What does hardy mean?
Winter hardy does not mean that the perennials can survive freezing temperatures. There are also subdivisions for winter hardiness - namely in zones:
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- Design the perennial bed with grasses
| Zone | temperature |
|---|---|
| Z1 | Below -45.5 ° C |
| Z2 | -45.5 to -40.1 ° C |
| Z3 | -40.1 to -34.5 ° C |
| Z4 | -34.5 to -28.9 ° C |
| Z5 | -28.8 to -23.4 ° C |
| Z6 | -23.4 to -17.8 ° C |
| Z7 | -17.8 to -12.3 ° C |
| Z8 | -12.3 to -6.7 ° C |
| Z9 | -6.7 to -1.2 ° C |
| Z10 | -1.2 to + 4.4 ° C |
| Z11 | Over + 4.4 ° C |
Therefore, the term "hardy" is not particularly clear, as even a plant with hardiness zone 11 can bear this name. So pay attention to the additions that can be made either in the form of temperature specifications (“hardy to -20 ° C), adjectives (very good hardy) or zones (hardy Z7).
Choose for your Perennial bed preferably plants with a winter hardiness of at least Zone7, i.e. around -15 ° C. Even if the ideal winter hardiness varies slightly depending on the region: Since it rarely gets colder than -18 ° C in flatter areas such as Berlin or Brandenburg, perennials with a winter hardiness for zone 7 are sufficient. In cooler regions, such as in the foothills of the Alps, perennials with a winter hardiness up to zone 6 should be planted.
Prepare the perennial bed for winter
Most perennials are well hardy. But so that they are immune to frost and cold, you should take the following measures in autumn and winter:
- Under no circumstances should you cut back your perennials before winter! Dried up leaves and stems protect the roots from the cold. If plants with hollow stems are cut back, moisture penetrates the perennial and it can rot.
- Cover your perennial bed with huge and / or leaves, especially in the root area of your perennials.
- Don't forget to water your perennial bed even in winter (on frost-free days). Perennials are more likely to dry up in winter than freeze to death.
Evergreen perennials
It is clear that the perennial bed does not look particularly appealing in winter. You can spice up the dreary, sad sight, however, by planting evergreen perennials, the leaves of which are frost-hardy, on your perennial bed, such as:
- Runners-forming Waldsteinia
- Colorful purple bells
- Fat man
- Fragrant violets
- Spring rose
- Lily grape
- Little evergreen
- Black snake beard
- Star moss
- thyme
- Evergreen lavender varieties