What kind of plants should i plant?

i live in the midwest, northwest indiana, and am looking for an idea of what type of plants i can plant that will come up every year, that can be in the sun most of the time. I have hostas and mini roses, i need something for filler that will come back year after year. I am not really talented with outdoor plants, so any help would be appreciated.

What kind of plants should i plant?
Plants that come up every year are called perennials.


Hostas are perennials and are shade loving plants, although there are a few varieties that can handle a few hours of full sun, those would be the newer introductions. Most Hostas will fry in full sun. Roses, another perennial, reach their maxium bloom potential in ful sun, approx. 6 hours a day. I'm guessing that you don't have these both planted in the same place, I hope?


Anyway, to answer your question, before deciding what kinds of plants you want to plant you need to find out first what the growing conditions are for that particular area besides that it will be in the sun 'most of the time." Has the soil there been amended with anything? Is it wet and clay-ey? Rocky? Rich and loose? Most plants have particular soils that they do


best in.


Do you have a way to water these plants or will you be looking for more drought tolerant plants?


In regards to general suggestions, there are many low maintenance perennials to choose from but many have only a few weeks of bloom . To get the most bang for your gardening buck, look for perennials that will bloom mid season (around the middle of June) until frost. My personal favorites are the coneflowers, which now come in many different colors besides the Purple Coneflower that is really pink..:) They're pretty much drought tolerant, not too picky about soil, birds love their seeds and the clumps can be divided and spread around ever year if you want to extend your gardening dollar even more.


Ornamental grasses are the hottest selling plant sold in new, high-end housing developments for their ease of care.


We have a great group on Yahoo Groups called therookiegardener with alot of experienced and inexperienced gardeners who like to share their projects and advice. Would love to have you.
Reply:Creeping phlox covers the ground with green carpet and is covered with flowers right now in NW Ind.Peonies and Iris are beautiful perennials .Surprise lillys and Stella D'Oro daylillys are great too.Decorative grasses come in all heights and some are variegated greens or red leaved . Have fun!

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