and fluttering butterflies. With the right planting plan as bee pasture, the hard-working insects can expect a richly laid table here. For this reason, natural hobby gardeners always give priority to perennials with simple flowers. Perennial seed mixtures, such as the tried-and-tested Kiepenkerl Bienenweide for sun to partial shade, take on the task of filling perennials. There is no reason not to use the much-praised, annual Veitshöchheimer bee pasture seed mixture, which is available for sunny, semi-shady and shady locations and is simply sown every year between the perennial shrubs.

    Perennial bed planting plan for beginners - simple and beautiful all year round

    Phlox is a beautiful choice for the perennial border

    Have courage, dear beginners among the hobby gardeners. With the right planting plan, you can create a border of perennials that will surprise you with new flowers all year round. The horticultural art consists in a clever plant composition of perennials that seamlessly extend the floral baton. In short, as spring bloomers fade, summer bloomers open their buds. When the summer bloom is coming to an end, autumn and winter bloomers are in the floral starting blocks. The following table has suggestions for a beautiful and representative perennial bed all year round:

    spring botanical name summer botanical name Autumn winter botanical name
    Spring Anemone Anemone blanda Large-flowered girl's eye Coreopsis grandiflora Pillow Aster Aster dumosus
    snowdrop Galanthus elwesii flame flower phlox Autumn Monkshood Aconitum carmichaelii
    Fairy Crocus Crocus tommasinianus cranesbill geranium Winter Aster Chrysanthemum x hortorum
    Corydalis Corydalis solida hollyhock Alcea Autumn Cyclamen Cyclamen hederifolium
    squill Scilla siberica delphinium delphinium pansies Viola cornuta
    imperial crown Fritillaria imperialis gypsophila Gypsophila Christmas rose Helleborus niger

    The perennials mentioned are all hardy and easy to care for. By regularly tidying up wilted flowers, you can extend the flowering period or elicit a picturesque afterglow from the plants. Majestic imperial crowns or man-high delphiniums act as leading perennials. Half-tall perennials take on the task of accompanying plants, with small plants lying picturesquely at their feet. Gypsophila ensures opulent abundance, optionally the premium variety 'Rosenveil' from May to August or the magnificent variety 'Bristol Fairy' from July to October.

    tips

    Beginners can buy plants as a ready-made set for a beautiful perennial border with guaranteed success. Experienced gardening experts have thought about the ideal combination of plants for a symphony of blooms and fragrance in advance. A prime example is the Baldur perennial bed 'Bee Paradise', so that it hums and buzzes in the garden. The multifaceted, beginner-friendly offers of the perennial nursery Gräfin von Zeppelin are exemplary. The following video explains in detail how to do it:

    youtube

    Perennial border suggestions with roses

    Roses are the ideal choice for a beautiful perennial border all year round. The recipe for success is a planting that does not reveal everything at once. By the time rose petals sparkle in the summer sun, spring perennials are in the limelight. When the rose blooms come to an end in late summer, autumn perennials come to the fore. Be inspired by the following planting suggestions:

    Perennial bed with roses 'Love Magic'

    Red roses with white, blue and silver companion plants give the perennial border timeless elegance. The protagonist is the shrub rose 'Tornella', which blooms more often, whose velvety red flowers shine from June to November. The main perennial is flanked by perennials with fresh, cool shades, complemented by evergreen ornamental foliage plants. The following planting suggestion is suitable for a bed measuring 3 m x 1.5 m:

    • Center of bed: Shrub rose 'Tornella' as the main perennial
    • Background: light blue delphinium (Delphinium) alternating with silver primrose 'Brunette' (Cimicifuga simplex) and daphne 'Chocolate' (Eupatorium rugosum)
    • Accompanying perennials: blue rue (Perovskia atriplicifolia) on one flank, red giant Montbretia (Crocosmia crocosmiiflora) on the other flank
    • Transition to the border: red daylilies (Hemerocallis) white spurflowers (Centranthus ruber) and purple ornamental sage (Salvia nemorosa)

    The colors blue and white reign in the frame. Alternate here: blue cranesbill (Geranium magnificum), bronze-leaved, white-flowering purple bells (Heuchera), white asters (Aster), blue lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and white rockrose (Helianthemum cultorum).

    Small Perennial Bed with Roses 'Sweet Dream'

    Iris sibirica is ideal for bordering beds

    A lavish perennial bed with roses is not reserved for the large garden. Where space is at a premium, a small border of perennials with the queen of flowers as the central figure is just the thing. The protagonist in the following planting suggestion is the 'Diadem' floribunda, which blooms often, with rain-resistant, pink flowers and excellent leaf health. A thrifty 2.5 square meters is enough for the gem for a representative performance with three accompanying perennials:

    • Backdrop: Flowerbed rose 'Diadem' as background
    • Flanks: blue meadow iris (Iris sibirica) right and left
    • Transition to the border: pink flowering coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) as a small group

    Blue-purple flowering cranesbill (Geranium pratense) masters the task as a filler perennial in the form of the premium variety 'Johnson's Blue'.

    Do sun and partial shade alternate in the perennial bed? Then swap roses for hydrangeas in dimly lit niches. With hydrangeas, you can create a half-shady perennial bed at eye level with the beauty of sun-kissed roses. Ball hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla), whose opulent balls of flowers harmonize tastefully with any garden style, are very popular. The easy-care climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala) is useful as a blooming facade greening in partial shade with a furious backdrop effect for the perennial border.

