Landscaping Plants - A Major Decision

Your yard has a lot of potential, but it can't live up to it without the right landscaping plants.
There are so many choices to choose from, and if you don't know a lot about plants or landscaping, it's often difficult to choose the perfect landscaping plants for your yard. There is a lot of great advice available on the internet and in landscaping books to help you narrow down some tough decisions and really make the most of landscaping plants to add a bit of magic to your yard.

The Right Landscaping Plants

There are many factors to considering when choosing the right landscaping plants. Where you are geographically has a huge impact on which plants will thrive in your yard. You may love Birds of Paradise, but that plant probably won't grow well in your Canadian yard. Taking the time to research which plants will really thrive in your particular yard will save a lot of time and trouble.

Even if you live in a warm climate, tropical flowers may not be able to survive if you happen to have a harsh winter. Tropic flowers tend to thrive in year-round temperate climates. You can better monitor the temperatures of your tropical flowers if they are kept inside, in which case they can't be considered as a staple of your landscaping plants.

Hardy flowering plants such as the Impatiens of Chrysanthemums are excellent choices if you live in a climate with very distinct seasons. Your local garden center is a great place to find out about all the different flowering plants that work well in your corner of the world. They can also fill you in on the basis of plant care including watering.

Another thing to keep in mind when researching the right landscaping plants is what functions you want your plants to provide. You made only have an aesthetic appeal in mind, but plants can serve other purposes as well. There are also many aspects to what you prefer aesthetically. Do you want a lot of flowering plants and colors, or would you prefer some elegant green foliage? Taking the time to consider the aesthetics qualities of the right plants and how different landscaping plants may or may not work together harmoniously is essential if you seek a beautiful yard.

Landscaping plants are indeed often more than just a pretty face. They can provide much needed privacy. The ivy vine is a great plant to consider if privacy is your goal because it can easily conceal the spaces in a fence. Ivy is also an attractive plant, so it can serve dual functions in your yard, providing both beauty and privacy. If you decide to use ivy as one of your landscaping plants, remember to keep it in check because it may grow too fast and overtake everything in your yard. It may grow to reach walls that you didn't actually want it to touch. Just remember to keep a careful eye on the ivy vine, and the two of you can have a very symbiotic relationship.

Where to Find Landscaping Plants and Why They Are Important

Landscaping plantsform the basis of any landscaping project and are very important. Selecting the proper plants can make a yard truly stunning or be a complete headache if not properly chosen. plants can also have a specific purpose instead of simply being decorative and can be used as focal points, for erosion control, shade and screening. You need to get proper plants to avoid having to replant your garden fresh every single spring. You should think how much time you can take care of your yard every week, and depending on this, choose plants with little or higher maintenance.

It is very common for individuals to choose the wrong plants for their landscaping projects. You should try to have some basic landscaping information before purchasing plants. You should always have a plan before purchasing plants and be prepared in advance. You should completely design and decide what plants you want to incorporate into your design before visiting a nursery. This will also allow you to make sure you stay within your budget.

Beside mistakes with choosing the wrong plants, individuals also frequently do not pay attention to zoning, in that certain plants grow better in recommended zones and climates. You should pay attention to what zones are listed on for each plant. The tags on plants will provide enough information for you to make an informed choice. You should have this information before you go plant shopping in order to make sure you can use the plants you desire.

Finding Landscaping plants

There are many different places in which you can purchase landscaping plants. The first place you should visit is your local landscaping center or gardening store. If they do not have the plants you want in stock then they may be able to tell you where you can obtain them. You will most likely need to stop at a few different stores but no matter how long it takes you will be happy you purchased the plants you want.

You can also purchase plants on the Internet. The Internet offers speedy searching and the ability to browse from your own home. Internet stores will also provide a lot of information on landscaping plants besides the ability to purchase them. In fact online plant stores can be a great place to obtain plant information. You can also see about getting any questions answered as their support staff will be very knowledgeable, as they will respond to your question in about a day.

Landscaping Plants - The Choices

How to Choose the Right Landscaping plants

When you want your yard to be landscape, whether you are going to do the work yourself or have a professional landscaper do it, you need to choose the plants to have planted. How do you know the right plants to choose?

Climate

To begin with, you need to consider you climate. plants do not always thrive in any given climate. Some plants need it hotter and some colder. Likewise, some need direct sun and some need indirect sun.

Once you have figured out what plants will work in your climate, the next step is to narrow your list. Unless you have an oversized yard, choose no more than three types of plants. Too many different plants do become too hard to care for.

Faux plants

There are those that have the idea to plant faux landscaping plants. If you are a person with allergies or that does not have the time to take care of your yard, this may be a good option for you. However, the secret to faux plants is choosing the plant that will not look too fake to the people visiting your home. Also consider your going to have to replace them as their color fades from exposure to the sun.

If you still want to use real plants, make sure the plants you choose do not require more upkeep than you have time to do. plants that shed a lot are cause for many hours of cleaning and maintenance. If you are not able to do so, do not by plants that frequently shed.

For more information on landscaping plants, you can consult your local gardening center. Remember, the purpose to landscaping your yard is to enjoy it and make it beautiful. Only plant what you have the time to take care of.

