Perennial Garden Planting in Columbia, Maryland

Create stunning gardens that bloom year after year with expert perennial selection and planting from Greenlawn Inc.

Why Choose Greenlawn for Perennial Gardens

Ready for a Beautiful Perennial Garden?

Expert design and planting for Columbia properties

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Why Perennials for Howard County Gardens

Perennials return season after season, growing larger and more impressive with time. Unlike annuals requiring replanting every year, perennials offer better long-term value with less maintenance.

The Smart Investment

Well-chosen perennials provide years of color and interest while requiring a fraction of the effort needed for annual beds. With 39 years serving Columbia, we know which perennials thrive in Maryland's challenging climate—hot humid summers and variable winters.

Top Perennials for Columbia Gardens

Daylilies (Hemerocallis)

The workhorse of Howard County gardens. Tolerates heat, drought, and neglect while providing weeks of summer color. Available in countless varieties, virtually indestructible once established.

Hostas

Perfect for Columbia's shaded areas under mature trees. Incredible foliage variety from tiny miniatures to massive specimens. Extremely hardy in Maryland shade gardens.

Black-Eyed Susans & Coneflowers

Native perennials perfectly adapted to Howard County. Handle heat, humidity, and drought while attracting butterflies and bees. Self-seed gently, filling gaps naturally.

Ornamental Grasses

Add movement, texture, and year-round interest. Karl Foerster, maiden grass, and switchgrass provide vertical accents and look stunning through winter.

Sedum & Succulents

'Autumn Joy' sedum offers three-season interest with attractive foliage, late summer blooms, and russet winter seed heads. Extremely drought-tolerant, requires minimal maintenance.

Planting Timing for Maryland

Fall Planting (September-October)

Best time for perennial planting in Columbia. Cool temperatures reduce stress while warm soil encourages root growth. Fall-planted perennials develop extensive root systems over winter and explode with growth in spring.

Spring Planting (April-May)

Works well for most perennials, especially late-season bloomers. Plant early (April-early May) before summer heat arrives, giving plants time to establish roots.

Three-Season Color Design

Expert garden design ensures constant interest throughout the growing season:

Spring Bloomers

Hellebores, bleeding hearts, and early salvias fill the gap between spring bulbs and summer flowers.

Summer Stars

Daylilies, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and hostas carry gardens through Maryland's long summer with staggered bloom times.

Fall Glory

Sedum, asters, mums, and ornamental grasses extend garden interest into fall when many landscapes have faded.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

On-site assessment and expert plant recommendations

Call 410-992-8680

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between perennials and annuals?

Perennials return year after year from the same root system, while annuals complete their life cycle in one season. Perennials die back in winter and emerge each spring, growing larger with age. While annuals often bloom continuously, perennials offer better long-term value with less replanting effort.

How long until a perennial garden looks full?

Most perennial gardens take 2-3 growing seasons to reach full potential. First year focuses on root establishment, second year shows vigorous growth, and by third year properly spaced perennials fill in beautifully. The saying goes: "First year they sleep, second year they creep, third year they leap."

Are perennials deer-resistant in Howard County?

Many perennials are deer-resistant due to fragrant foliage or bitter taste. Reliable choices include salvia, lavender, Russian sage, catmint, lamb's ear, ornamental grasses, and ferns. Hostas are unfortunately deer candy. While no plant is completely deer-proof, building gardens around resistant varieties dramatically reduces damage.

Can perennials grow in shade?

Many perennials thrive in shade—perfect for Columbia properties with mature trees. Excellent shade perennials include hostas, ferns, hellebores, astilbe, bleeding hearts, and coral bells. These woodland natives actually prefer shade to full sun and are often easier to maintain since shade reduces summer water stress.

Schedule Your Perennial Garden

Create a beautiful perennial garden that returns year after year. Our 39 years serving Columbia means we understand which perennials thrive in Maryland's climate and how to design gardens with three-season interest and manageable maintenance.

Call today for a free consultation. We'll assess your site, discuss preferences, and design a perennial garden tailored to your Columbia property.

Contact Greenlawn Inc

Plan Your Perennial Garden Today

Fall and spring are perfect planting seasons

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Family Owned • Expert Selection • Professional Installation

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About Greenlawn Inc: Since 1986, Greenlawn Inc has provided professional perennial garden design, planting, and maintenance to homeowners throughout Columbia, Ellicott City, and Howard County, Maryland. Our experienced team specializes in selecting perennials that thrive in Maryland's climate, creating beautiful gardens that improve year after year.