Perennials are plants that grow and bloom every year. These plants add color, variety and beauty to your garden, a sunny rooftop terrace, a gable garden or a tiny balcony: and can be either evergreen or deciduous. In autumn, the aboveground parts of most perennials die, but they survive underground. The next year they reappear and usually grow larger than before. If you combine different types of perennials, you can enjoy a garden with color all year round because they have different flowering periods, from January to December.

Autumn is an ideal time to plant: the soil is still warm after summer. In addition, the wet fall weather keeps the soil moist enough. This way the roots will continue to grow for a while before winter arrives and the plant goes into dormancy. When spring comes and the temperature rises, the plant is already ready to grow vigorously.

Your plant prefers to be in a place that suits it: where there is enough sun or shade for it to grow well. This is different for each species. And the main issue is the number of hours of sun the plant needs per day.

These sunshine hours are average for the spring and summer seasons:

• Stand in shade: up to 2 hours of full sun per day, these plants can also be in the darkest areas of your garden.
• Position semi-shade: up to 4 hours a day in full sun, these plants like light shade. Shade from a tree with an open crown, for example.
• Position sun: at least 5 hours of sun on the warmest part of the day. Do not place these plants under a tree or large shrub that may block sunlight.

Combinations of these positions are also common: for example, plants that thrive in both sun and partial shade will bloom more profusely in the sun. It’s the same with plants that can stand in semi-shade and shade. Be careful that shade plants don’t get too much sunlight, they can burn.

Balcony plants are often in places with lots of sun and wind. The potting soil can then dry out quickly, so it is extra important how you water.Water well every other day, better once a lot than several times a little.

On hot sunny days, do this every day. Morning is the best time, because if you water in the evening, the plant will not absorb it and the soil will remain too wet. Then there is more chance of fungal diseases.