There are many different landscaping plants available to choose from. You need to select as few plants and keep them well organized. It is not an issue of how many different plants you have in your yard but how well put together the designs you choose are placed. Choose a maximum of three or four plant types depending on your yard size, shape and dimensions.

Place like plants together and do not be afraid to display an assortment of colors. Variation of colors adds a sense of glamour to an ordinary yard.

Choosing Plants For Landscaping

Some homes have landscaping that is just incredible to look at. When you are designing your own landscape, a large part of it is choosing plants. For landscaping, you need to choose plants that will fit your lifestyle.

There are several thing that you need to consider before selecting the actual plants that you will use.

What are you trying to accomplish for your yard?

How much space is going to be devoted to it?

To get the best results for your landscape project, you need to have a plan that you will work from. The type of landscape plan that you create will be different depending on what you are trying to accomplish. To decide what you want to accomplish, consider what the final goal is.

Would you like your landscape project to:

create a private haven,

create an area to entertain,

create a bird sanctuary,

create a wildflower garden,

create a beautiful place to welcome you home,

dress up an existing eye sore,

simply be a small flower bed

As this small, incomplete list shows, there are many possible outcomes for even a well planned landscape. Taking the time to plan out what the finished project will be will help to accomplish what you have in mind.

Once you have a plan for your landscape project, it is time to start choosing plants. For landscaping plants, there are several key items to consider.

1. Do you enjoy working in the yard?

- Some plants require a lot of maintenance while others are maintenance free.

2. How close to the house will it be?

- Many varieties of plants grow extremely large and can cause issues if planted in the wrong place.

3. Do they over-populate the lawn?

- Many plants produce seeds that are spread by the wind or birds.

4. What colors would you like to use?

- Your favorite plants may be available in a multitude of colors.

5. How easy are they to get rid of?

- Many plants travel by root systems that can overtake the yard.

6. Will this be a container garden or planted?

- Not all plants do well inside containers.

Many landscape nightmares happen because the plants are chosen when they are small. Most often, people do not realize how large a plant will become as it matures. Rhododendrun plants are placed right against the house, honeysuckle is placed where it is free to overtake the entire yard, etc. When these types of mistakes are made, the plants can quickly overtake the yard and ruin your plans, turning your landscape dream into a daily nightmare.

Once you have a complete landscape plan, it is much easier to have a vision of how it should turn out. Use this vision to start researching the plants that will be used in the design. Look around at other landscape projects to see what types of plants you enjoy and what to expect as they grow. Look at the different color combinations as well as the layout of the heights and specific types of plants. You will quickly figure out what plants compliment one another.

Another thing to keep in mind is that plants will look different during different seasons, and even at different times during the season. You may need to use plants that "flower" at different times during the season to keep your design all season long.

Researching the types of plants that you are considering using and knowing what to expect from them as they grow is the best way of choosing plants for landscaping. This will ensure that you are satisfied with the landscaped space that you have created for many years to come.

Choosing Pool Landscaping Plants

Choosing plants for your pool landscape is a difficult process that is unique to each individual, depending on decor, region and style. Some plants are more suited to different locations and others may have traits that are particularly detrimental to pool landscapes. Knowing which to choose to maximize the appearance and effectiveness of your landscape will help you enjoy and relax in the pool.

Shedding Leaves:

Trees and shrubs are notorious for shedding leaves, catkins, nuts, fruit, flowers and needles, which is bad news for pool owners. These discarded materials can find their way into your pool, regardless of whether you have a cover or not. Once in the pool, they can clog drains and prevent the pool from functioning properly. Because of this, plants that drop a lot of foliage should not be incorporated into the pool landscape, and if they are, they should be a long way from the actual pool.

Thorns:

Some plants, namely cacti, holly bushes and rose bushes, have sharp thorns that can cause potentially cause injury. When people relax around the pool, they usually have a large amount of skin exposed, which increases the likelihood of a thorn related injury. Additionally, the water can result in an increased amount of slips and falls, which would be even more painful if the individual landed in a thorn bush. While thorny plants can be implemented into the landscape, they should be kept near the back or away from frequently traveled areas. Landscaping rocks can help block these dangerous plants without hiding their beauty.

Roots:

Some plants, especially large shrubs and trees, can form root systems that travel long distances underground. These roots can eventually grow into the pool and cause a substantial amount of damage. For this reason, trees should be planted a long way from the actual pool if they are used in the environment.

Insects:

Flowering plants are a colorful way to add style to the pool landscape, though there is a hidden threat lingering within each blossom. The scent of nectar that inevitably attracts hordes of wasps, bees, flies and other insects. While butterflies and hummingbirds are also attracted, the danger of bees frequenting an area populated with nearly naked wet people is asking for trouble.

Size Matters:

The maximum size of the plant should always be considered when purchasing and planting pool Landscaping plants. Most plants are sold in their infant stages, and can grow several times their original size in the landscape. This can result in crowding and the death of other neighboring plants in severe cases. Research every plant considered to make sure it will have a happy home in the landscape.

