Perennials Take Three Years: What to Expect While Your Garden Grows

A beautiful perennial garden doesn't happen overnight - or 1 season.

One of the hardest things for a new gardener is learning to be patient. We plant a garden, stand back, and immediately notice all the empty spaces. It can be tempting to add more plants just to make everything look finished. That is where annuals come in. They are great placeholders and add much needed color.

But perennials need time.

I always tell gardeners to give perennials at least three years to mature. During those first few seasons, the garden you see is not the garden you’re going to have.

The first year is about getting established. Plants are putting much of their energy into their root systems. Some may flower beautifully, while others may not do much at all. That doesn’t mean something is wrong.

The second year, you begin to see what the plants can do. They become fuller, taller, and more confident in their space. You’ll start to see how colors, textures, and shapes work together.

By the third year, the garden begins to become a garden. Plants start touching one another. Empty spaces disappear. The combinations you imagined when you planted begin to make sense.

This is also when you may discover that something isn't quite where you want it—and that’s okay. It’s okay to change your mind. Gardens grow and change, and we should be allowed to do the same.

The best gardens aren't rushed. They're watched, adjusted, weeded, and allowed to become more beautiful with time.

Give your garden time to tell you what it wants to become.

Happy Planting,

Jennifer