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Perennials · 5 real projects

Perennial Garden Ideas: Plant Once, Enjoy for Decades

Perennials are the smartest money you'll ever spend in a garden — plant them once and they come back bigger and better every spring. These beds feature my workhorses: catmint along bluestone, astilbe in the shade, blue phlox blanketing slopes, and ornamental grasses for four-season structure.

Look closely at how each planting pairs sun-lovers with the right exposure. Then use the Seasonal Planner to find out exactly what to plant in your USDA zone, this month.

Ornamental Grass Feature — perennials idea by landscape designer Linda

Ornamental Grass Feature

Blue Phlox Groundcover — perennials idea by landscape designer Linda

Blue Phlox Groundcover

Purple Salvia & Yellow Daisy Border — perennials idea by landscape designer Linda

Purple Salvia & Yellow Daisy Border

Astilbe & Catmint Along Bluestone — perennials idea by landscape designer Linda

Astilbe & Catmint Along Bluestone

Perennial Border in Bloom — perennials idea by landscape designer Linda

Perennial Border in Bloom

Linda's pro tip

Cut your catmint back by half after its first bloom in June. It looks brutal for a week — then it rewards you with a whole second flush of flowers into fall.

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