Exotic plants:

Exotic plants are an easy way to add a unique and colorful aspect to your pool landscape. Most exotic plants, however, have stringent care requirements to survive in regions of the United States. This is fine for some gardeners, though others may find keeping the plants alive an overwhelming task. Some plants won't survive in your region regardless of the care provided. Once again, research your chosen plants and choose one that will thrive in your region with little care, unless you have lots of time to spare gardening.

Protect Your Landscaping Plants From Cold Snaps

Weather can change quite quickly and can bring cold snaps that can really damage your landscaping. So we've put together some tips that will help you prepare to protect your plants, especially if your landscaping has been installed recently.

(1) Your landscaping will be able to better withstand the cold when they are healthy. The first step in creating healthy plants is to feed them properly. Be sure to fertilize your plants, trees and lawn with the proper fertilizers. Water is also an important part of keeping your plants healthy. So just prior to any cold snaps, be sure your plants' roots are hand watered for maximum protection against the cold.

(2) Wind chill during a cold snap is usually several degrees cooler than the actual temperature so it is vital to attempt to block that wind from directly hitting your vulnerable plants. You can do this several ways but one of the most common ways is to cover them with sheets or blankets. Clothespins and twine can serve as means to hold your sheets and blankets in place during the overnights.

(3) Find out how vulnerable each of your landscaping plants is to the cold. Many native plants can be more cold resistant than others. Search the web for info on your particular species. Typically more exotic flowering plants are more vulnerable and tender and it's a good idea to bring them inside if they are potted plants. Try to harvest your fruit from fruit bearing plants or trees if you fear the cold may damage them. Many strawberry farmers will water their fruit in the freezing overnights to form a layer of ice over the plants to help protect them.

Enhance Your Landscape Patio Design With Outdoor Landscaping Plants

Families are spending more time in their backyards. They are looking into fresh outdoor landscaping ideas. The patio is an additional living space and with great landscape patio design can add tons of value to your home.

Outdoor Landscaping Plants

When choosing a new design for your backyard space it is important to find outdoor landscaping plants that are native to your area that can tolerate the your weather. In the moderate temperatures of Southern California many types of plants flourish without much care. But in the harsher northern parts of the U.S., where there are definite seasons, weather tolerant plants need to be considered. The perennials are great because they go dormant in the winter and then pop in the spring bringing color to your outdoor landscape.

Landscaping Patio Design

Potted plants are the mainstay of landscaping patio design. Find artful pots and plant dwarf trees that produce beautiful fall colors. A small pond and waterfall with koi and water-lilies can be a soothing addition to any patio landscape. A wood-burning chimney can add warmth to an intimate gathering.

Outdoor Kitchen Designs

A well designed outdoor kitchen will set the scene for memorable entertaining. Having everything you need conveniently located to grill and cook for your guests allows you to be a part of the patio party.

Outdoor Patio Furniture

Landscaping patio design also requires casual a sitting area to visit with guests on a cool evening. It is important to find sturdy, long lasting, weather resistant furniture to go with your newly designed landscape. patio furniture comes in many styles from formal to very casual. Teak patio furniture can look both formal and casual. Iron grill furniture takes on a very formal and stately look.

Research and design

Outdoor landscaping ideas that have been carefully researched to fit in with your area and your personality will provide years of enjoyment for your family. If you are not comfortable with making these design decisions visit a professional landscape architect. He will know what plants work well in your area. He should also be aware of your family's personality. Are you athletic types or do you just want a peaceful and tranquil area to relax and entertain in? Do you live near a body of water or do you want to add a man-made body of water that looks natural?

Landscaping Planting Guides - Gardens Of Wisdom

If you're new to the wonderful world of home landscaping, you can't do better than to turn to well-respected landscape planting guides for their words of wisdom. Written by expert landscapers with decades of matching various species of plants to various environmental conditions, landscaping planting guides offer a wealth of information on not only plants, but also architectural elements to enhance your landscaping.

No matter what part of the globe you call home, you can find landscaping planting guides authored by indigenous experts. Loaded with facts about every imaginable form of vegetation, landscaping planting guides will tell you precisely how to keep your garden at its best throughout the year.

Types Of landscaping planting Guides

Landscaping planting guides can have either a general, or a specific, focus. If you have a passion for roses, you will have no trouble finding landscaping planting guides devoted to roses and roses alone. The rose guides will give you information on the thousands of rose varieties available, their growing habits; their colors, and the types of soil and drainage they prefer; their pest and disease resistance; and ways to combine them in plantings with the greatest visual impact.

You can find landscaping planting guides devoted to other plants as well; some of them will be more broadly based looking at the many varieties of perennials, while others will be devoted to gardening in small areas or pots. There are landscaping planting guides to suit any type of gardening, from water gardens to rooftop balcony trellises.

What To Expect From A landscaping planting Guide

Good landscaping planting guides will walk you through steps involved in establishing your garden one by one. If they do their jobs well, even someone totally new to landscaping can achieve glorious results; fantastic roses full of colorful blooms; or a perennial garden which looks completely different with each passing month. Good landscaping guides will also offer advice on how to take care of your garden when everything is dormant, so that all you plants will winter over in good condition and be ready to go again when spring rolls around.

