Every gardener has dreamed at one point or another of an “Instant Landscape.” Unfortunately, none of the home-shopping networks sell a garden that matures quickly (trust us, we’ve checked). The next best thing is to plant an array of perennials that bulk up quickly, giving your beds a look of being full and therefore far older than they actually are. In fact, several of our recommendations can be divided within a year or two of planting so you’ll get even more bang for your buck. The options we talk about in this episode may fill out quickly, but they aren’t aggressive or invasive.

 

Expert: Kelly Norris, director of horticulture and education at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden in Iowa.