Sleeping, Creeping, Leaping: What to Expect in a New Colorado Garden

Some time ago, I was browsing the perennials at Tagawa Gardens, and one of the helpful salespeople asked me,

“Have you heard about the three-year rule for perennials in Colorado?”

“There’s a three-year rule?”

“Yes,” she said. “In the first year, the plant is sleeping. In the second year, it’s creeping. And in the third year, it’s leaping.”

I had never heard that before, and I asked her to tell me more. What she shared was less about botany and more about expectations.

YEAR ONE: SLEEPING

In the first year, don’t expect too much. Yes, it may bloom, but maybe not fully. Yes, it may grow, but only a little. Kind of like a kid who seems to grow taller every night while sleeping - it’s all happening below the surface.

These aren’t annuals, which go all-out in one season. These are perennials, which are in it for the long haul. Some may surprise you with a decent show, if they’re planted in the right place, with the right sun and water. But others - like peonies - will give you one tiny bloom and a whole lot of doubt.

You might find yourself wondering:“Did I do something wrong? Was it the wrong plant? Did the nursery miss something?”

It’s okay. It’s just sleeping.

YEAR TWO: CREEPING

Winter comes. Leaves fall. You might find yourself praying, “I sure hope you come back next year.”

In February, you step outside, hoping for signs of life. If you planted daffodils, maybe you spot those familiar green tips peeking through. Hope returns.

Then doubt creeps in.

“Wait, why isn’t everything else growing?”“Why are the leaves so small?”“Maybe that nursery gave me bad plants!”

But here’s the thing: in Year Two, the creeping is happening underground. Roots are growing. Establishing. Stretching into the soil. It’s quiet work. Invisible work.

I remember planting Icelandic poppies. Gorgeous the first year - two big blooms. But in Year Two? A few leaves. No blooms. Nothing.

A friend came by and asked, “Why isn’t it blooming?”I just looked at the sad little patch and said, “I don’t know… I think I’ve lost my enthusiasm for it.”

That’s creeping. And it’s completely normal.

YEAR THREE: LEAPING

Now we’re getting to the good part. In Year Three, something amazing happens.

The same plant that barely moved the year before suddenly fills out. Blooms explode. You walk outside and think, “It finally worked!”

It’s not that the plant wasn’t trying before - it was just busy doing the hard part first: building its foundation.

And isn’t that how a lot of good things in life go?

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you're new to gardening in Colorado, or if you’ve recently installed new landscaping with The Happy Gardener, I hope this helps.

There’s nothing wrong with your plants. They’re not lazy. They’re not broken. They’re just doing what they do - sleeping, creeping, leaping.

So next time you're tempted to rip something out or give up too soon, take a breath and give it time. Your garden is just getting started.

Talk to the Happy Gardener