Three Tips for Full Sun Perennial Success

by Doug
(in his garden)

Full sun perennial flowers can be a bit of a challenge and here are three tips for making the garden a bit more successful.



I'm a big fan of perennials in the full hot sun given I grew this way for more years than I'd care to think about. While my current garden has a lot of trees, previous gardens tended to be more exposed. Even my current garden has a full southern exposure for the better part of the day that will allow me to indulge my love of those big bright showy sun-loving plants.

Soil improvement: the better the soil, the more organic matter you get into it, the better your full sun perennial flowers will respond. Adding compost (just toss it on the garden, the worms will pull it down) is a great thing to do as is adding some form of organic matter such as chopped up leaves or whatever you can obtain.

Water properly - normally we look to get 1.5 inches of water per week to our perennial gardens. This isn't a "rule" but a guideline. And if you're paying attention, you'll quickly figure out whether your soil needs water (hint: put your finger a half-inch down into the soil - does it come away dry - then water. If it comes away wet - don't)


Add organic mulch. This practice is common in the north and northeast but can be a problem in the northwest with it's slugs and mold issues. In my northeast garden, where winter arrives to decimate any insects, and where a bit of winter protection is appreciated by many plants, a 3-inch layer of mulch works nicely.