The most thorough landscaping planting guides will also have chapters devoted to trees, shrubs, and ornamental grass. You can even find columns in your local paper which serve as excellent landscaping planting guides for gardeners in your area.

Written by those experienced overcoming in the challenges associated with the local growing conditions, these columns will cover such topics as which plants do well in the local climate. They can become one of your most invaluable resources in creating the perfect garden!

Long Lasting Types of Desert Landscaping Plants

Some believe that you can only have types of desert landscape plants if you live in the warm and dry southwestern part of the U.S. But they can also thrive in the high deserts of the Pacific Northwest and in most humid tropical areas.

The various varieties of the cacti, with their sharp thorns, have been used as a fence to ward off predatory animals and other uninvited guests. They can also be used to protect a vegetable from animals that enjoy stealing your prized tomatoes. The short and stout "Barrel Cactus" would be very uninviting.

While creating a look using desert landscaping plants, you might find that you have some areas of the property or perhaps a side of the home with lots of shade. Obviously, this would require you to use landscape shade plants, those that will handle the hot and dry climate but also do well growing in shade. Again, the possibilities are tremendous, giving you great coverage and beautiful blooms during the year.

Regarding some of the desert landscaping plants and landscape shade plants, we wanted to provide you with some excellent options that you might consider. Those listed below are just a few samples of the hundreds of possibilities.

Opuntia Varieties, or better known as the prickly pear due to its colorful fruit-shaped flower bud. The bud blooms into the most beautiful, almost rose like flower.

Opuntia phaecantha variety discata, this plant is very hardy, it is able to withstand a bit of cold weather. It is very heavily covered with some with vicious long spines and would not be a good plant to have around children. It will also produce beautiful, deep yellow flowers.

The Agave, also known as the "century plant," because of the legendary flower stalk that is said to only bloom every one hundred years. The truth is that it produces the flower stalk at the end of its life, which can be as long as twenty to thirty five years. They have been grown for fiber for ropes, some for tequila, and some are said to have a delicious meat inside that is very good baked.

Using landscape shade plants in your Desert Garden

Feather Flower," grows well in the shade and lots of moisture. Because of its feather like flower it complements a cactus or desert garden nicely. The flowers can bloom from early spring to late summer and come in white, ivory purple, pink or red.

The hosta plant is another great shade plant. The large variety available range from some with variegated leaves, solid green, gold or bluish green. They are perennials, returning each year larger than the last.

The Liriope Spicata is one more great shade plant that looks like grass and is often times referred to as border grass. The flowers turn from white to purple when in bloom then in the fall it produces a dark berry.

The Foxglove which is better known as a day lily grows well both in the sun and shade. It will produce unusual looking flowers of different colors depending on the species. The Foxglove is a poisonous plant so it should be kept out of reach of children and pets.

Why Silk Plants Have Enjoyed a Resurgence in Interior Landscaping

Silk has long been revered as one of the most beautiful materials known to man, boasting a natural sheen and a coolness of touch that few other materials have. For centuries, this attraction to silk has been extreme, especially in the clothing industry where pure silk dresses and shirts are so highly prized. There can be little surprise, then, that silk plants are also keenly sought after.

Once upon a time, these plants were an extravagant example of craftsmanship that won plaudits at state fairs across the country, and were the ones that hotels were happy to invest grandly in to give guests a sense of luxury when they walked through the doors. These days, they are a key aspect of interior business landscaping both in terms of large and small floral displays.

Indeed, the market for artificial plants has grown dramatically in recent decades, with a range of materials coming into favor from time to time. However, in recent years, silk has regained its place as the favored material with which to enhance the interior landscape of an office or reception area. But designers are keen to highlight that it is not just because silk looks pretty.

Quality of plants

The quality of plants made of silk is particularly high. In the past, silk was colored and then cut into the shape of a leaf or petal, and then applied to a framework, usually made of wire. However, that simple process has been replaced by high tech precision machines that are capable of creating perfectly measured plant parts. Not only that, but the coloring has become so exact that every aspect of shading can be allowed for.

The result is that, both visually and physically, these plants have real depth to them, making them very difficult to differentiate from real flowers. In fact, the silk materials used are made in such a manner as to replicate as closely as possible the texture of a real petal, bud or leaf.

So, even touch, which was once a sure give away when identifying an artificial plant, is no longer a reliable way to tell the difference.

Durability

There was a time when the petals on silk flowers and foliage on plants would fray over time, making the plant itself look dowdy and old. But the processes involved in manufacturing these plants have been perfected, ensuring this is no longer a concern, and the plants maintain their impressive appearance for much longer.

Of course, artificial plants, tend to last much longer than real plants. They require little or no maintenance, can never die so do not need to be replaced regularly, need no watering and no feeding. silk always enjoyed these same traits, but since silk frays less easily now, the durability of silk artificial plants is even greater than it once was.

No Fire Hazard

As a choice of artificial plant material, silk may have succeeded in regaining its place at the top table in the eyes of interior landscapers for its quality and durability, but others favor it for different reasons. With fire and safety regulations being so important for all buildings, the fact that silk flowers, trees and plants have passed a range of tests makes it an acceptable material.

