Spring is the best time to buy perennial plants.
Garden centers, specialist nurseries and gardening websites offer the greatest range of varieties at this time of year, and the plants will also be coming into growth and be ready to plant.
Perennials are a large and varied group and there are types to suit every garden situation, regardless of soil type or whether the garden is in sun or shade.
Most perennials are herbaceous, which means they die back to ground level during the winter months and then produce new growth each spring from dormant underground roots.
A few perennials are evergreen, however, keeping their leaves throughout the winter.
Some even flower in the winter, so it may be worth considering planting a winter garden to enjoy in the colder months of the year.
Some shade tolerant perennials can be grown beneath a deciduous tree or shrub, so that they are in full view when at their best, but hidden from sight the rest of the year.
The wide choice of perennials can be bewildering for the beginner so it is a good idea to consider exactly what you want from each plant from start.
That way you can drastically reduce the number of options available to make the selection a more manageable task.
Another tip is to start by visiting your local garden center, which will stock only a limited range of plants, all of which should be suitable for growing in your area.
It is a good idea to apply or renew mulch after weeding.
As well as helping to prevent weeds from reappearing, this will also preserve moisture.
Composted bark, chipped bark or gravel will set the plants off well.
You could also consider using garden compost or leaf mould as a mulch.
Other mulches such as back polythene, grass clippings and straw work well but look unattractive.