Perennials, Edibles, & Soil Secrets for a Stronger Kansas Garden
Hello, again!
Kansas gardeners know that success starts with choosing plants that can handle our extremes, from hot summers, cold winters, wind, the occasional drought, and even prairie fires. This is why planting perennials, especially those with roots in our native prairies, is one of the smartest investments you can make in your landscape.
Perennials come back year after year, often getting bigger and better with time. Once established, they require less water and maintenance than annuals, making them both economical and sustainable. But not all perennials are created equal. Kansas conditions reward tough, adaptable plants. As I journey through the Flint Hills, I am in awe of the beautiful, resilient plants that come back year after year, no matter what nature throws at them.
Incorporating natives into your perennial beds is one of the best ways to ensure success. These plants evolved right here in the Great Plains, so they’re naturally suited to our soils and climate.
A few Kansas-friendly native favorites include:
- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
- Purple coneflower (Echinacea)
- Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
- Blanket flower (Gaillardia)
- Liatris (Blazing Star)
Our soils can vary widely. Some of the soil that we garden in may even be undisturbed native clay, loam, and sand. Proper soil preparation makes all the difference, no matter where you are planting. One of the best amendments you can add is Cotton Burr Compost. This natural, organic soil conditioner not only improves soil structure but also adds organic matter with beneficial microbes. The soil recipe we developed years ago has been a staple for gardeners planting new gardens or reviving old planting areas. By adding Cotton Burr Compost and slow-release fertilizers, your plants will perform like never before.
Johnson’s Soil Recipe (covers 100 sq. ft.)
- Three 2 cu. ft. bags Cotton Burr Compost
- 3.25 lbs. Hi-Yield Bone Meal
- 3.25 lbs. ferti•lome Gardener’s Special
- 3.25 lbs. Natural Guard HuMic Granular Humic Acid
You can save when buying all the ingredients together!
Add these amendments to improve the health and condition of your soil before spring planting. Mix in well with a tiller or a garden shovel to about 8-12” deep.
Something new to try in perennial areas is our edible plant options. Strawberries make a wonderful ground cover to enjoy every year. Rhubarb makes a colorful feature in the garden. With its large ruffled leaves and colorful edible stems, they give any garden a nice accent.
New this year, we are also offering speciality "unique" fruits and edibles for the garden. These include more common plants such as blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries. To less often seen options for more adventurous gardeners, such as fig, goji berry, pomegranate, tea plants, yerba mate, and more.
Don't forget, our annual Fill-A-Flat and Arbor Day sales start today, April 22 - 26!
Mix and match your own flat of 36 flowers or a 10" tropical hibiscus for just $18.99. Or pick up a 6-pack of wave petunias for $10.99. If you're hunting for a new tree for your landscape, all fruiting, flowering, and deciduous trees are 20% off.
Your friend in the garden,
Marty Johnson
Owner - Johnson's Garden Centers