Silk is a fire retardant and has passed both the NFPA 701 and the ASTM E84 tests, with the result that interior landscapers know it will not harm the fire-safety status of an office. Other materials, such as plastic and nylon can release toxic fumes when set ablaze, making them not just a fire hazard but a health hazard also.

The fact that silk plants are now considered a safe option, as well as a precise replica boasting quality and extreme beauty, makes them impossible to ignore. Little wonder then, that interior designers and landscapers are happy to use them as an alternative to real plants, and that safety officers in workplaces are happy to accept them too.

Needless to say, as far as office workers are concerned, it is the fact that these plants make the interior landscape at work so much more pleasing that matters most. The degree of creativity, reliability and durability that silk boasts makes it a favorite once again when business landscaping plans are being agreed between seasoned landscapers and their clients.

5 Must Know Tips For A Better Looking Landscape

There is no doubt that when landscaping one wants to save money, as well as have an attractive property. Not only can landscaping help you beautify your home, but it can also provide a source of satisfying exercise in the fresh air. When you take care of your yard on your own, it is possible to save money and to improve your physical conditioning. But if the landscape turns out to look bad, then that is so much time and money wasted. However, it is possible to ensure a better-looking landscape by following a few tips that can help you take better care of your yard.

Know your soil type. Some plants thrive in soil with more acidity, and others prefer a little more alkali. Additionally, sandy soil and clay soil, as well as the presence of a loamy soil, can make a difference in what types of plants will thrive in a landscape. You should have your soil evaluated in order to determine what types of vegetation should be planted on your property. When you purchase plants that will succeed in the soil conditions present in your yard, then you make a wiser money decision, and you end up with a more attractive landscape. If there are plants that you would like to use in your soil, but the soil is not quite ideal, it is possible to improve the soil to proper conditions. You need only add mulch or peat, or to add crushed limestone or clamshells, depending upon what you hope to accomplish. As long as there is not a great difference in what you have and what you hope to achieve, it is possible to make soil adjustments to be more accommodating.

Understand how much space each of the plants need. There are some plants that require more room for their root systems than others. If you choose one plant that tends to grow everywhere, and you do not have adequate space, you will find that your other plants may be crowded out or that they may choke and die. Also, make sure you understand the spacing requirements for between plants. Many shrubs and small trees need to be planted at least three to four feet apart to have enough room to grow.

Use native plants in your landscape design. One of the most effective things you can do to ensure a good-looking yard is to make use of native plants. Find out what plants grow best in your area, and what plants are indigenous to the region. This way you will already be ahead, in that you know that the plants you choose are adapted to the climate. You will not have to struggle against natural inclinations to keep your landscape looking beautiful. If you due use non-native plants, assure yourself that they come from a place that shares a climate similar to the one in which you live.

Plan your landscape around different blooming times. Different plants bloom at various times throughout the year. If all of the plants in your landscape are at their most attractive all at the same time, then your yard will look beautiful for a few weeks each year, but quite possible ugly the rest of the year. One way to help avoid this is to choose attractive bushes and shrubs that look good green, but also have some sort flower. However, it is a good idea to stagger plants among each other. Plant tulips and crocus among later-blooming plants so that in early spring the bulbs bloom, and then when those flowers’ time is up, the next plants will be in bloom. In this way the cycle of your landscape is in keeping with the seasons, and looks attractive all year round.

Use wood chips around shrubs, bushes and trees. Wood chips can help the ground around shrubs, bushes, and trees look more attractive. Not only do the chips cover the ground (often looking better than dirt), but they also help keep in moisture, repel weeds, and provide natural food as they break down. Likewise, attractive groundcover like chicks and hens placed around trees and shrubs can make the area more interesting and pleasing to the eye.

Landscaping With Woody Plants

Woody plants, by definition, are plants that have hard stems, thus the name 'woody', and that have buds which survive above ground in winter. They are typically perennial plants having their stems and larger roots reinforced with wood produced adjacent to the vascular tissues. Wood is an adaptation that permits woody plants to grow from above ground stems year after year, thus making some woody plants the tallest and largest plants. For example, trees, which are further broken down into the evergreen and deciduous categories, are woody plants.

Trees block out part of the sky, defining the sky's border, besides contributing structure to the garden. Branches and trunks act as beams and posts to bring the sky down to a more human scale. For this sky management, trees have a purpose in every landscape. By providing the shade, they are able to filter sunlight and cool the air via evapotranspiration, thus leaves can reduce the temperature by nearly 10 degrees Fahrenheit on a hot summer day. Every garden should have a shady nook, as shade also protects from excess sun that can be dangerous for your skin and harm your eyes. Some trees are known as 'shade trees ', which are normally taller trees with a broad crown.

Woody landscape plants represent a natural resource of considerable economic, cultural and strategic importance. Woody plants come in all shapes and sizes, from tall and erect to low and creeping. woody plants are evergreen and deciduous shrubs, basically any plant that does not die back to the ground is considered a woody plant, thus trees and shrubs would be considered woody plants. woody plants are available from low-growing ground cover type plants to 100-foot towering trees. woody plants are a permanent, year long presence in the landscape which helps determine their major uses. They can provide a canopy for outdoor rooms, create a backdrop for ornamental herbaceous plants, provide shade from the hot summer sun or shelter from winter winds, help conserve energy in our homes, screen undesirable views, provide edible food for us, provide food and shelter for wildlife, create striking seasonal interest with flowers, fruit, twigs and barks, and fill the air with fragrance, and visually balance buildings in the landscape.

