A popular adage in the gardening world but I think it is a worthwhile reminder for all homeowners.
The first yearafter planting means that the plant may appear to be sleeping but really it is the roots that matter! Making sure the plant gets good soil, enough water and even a good covering of mulch to help it during the heat of the summer and the insulation for the winter.
The second year, the plant, shrub or tree looks a bit bigger than when first planted but it is just there. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if it’s even happy. If it is the whole garden you will find it doesn’t need as much water as it did after planting but there is still empty space between the plants. All flowering plants, perennials and shrubs should flower this year. Flowering trees may flower sparingly, as the larger root structure is still establishing.
This is the year they are creeping after all.
Then bam! Third year. The plant comes alive – it’s really noticeable in the garden! If the whole garden was new, you’ll notice how much the plants have ” filled in” – plants are now touching gently and your black mulch is less of a feature now. You drive up to your house and go “wow, that garden looks great…Finally!”
I know it may seem like it takes awhile, especially when the weather is a contributing factor like it was this past year with the extreme heat or in past years that have been cool and rainy. I think it is another reason why it takes three years for the garden to reach its full potential.
Wherever you are in the cycle, I hope you can appreciate it! As the garden, perennials & shrubs go beyond the three-year mark, they will require a bit more attention. Generally, Fall is the best time for dividing and Spring is the best time for pruning. (Refer to my Seasonal Tips Guide for specifics).
This is also the time to tweak what might not be working. For example, a shrub could grow to cover a perennial or maybe trees are not shading out some of the plants beside them…
I have to confess, no design is perfect and some changes will have to happen over time to account for the growth. A good design does mean good bones though and the garden will come into its own.
Fall is a perfect time for a garden design or redesign – and especially for planting.
You know where to find me if you need me.
FAQs
"Sleep, Creep, Leap" is a phrase that's used among gardeners to simplify the typical phases a perennial plant will go through to reach its full mature size. Let's dig in to what that really means! Year 1: "Sleep" refers to the first season in the garden where a perennial plant will focus energy on its root system.
What are the three stages of the garden? ›
The Garden: The First Year, Plants Sleep, Second Year, They Creep & Third Year, They Leap! A popular adage in the gardening world but I think it is a worthwhile reminder for all homeowners.
What is the 3 year perennial rule? ›
Sleep, creep and leap
First year the plant will sleep, focusing growth on roots instead of the leaves and flowers. Second year the plant creeps, making some progress but not reaching full size. Third year the plant will leap into its full potential and deliver on the promises of the label or catalog listing.
What plant has a 2 year life cycle? ›
A biennial requires all or part of two years to complete its life cycle. During the first season, it produces vegetative structures (leaves) and food storage organs. The plant overwinters and then produces flowers, fruit and seeds during its second season.
When plants are sleeping? ›
Although plants do not sleep in the same way that humans do, they do have more and less active times and they have circadian rhythms—internal clocks that tell them when it is night and when it is day. And like many people, plants are less active at night. When the Sun comes up, however, they awake to the day.
What is it called when plants sleep? ›
Nyctinasty, the proper name for the “sleep movements of leaves” is a well-known example of a nastic response. In this case, plants close up their leaves and petals in response to the onset of darkness.
What is the gardening rule of 3? ›
Three plants creates balance
If you have enough space, group them in an equilateral triangle. This looks particularly good with mounding or vertical plants. Be sure to leave some space between the plants, especially if they are three different kinds.
What is the garden cycle? ›
A gardening season actually consists of two separate but overlapping cycles: The first gardening cycle involves growing. It includes preparing and planting, followed by care and harvest. It roughly follows three of the year's seasons—spring, summer and autumn—for nearly all gardens found in most areas of the country.
Is there a perennial that blooms all year? ›
'Autumn Joy' Stonecrop. 'Autumn Joy' is a perennial flower that blooms all year and that can be grown in zones 3-9 across the variety of climates that can be found in these zones.
What is a first year perennial? ›
Many perennials take two to three years until they flower or get stems long enough to use for cut flowers. However, there are a select few that will flower for you the first year that they are started from seed. These are called FYF (First Year Flowering) Perennials.
Perennial rule 1.
They survive through all the seasons and keep coming up year after year, doing what they do best. Plants have learned to adapt to what their environment throws at them to continue to grow and bloom.
How long will annuals last? ›
An annual plant completes its life cycle in one year.
Other annuals have their lives cut short before they can set seed because frost arrives.
What plant flowers every two years? ›
Biennial plants grow leaves, stems and roots the first year, then go dormant for the winter. In the second year the plant will flower and produce seeds before dying. Biennials are usually sold with perennials and include sweet william, foxglove, money plant and hollyhock.
Which plant have a lifespan of one year? ›
Annuals are plants that complete their life cycle in one year. They germinate, grow, bear fruits and die off within an year. Generally, all herbs and plants belonging to the grass family exhibit this type of life cycle. Mustard, watermelon, corn, lettuce wheat, are a few examples of annual plants.
What do plants need to grow Year 1? ›
In order for a seed to survive and grow into a strong plant, it needs water, light, suitable temperature, air and time.
Do plants sleep yes or no? ›
Plants don't sleep in the same way that humans do, but like humans, they are less active at night. They possess their own kind of circadian rhythms, internal clocks that use environmental and chemical cues to distinguish night from day, and like some animals, they can wake up with the Sun.
What plant falls asleep at night? ›
Mimosa pudica (also called sensitive plant, sleepy plant, action plant, humble plant, touch-me-not, or shameplant) is a creeping annual or perennial flowering plant of the pea/legume family Fabaceae.
What is the saying for perennial plants? ›
While not all perennials need time to look and do their best, this is a common enough phenomenon that there is an actual adage for it "The first year they sleep, the second year they creep and the third year they leap!" But what does that really mean?
