When should I plant this perennial garden, fall or spring?

When should I plant this perennial garden, the flowers that I will be planting are Salvia, Perennial Phlox, Adam's needle, Giant desert candle, Sweet Wiliam, Lady's Mantle, Corepopsis, Boxwood, Crocosmia, Scabious, Prarie Mallow, Delpinium, Tree Mallow (Lavatera) and Penstemon. When would be the best time to plant them, so they all bloom the best next year? Thanks. Ps. this garden is about 15 feet by 9 feet, and full of these flowers. About how much should this cost in Canadian?

When should I plant this perennial garden, fall or spring?
Fall is definitely best for most plants; it gives them time to establish roots, etc., before going through their first summer which may be stressful (heat, less water). However, most nurseries sell perennials in the Spring as that is when customers get excited about plants and run to the nursery to buy them. Plus they are often blooming and the customer can see what they look like.


If you can put them out in early Spring and keep an eye on them, perhaps needing to "baby" them during the first summer, they should make it. It is really best not to put anything out once it gets hot.


If you really want to plant in the Fall (which is the best, if you can do it), check with local nurseries - some may stock some perennials that time of year. Also, mail order sources of plants are often geared to the more experienced and knowledgeable gardener and will ship in the Fall. Also, Fall is a good time to dig up and divide plants that need that, so maybe you can exchange with gardening friends.





I'm afraid I can't address the cost at all. The only plant I see that I know can be pricey is the boxwood. I have never heard of the Adam's needle, Giant desert candle or tree mallow so have no idea about them.
Reply:Not sure in Canada the cost, but your perennials do better in the fall. The other thing is all that are sold Willl have a tag that wil tell you the best time to plant them. Good Luck and Happy Green thumbing.
Reply:first of all cost is going to depend on your local nursery and what type of stock they have.





Secondly, each plant will have a different best time for planting and best caring regime.





I suggest using google and searching for each plant type separately
Reply:I would recommend spring so it gives the plants time to root before winter. You'll need to make sure you keep them watered halfway well for the first year.





Also, that sounds like a lot of flowers for that size. Make sure you give each flower plenty of room to grow the next year if you are planting plants.





Cost will depend on your nursery and what stock they have, etc. Many of the nurseries shop around from nursery to nursery. They'll find one nursery that has an overstock of something and buy some off of them. Also, you may not be able to find all of them at the same time. Some perennials you can only find at certain times of the season. The cost will also partly depend on the size of the plant. Normally, most perennial plants will ranger from about $1.50 to $12.00 for one plant. As you can see, that is a wide variance.

Vagabond Inn Merced