    Sunny perennial bed for replanting - planting plan and shopping list

    On the south side, it's time for sun worshipers in the kingdom of perennials. Give preference to those species that do not languish under the hot sun, but develop into floral top form. The following planting plan is intended for a 2 square meter perennial bed that is sunny and dry.

    Shopping List

    • 1 bush mallow 'Barnsley' (Lavatera olbia)
    • 1 Verbena 'Lollipop' (Verbena bonariensis)
    • 1 piece of girls' eye (Coreopsis verticillata)
    • 1 ornamental sage (Salvia nemorosa)
    • 1 piece of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
    • 1 piece magnificent candle (Gaura lindheimeri)
    • 1 candytuft (Iberis sempervirens)
    • 1 cushion aster (Aster dumosus)
    • 1 piece Feather Bristle Grass (Pennisetum)

    planting plan

    Bush mallow and verbena serve as a background. The damsel's eye occupies the center of the bed, flanked by ornamental sage. In front of the girl's eyes, lavender sets the scene as a contrast provider. The space between sage and lavender is reserved for the magnificent candle. In the transition to the front row of beds, the filigree feather bristle grass inspires. Candytuft and cushion aster act as flowering footfolk for the leading and companion perennials.

    Design a narrow perennial bed - planting suggestion and shopping list

    The supreme discipline in creative garden design is the long, narrow perennial bed along the house facade. Ingenious trick is the inclusion of the house wall in the planting plan as a picturesque blooming backdrop. You can conjure up a front garden idyll in the smallest of spaces with care on the back burner with the following planting suggestion for an 80 cm wide and 600 cm long perennial bed:

    Shopping List

    • 4×4 Wood Sage 'Dancer' (Salvia nemorosa)
    • 4×3 Catnip 'Walkers Low' (Echinacea purpurea)
    • 3 pieces of litter 'Blue Cap' (Eryngium planum)
    • 3 yarrow 'Moonshine' (Achillea clypeolata)
    • 3 globe thistle (Echinops ritro)
    • 3 pieces of 'Wargrave' dyer's chamomile (Anthemis tinctoria)
    • 3 pieces of boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) 1 x as a cone, 2 x in the shape of a sphere
    • 1 climbing rose 'Snow White'
    • 1 piece of clematis (clematis)

    planting suggestion

    Woodland sage looks elegant and combines well with other purple and pink flowering perennials

    Wild sage divides the bed band with 4 specimens each into 3 segments of the same size. Plant 3 pieces of catnip in each of these segments in the foreground. Behind every tuft of catnip, in groups of 3 in front of the house wall, squabs, yarrow, globe thistles and dyer's chamomile thrive. Boxwood fills the gaps in the center as a cone and a spherical shape on each side. If the box tree moth is rampant in your region, we recommend an authentic alternative, such as dwarf yew 'Renkes Kleiner Grüner' or Japanese holly (Illex crenata). For a background with a Sleeping Beauty effect, the climbing rose 'Schneewittchen' guarantees a stable climbing aid on the house wall. The clematis (Clematis montana) 'Tetra Rose' exudes a seductive fragrance.

    Perennial perennial bed with grasses - ideas and suggestions

    Evergreen grasses are the secret to success for a perennial perennial border with no seasonal gaps. Majestic grasses such as Chinese reed give structure to the winter perennial border. White marble gravel as a floor covering drives away wintry dreariness and contrasts impressively with green blades of grass. The following planting plan including shopping list may inspire your imagination for creative design:

    Shopping List

    • 2 pieces of foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) of the variety 'Alba' (alternatively Himalayan steppe candle Eremurus himalaicus)
    • 2 Chinese reeds (Miscanthus sinensis) of the 'Hermann Müssel' variety
    • 6 pieces of sedge (Carex oshimensis) of the variety 'Evergold'
    • 6 pieces of purple bells (Heuchera) of the creamy-white flowering variety 'Mint Frost'
    • 34 sacks of 15 kg marble gravel, 40-60 mm grain of the 'Carrara' variety

    planting plan

    Foxgloves dominate in the background on either side of the herbaceous border. The rear half of the area is reserved for a Chinese reed at a sufficient distance. In between, place the sedges as accompanying perennials. The appearance is loosened up with three small tufts of purple bells.

    frequently asked Questions

    Moss in the perennial bed - what to do?

    Moss finds ideal growth conditions in compacted, moist soil in a cool, shady location. You can get rid of annoying moss by regularly raking, aerating and weeding the bed. Ideally, you should work a little quartz sand (€15.85) on the surface of the earth, which the moss does not like.

    Where can you plan a perennial bed online?

    The online bed planner from Obi provides very good assistance with the planning work. Hobby gardeners choose their personal favorites from a varied spectrum of beautiful design variants. If you wish, Obi will email you the planting plan free of charge, including a shopping list and planting instructions.

    Is there a design trick for the planting plan to make a small perennial bed appear larger?

    With a clever choice of colors you can create spatial depth in the perennial border. For background planting and scaffolding, choose tall perennials with dark colored leaves and flowers. In the foreground, place companion and filler perennials with small leaves and bright, pastel-colored flowers.

    tips

    Annoying weeding is reduced to a tolerable level if you professionally mulch your perennial bed with a 5 to 8 centimeter thick layer of bark mulch. Dandelion, goutweed and the like can be suppressed more effectively with a weed fleece. (€21.70) We recommend a fleece with a thickness of 150 g/m², which you can lay in the perennial bed dug out to the depth of a spade under a layer of sieved, humus-rich garden soil.

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Garden design