Virginia Blue Bells is a favorite woodland wildflower, and they prefer light shade to partial sun in most wooded areas with rich soil. The foliage generally dies down by mid-summer. Each Virginia Blue Bell blossom consists of five fused petals that form their tubular shape. Their buds begin with a pinkish shade that transforms into a blue-violet color as they age. The flowers are about one inch long with five stamens surrounding one central pistil. Butterflies are the most common pollinators, as they can easily perch on the edges and enjoy the nectar. The flowers die rather quickly, and the plants are usually dormant by early June. They should be planted near ferns like, the Christmas Fern and other native wildflowers that bloom later in the year to provide your garden with color for the remaining summer season.

Christmas Fern is found mostly in woodlands, and should be placed in a garden in masses, or added to shade beds for year round color and contrasts with other perennials.

Christmas Ferns are popular as they are one of the few ferns that will stay green all winter long, and being an evergreen fern, it adds color to a garden all year through. Christmas Fern occur in moist and dry wooded areas, ravines and moist banks. These asymmetrical ferns have a fine texture and a dense crown, which will sprout new fiddleheads in the springtime, and they prefer partial shade. Christmas Ferns have 12 to 18 inches fountain like clumps of fronds with leathery, lance-shaped, dark green leaflets and the fronds of these ferns vary in length from 2 to 3 feet. They can be planted in pots, on the ground and are widely used for floral arrangement

Landscape Services: Proper Care Required When Installing Weed Barrier

Installing weed control in your home’s gardens is a hassle in landscaping that is already established. Homeowners may choose to employ landscape servicecompanies to come in and handle the challenges that go along with the installation of weed barrier. It is not a difficult job however choosing the correct materials, prepping the land and securing the weed control are all areas that are equally important when doing this type of job in your landscaping.

Landscaping services are provided by most companies who also are employed to mow lawns and trim hedges. You will want to check with them to see if adding weed barrier is part of the services they provide. If so there are certain things to check before they begin the installation of weed barrier to your landscaping.

Make sure that the company is installing weed barrier for weed control that is made from a thick fabric. Some companies use plastic sheeting. This is not appropriate for gardens in which plants will live. It will not allow the oxygen or water to get through to the plants roots. It also creates an environment that does not allow for breathing which in turn creates mold and fungus. You need to look for a fabric that does not easily tear with your bare hands. Thinner weed fabric barriers will break down sooner allowing weeds to pop up in your landscape design.

The next thing you will want to ensure your landscape services company does is overlap the weed barrier by at least 3 inches of overlap. This ensures that weeds don’t find their way through these potential portholes of freedom.

Another area of concerns is the outside corners. It is important for pins to be used to hold the weed protection in place as you work. Corners are often neglected because the initial cut was made before checking to make sure the weed barrier had not shifted and the corners were still covered. It is also important to secure the points of intersection to keep them from shifting when applying ground cover.

Once your initial landscape weed barrier is installed it is important that your landscape services company installs a thick groundcover. Ground covering should be applied thick enough that the groundcover is not peeking through. Sunlight will cause the weed protection to break down over time. You will want a thick base coat of mulch or rock to be laid down initially and will then want to keep the area fresh by reapplying ground cover each spring to keep the covering thick and the weed barrier covered.

It is important that your landscape services company install the barrier leaving an opening that allows the plants to breath. The last thing you want is for the weed barrier to choke the plants. In order to do this correctly the company will use a technique that involves cutting an x pattern in the spot on the weed barrier where the plant will sit. They will then take the access and fold it back and cover the spot with ground cover.

It is important when dealing with landscaping that you don’t just jump in. Research the proper way to handle situations in your landscape and then execute. If you do it the other way around you will tend to throw a lot of money away in plants and materials that are of little use.

Landscaping Planting Guidelines - By the Experts

The gardener with a love of hydrangeas can find a landscaping planting guide on this particular plant. The guide will provide information on the numerous types of this plant and the necessary care for each type. These guides will provide information on the viability of the different types of plants and the soils that are appropriate for each. The guides will give information on the placement of the plants for optimum use of the available sunlight and the rain. These guides will give information about the year round care of the hydrangeas so they bloom again year after year.

Advice for Roses or Ornamental Grasses

A great landscaping planting guide can help an amateur grow beautiful rose bushes that will produce many fantastic blooms. A good guide will help any amateur without any experience plant and groom roses for fantastic results. These guides will help the amateur plant the roses with just the right soil and nutrients and will help each gardener trim the roses through the growing season, and then they will be able to prune the roses while they are dormant. A good landscaping planting guide will give directions for each month of the year.

A properly constructed planting guide will touch on plants, trees, vegetation, and any other aspect of landscaping planting you would need to know. They are also created by local professionals so it is not uncommon to have a guide contradict a prior guide you had if you have moved to a defend climate. Remember what works well in one area may not grow somewhere else.

