While annuals generally offer the showiest flowers, perennials give gardeners the chance to enjoy plants in the same spot, year after year. This is also a great way to draw birds and bees back to your garden. Check out the 4 best reasons to plant perennials in your garden.

1) Expansion

Perennials come back every year and they often come back bigger. While some perennials such as daylilies are easy to split and will even thrive after this process, others, such as peonies, need to be planted and allowed to expand in the same spot.

Keep an eye out for the perennials that come back in the toughest spots or with the least amount of care. These are the plants you want to split and spread around your yard.

2) Background

While annuals bloom all summer, perennials have a shorter blooming time. Their greenery serves as a terrific backdrop for bright, showy annuals.

Many perennials grow much taller than annuals, so planting perennials at the back of your flower beds is a great idea. You can enjoy their blooms while showing off your annual plants.

3) Seasonal Celebration

Tulips and iris announce the spring. Daylilies celebrate the early warmth of summer. Black-eyed susan and coneflowers thrive in the sultry heat of late summer. Mums let us all know that fall is approaching. No matter the time of the season, from snow melt to the first frost, our perennials are ready to thrive.

4) Budget

New plants can be pricey. If you have an iris, daylily or mum that is thriving or at least dependable, you can split these plants and enjoy their beauty in other areas of your yard.

Perennials generally do best when divided in the spring. This is a fairly simple process if you use a spading fork instead of a shove. Lift the plant from the ground with the spading fork so you can get a look at the root ball or rhizome. If possible, split the root evenly with the spading fork, move half the plant to a new hole, and water it well.

Splitting the plant in early spring may mean that it won’t bloom that first year, but no worries. You should get consistent blooms once the plant is established in its new spot.

Perennials are the old friends of the gardening world. These plants often come with family history. If a friend or family member offers you some iris or lilies, take them and put them in the ground. Be ready to share these beautiful plants with other gardeners.