Best time to plant perennials

Q. What’s the best time to start planting perennials in the Mid-Michigan area?

A. The best time to plant perennials in our area depends on how they were grown.

For perennials that are grown in a greenhouse, you should wait to plant after the last frost has passed. Since they started growing sooner than if they were outside, they may be damaged by frost.

Perennials grown in a container can be planted at any time throughout the growing season. I recommend planting throughout the summer to maximize blooming periods but before October 15 to give them time to root in before the winter.

Bare root perennials should be planted in the spring when they are still dormant.

If you plan on dividing and replanting your existing perennials, this should also be done in spring while plants are dormant and before new growth starts.