Three pointers for perennials

Gardening is an engaging hobby that can provide a host of benefits, some of which may surprise even the most devoted gardeners.

For example, the Harvard Medical School notes that just 30 minutes of gardening burns 135 calories, making gardening a fun and simple way to incorporate more exercise into your daily routine. In addition, scientists have long proven that gardening releases the hormones serotonin and dopamine in the brain, each associated with improved mood.

Perennial gardens can be especially attractive to seasoned gardeners and novices. Perennials are plants that come back year after year, and committing to a perennial garden can ensure people stick with gardening for the long haul, reaping all the rewards of making such a commitment.

Before planting a perennial garden, those new to gardening may want to consider these three tips.

1. Make a planA perennial garden comes back year after year, which means any mistakes you make when planting are likely to haunt you year after year. Factors like space and location must be considered before planting. Many gardeners utilize garden planning applications like GrowVeg to make planning a garden simpler and more organized. Such applications can be especially useful for novices.

2. Consider aestheticsGardens can be awe-inspiring, especially when gardeners consider aesthetics before planting. The DIY Network advises gardeners to consider scale before choosing which perennials to plant. Tall plants and wide beds tend to look best outside large homes, while short plants in small beds tend to look better outside small homes.

3. Work with a professionalLocal garden centers can be excellent resources when planning perennial gardens. Representatives at such businesses can offer tips on native plants, which will be more likely to thrive year after year than non-natives. Such representatives can also help you choose the right plants based on the amount of sunlight the plants will likely get after planting. Each of these factors can be easily overlooked by people without much gardening experience.