If you are interested in purchasing one of these landscaping planting guides, you can check online and find where they are available locally. You can also call your local horticultural school or your local greenhouse. They should know where you can find one of the planting guides if they do not have them themselves. Either way, make sure you get the correct guide for the climate you live in. It would do you no good to get a guide for Hawaii if you live in Maine.

Facing The Landscape Sun

The direction in which your house faces (north, south, east, west) is termed its exposure. This fact is of utmost importance in planning your garden. First of all, you will have to locate plants that will grow successfully in shaded areas according to the exposure; second, the position of shade trees will be most satisfactory if you determine before planting the spots where they will do the most good.

Generally speaking, a house whose front faces southeast is best adapted for the American type of home landscape. A more detailed discussion of this subject, will appear in a succeeding chapter.

Surroundings

Just as individuals are apt to reflect the habits and characteristics of their environment, landscape design should to some extent conform to the standards set by the surrounding area. This statement holds true only if the general surroundings happen to be pleasant. If, however, the land adjoining or close by to yours happens to be an eyesore, your landscape plan will emphasize seclusion and try to block off the undesirable view.

Soil

Your choice of design and of plants will also be controlled by the soil. For our purposes the two most important types of soil are (a) acid ( sour) and (b) alkaline ( sweet). The easiest thing to do is to work only with those plants that are best suited for your particular soil. However, some plants are so attractive and so well suited to home landscaping that you will feel it is worthwhile to change the type of soil in a part of the property to accommodate them. In fact, this practice is so common today that it is all but taken for granted.

You must also consider whether your soil is wet or dry. Poorly drained, wet soil is among the worst calamities that can befall any home gardener; stagnant water renders soil all but useless. Other wet soils produce good results because they have excellent aeration.

At the opposite end of the scale are the very dry soils ranging all the way to desert conditions. Here, of course, the list of plants that can be used is severely limited. Fortunately, the characteristic architecture of homes in arid regions is also limited and the plants that are in keeping with the climate and soil conditions also go well with the architecture. So, it is important for them to know all the great indoor plants.

Just as acid soil can be made alkaline, and vice versa, we have worked out ways to handle certain natural forces so that they are not too damaging to our efforts to beautify the landscape. The home gardener in Texas, for example, knows that their main problem is to sustain landscape plants successfully through the hot, dry season. To do this they apply a mulch which keeps the soil cooler and conserves its moisture for a longer period. As a result of such practices, there are in the nation's hot, dry sections beautiful home landscapes that "defy" nature.

How to Garden and Landscape With Xeriscape Plants

Xeriscape translates to dry landscape. That is somewhat deceiving as it is not about dry landscaping, but efficient gardening. When we use proper techniques to landscape and garden, we actually save money, time, energy and water over the life of the garden.

The basic principles of Xeriscaping are:

Planning Soil preparation Reducing turf areas plant selection Proper irrigation Mulching

In planning, group plants according to their water and lighting needs. Place taller plants in back areas with the shorter growers in the front. It is better to water plants infrequently, yet deeper than to water lightly and often.

Plant varieties that are low maintenance and will work within a Xeric landscape are herbs such as lavender, sage, rosemary, thyme, chives and oregano as well as other perennials like yarrow, Russian sage, salvia, daylilies, ameria, gaillardia, veronica, sedum, aster, phlox, and echinacea. Shrubs such as junipers, spiraea, lilacs, honeysuckle, hibiscus, caragana, cypress, barberry, nandina Firepower, boxwood, viburnum, and mock orange. Trees to look for are green ash, Grace smoketree, Japanese red maples, magnolias, river birch, oaks, flowering cherries and tulip poplar. Ornamental grasses do work well in this environment, although they will require regular watering during their first year after planting so that the root system does not dry out. After establishing their root system, they become almost drought tolerant.

Mulch should be applied in late spring to early summer to help keep the ground cool and moist. Good choices for mulch are shredded bark mulch, pine needles, straw, aged compost, and aged manure mix. Use pine needles with caution as mold can build up underneath when used in shaded areas. Using rocks as mulch, including lava stones, should be reserved for less sunny, shadier areas as the rocks absorb heat during the day and release it during the evening/cooler periods, which in summer often kill the plants.

Landscaping - Plant and Shrub Protection

There's nothing worse than spending hundreds maybe thousands of dollars on new plants and shrubs for your landscape only to have them damaged by Mother Nature. Plant and shrub protection is very important especially in a young landscape.

Spring protection involves shielding tender plants and blooms from a late frost that can wipe out an entire investment. What is used to protect plants depends on what is being covered; a whole bed of petunias or a prized tomato plant.

Coverings vary from bed sheets, to sticks and plastic, to pre-designed reusable structures. When covering tender plants take caution that the coverings do not lie on the plants or touch the leaves.

Winter protection for your landscape involves preventative care for your tender perennials and young or delicate shrubs. Winter damage can occur from diverse sources.

Evergreen shrubs need to be protected from the drying winds of winter. Moisture evaporates faster than the frozen roots can replenish leaving the needles brown on the tips or even worse. Bushes need to be shielded from the wind and also a strong sunny southern exposure. For large evergreens, burlap wraps are available otherwise building a windscreen is sufficient.

