Question
I live in a small town (Poplar Grove) North of Rockford, IL and I'm looking for a summer blooming perennial that requires not to be dug up each year.  I just bought some Gladiolus, but found that they require to be dug up each year.  I don't have the time to be constantly doing that.  I want to add a splash of color in the summer between my lilacs bushes and evergreens when there is no more color (other then green), but also keep it looking not busy.  The area gets at least 7 hours of full sun and is tucked in between my garage and front door.  It faces West/Southwest. I抳e thought about using annuals, but the area is more apt for perennials.  So what are the best perennials blooming mid to late summer and are very colorful and don抰 require to be dug up year after year?

Answer
Dawn,

There are so many perennials that you can use so I'm going to guide you to the website of SpringHill Nurseries.  On the left hand side of their home page you can choose all the variables you want for your plants and they will come up with a list of possibles.  Of course, I am not endorsing any purchase from them, it's just a great tool!!!

Also I'd like to share my soil mixture with you--it's taken years of trying different ingredients but this one is fantastic!!

Good Soil Mixture:

  In the established garden areas, I  use a shovel to turn the clear areas around the plants  each year and work in some of the mix.  Work it into the soil around all your established plants.
 
For new garden beds:
 For every 10?x 10?of NEW area add:

4 bags of good topsoil
4 bags of horse/cow/chicken manure-of course, not raw
Any amount of your own compost
2 bags sand-play sand is OK(depending on your soil type)
1 bag Millorganite -organic fertilizer, nurseries-not avail. in all states
2 bags cedar mulch
2 bags pellet gypsum (for aeration)-if your soil has lots of clay
1 bag powdered/granulated sulphur

Rototill this mixture into the ground to about 1 foot in depth or more if you can.

This mixture is the best I have formulated and I have GREAT success with it.  I always have a bunch of it premixed so when I transplant I can have that area primed!  This stuff is like butter if you till it enough and put in the right stuff!

I also use this in and around already established plants.  The mixture can be lightly turned to mix with existing dirt with a shovel.  I do this yearly.  I usually have a big mound of dirt ready to go anytime in back of my shed (covered, of course).

MILLORGANITE can be purchased at all the nurseries in town, about $10 a bag.  It is organic and will not harm pets or you!  You can put it on the lawn in the spring and again in the fall with a spreader ( I put it on quite heavily) and all your flowers and vegetables.  It is not available in all states.

PREEN is also a GREAT product to put on your garden areas to prevent weed growth.  You first have to get all the weeds out.  Then put on the PREEN-with or without fertilizer-right at the first of spring and again in the middle of summer.  I NEVER have weeds since starting this product.


Go get you hands dirty!
Sijka