Young shrubs, evergreen or deciduous, and perennials need to be protected from more than just the wind. Plant damage can occur from hungry rabbits and deer, bark or root damage from extreme temperature changes, and structural damage from heavy snowfall especially when planted near sidewalks and driveways.

Perennial protection can be as simple as a good mulch cover, but shrub protection usually requires more creativity and some construction. It can involve tepees made of evergreen branches, chicken wire filled with leaves, or complex frames to protect shrubs from the snow. Pre-made devices are available on the market and can be convenient depending on simplicity of installation and storage, for instance The Garden Dome made by Riverbirch.

The time, money and effort spent on protecting your new landscape are an investment with a profitable return in years of enjoyment and loads of compliments on your beautiful landscape.

The Use of the Aronia Berry Plant for Landscaping and Its Use As an Edible Ornamental Plant

Introduction

Chokeberry plants are very good plants for growing as part of your landscape. The black chokeberry (or Aronia berry plant) was introduced to western gardens as a landscape plant around 1700, and that its value is reflected by its receipt of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Merit in 1972.

Landscape

The ornamental attributes of chokeberry plants include three seasons of interest: white flowers in spring, lustrous green foliage in summer and black bluish fruits in late summer, and bright yellow-orange-red foliage in autumn. There is growing interest in this plant as a multi-season native shrub for landscapes. Its adaptability to a wide range of soil conditions and freedom from major problems makes it a good candidate for wetland reclamation projects, roadside and highway plantings, parking lots and use in your garden and landscape.

The chokeberry or Aronia plant is a native North American plant. However recently this cultivar has been developed in Europe as an orchard fruit, but its attractive value was rapidly realized (as it began obtaining awards for its decorative value.). It is now a favorite ornamental fruiting plant grown the world over. It grows in zones 3-8.it is one of the most ornamental fruiting bushes you can grow.

In spring the Aronia bush is covered with clusters of white, sweet fragrant flowers. They are cold tolerant and avoid most frosts by blooming in late spring. This is followed by gleaming green Aronia berries that turn a dark bluish black in summer into early fall, and fire-red fall foliage. The round, pea-sized fruit can be eaten fresh although it has a distinct taste. It is known for making good and healthful juice that also blends nicely with other fruit juices. Aronia is NOT bothered by pests or diseases. Once established the Aronia bush is highly drought tolerant. It's very hardy, and the pea sized fruit can be eaten fresh. Fresh chokeberries right from the bush are not particularly tasty raw because of their astringency, some people like them when they are completely ripe. Aronia berries have a unique, satisfying flavor. Their astringency is the awareness that most people first notice. They will make your mouth pucker. The dry, puckering taste comes from being high in tannins. The secret is to freeze the berries before using them to break down the tannins. You must wait until September when they are fully ripe before you pick them. The berries can be used to make jam, syrup, juice, soft spreads, and tea.

One person described it as one of the most attractive fruiting bushes I have ever grown. It is a delight in the garden the whole year. Fragrant flowers, attractive fall foliage, and healthy berries make it an essential plant for astute gardeners.

In the spring clusters of sweet-scented white blooms develop among the shiny green to dark green leaves covering this 3- to 5-foot-tall, 5- to 6-foot-wide bush. The flowers attract bees and butterflies. The long-lasting flowers are enjoyably, and are followed by small berries that steadily mature to dark bluish black. The dark bluish black berries of chokeberry hang in groups of up to 12 berries. They do not require trellising, spraying, or bird netting.

The three most popular varieties are Viking, Nero and Autumn Magic. Viking and Nero were developed in Europe as an orchard fruit and recently shipped back to the United States here they are becoming popular. They are also sold as a favorite ornamental fruiting plant. Autumn Magic was developed in the United States from a seedling in the eastern part of the U.S. The Autumn Magic plant is a commonly sold ornamental cultivar. It was selected for its ornamental characteristic white flowers, glossy green leaves, red-orange fall foliage, and purplish black berries. It does not grow as tall as Viking and Nero. Viking grows to a height at maturity of 5 to 8 ft. Nero grows to a height of 3 to 5 ft.

Health benefits

Aronia melanocarpa is commonly known as chokeberry and has a very nice-looking purplish black color. Interest in Aronia berries has been growing because of its health benefits and as a natural organic food coloring. It has a very stable dark pigment.

Chokeberries belong to that group of purple berries that are in today's news concerning health and nutrition. It fights cancer and heart disease.

The plant produces dark pigmented berries that are extremely high in antioxidants, even higher than blueberries, higher than pomegranates, and higher than cranberries. Its juice has been reported to help people with heart conditions. Chokeberries have been a significant and important part of the Native American Indian diet since before Europeans came to America. It is high in antioxidants, anthocyanins, phenolic acid, flavonoids, vitamin C and trace minerals.

Summary

Chokeberry plants are very good plants for growing as part of your landscape. The plant produces dark pigmented berries that are extremely high in antioxidants. It has award-winning its decorative value. They are higher than blueberries, higher than cranberries, higher, even, than pomegranates! Its juice has been reported to help people with heart conditions.