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 Your plan should begin with an assessment of what you already
have, a conceptual idea of what you intend in the end, soil and
light conditions of the areas you would like to develop, stages of
development, hardscape materials that will be needed, estimated
costs and a rough budget.
You may be expecting to only live in your home a few years or you
may be planning for a lifetime. Plans will differ vastly, and may
affect what plants you purchase.
Choosing shrubs and trees
If you are needing to achieve a more mature finished look for your
property, you will probably want to consult with a professional
landscaper who can also plant larger materials for you.
No matter whether you go to shop - the nursery, a garden center,
order from a catalogue or online, or purchase from a secondary
source like a general merchandise or grocery store, there are
specific growing condition details provided for every variety of
tree or shrub.
The first condition to pay close attention to is what temperature
zone is the plant is suited. Average low temperatures in Logan
County range from -10 to -15 degrees Fahrenheit with a zone
designation 5b.
 If you buy local, you will likely be getting a plant suited to the
local climate, but pay attention to the label anyway.
Few plants are at their best in all conditions.
You will also want to pay attention to these key characteristics
which vary from plant to plant:
- Light preferences: shade, partial shade, full sun.
- Soil conditions: some plants will not tolerate sitting for
days with wet roots after heavy rains such as in low lying areas
that don't drain or heavy clay; others prefer consistent
moisture and need humus rich soil.
- Spacing between plants: like people, some plants are great
melding close together, others need air space.
- Size at maturity: most likely if you are installing your own
trees and shrubs, they will grow considerably larger in the
coming years, count on it.
Other
observations before you purchase Some common
sense tips while out shopping include observing the over-all
quality of the stock. Plants should not look stressed from heat,
lack of watering, or over watered. While herbaceous annual and
perennial plants often bounce back from such stresses, woody
trees and shrubs often suffer irreparable damage.
You should look for straight trunks on trees, good clean pruning
techniques, no stubs or knot holes that could attract disease of
insects. Shrubs should have hardy growth, not spindly or weak
sprouts.
It is advisable to choose shrubs and trees, which can be higher
cost materials, from a reliable source that is knowledgeable
about plants and has dedicated workers caring properly for its
stock.
Whether you purchase quality ball and burlap wrapped plants,
container grown, or bare-root stock that is delivered to your
door, your best bet at success actually begins much sooner than
the purchase.
Where to begin
While the above factors in selection of right plant for chosen
location should be considered with each purchase, there are some
more important steps you should take before you even begin
looking at plants. Again, trees and shrubs are a higher cost
item, so you want to do this thoughtfully.
It is important that before you even begin that you do an
assessment of your needs and goals. Pre-determining the use of
your outdoor space will save you time and money and lead to more
satisfaction in your development.
First take an observational walk. Purposes and use may vary
between your front, sides and back yard. Take note of what is
already growing, dream a little, and make a written plan for
each area. It doesn't have to be an elaborate plan, but
intentions will help steer you in later decision making.
You probably would never consider completely decorating every
room inside your home all at once. Likewise, you will want to
determine if you are going to do a little here and a bit there
in broad strokes in a multi-year graduated development.
If your funds and time are limited like most people, a more
satisfying approach might be to focus on one area at a time. It
is kind of fun to just go out and see what plants strike your
fancy. But first take a good realistic look at your habits,
resources, wants and needs; and make your plans before you begin
the search for materials.
There are many new varieties of trees and shrubberies introduced
each year, some are simply too irresistible to not try. In
recent years huge pink and blue blooming hydrangeas have stolen
the limelight; all-season, mass blooming Knock-out Roses,
crimson leaved Japanese Maples, fragrant Korean Lilacs, and many
other new hybrids have made stunning debuts. Many of the new
hybrids are also more versatile in cold and drought conditions,
expanding plant options in every climate region. The southern
delightful blooming Crepe Myrtle is making its way into northern
landscapes.
What are some of the considerations in creating your plan:
If you have children, plan space for playing; thorny barberry
and children, roses and basketballs or footballs DO NOT mix. You
can have it all, just plan the spaces for each. Yews,
arborvitaes, boxwoods, junipers (scratchy, but no foul if landed
in) and other evergreens are resilient and less harmful to
children.
What are your goals?
- A well planned landscape will beautify and enhance the
value of your property .
- Is there an area that a living wall of evergreens is
needed to provide more privacy?
- Do you want to create a wind screen with quick growing
poplars and a parallel line of slower growing evergreens?
- Evergreen shrubs placed close enough to the sides of a
home provide an insulation barrier keeping your house warmer
in winter .
- Shade trees placed to the south and west side of the
house help cool in summer.
- You can create serenity spaces for dining or sitting?
- Do you want to provide food and habitat for birds or
other creatures of nature?
- How long do you have to complete your goals; is this a
short-term residence or a place you expect to live for
decades?
Mixing it up
- If you like color, choose materials that peak at
different times in the season.
- One common tip is to group plants with a variety of
textures; you might mix broad leaves like hydrangea with
round leaved barberry, and short-needled dwarf
evergreens.
- Foliage color contrasts also create drama. Take
golden junipers, or one of the new yellow sumacs, pair
it next to one of the deep purple Weigelia's or
Ninebark, and watch the colors pop.
- Plant thinking ahead for mature sizes so what will
be tallest is toward the back and there's sufficient
spacing between plants.
- And, don't ignore planning for the winter garden.
After deciduous plants drop their leaves, trunks and
stems, even vines lend great texture and cast
interesting silhouettes on a winter day. With a few
architectural accents and hardscape, a winter garden can
provide intrigue and pleasure.
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Some
design options
Repetition, such as a line of shrubs or trees of the same type and
size can be a real an attention grabber, especially at peak
performance times. A line of blooming red bud, crab, ornamental
cherry or pear trees are inspirational in the spring. In the fall,
the vibrant red of burning bush, sugar maples and other late season
show-offs make stunning statements. Lines of evergreens such as
pine, spruce, fir, arborvitae, yews and others catch attention all
year round.
If you are like most people, your plantings will most likely be
staged over several years, maybe even continue over a life-time. Set
your goals by image or mood. It will probably include quite a bit of
hardscape materials also such as benches, tables and chairs,
pathways, planters, maybe a fountain or fish pond are in your
future, or one of the many attractive outdoor patio fireplaces, more
specialized garden and landscape lighting comes out every year.
Solar lights continue to provide more options and are coming down in
price. You may want bird feeding stations and houses, which add lots
of charm and entertainment. Plan out for an entire space and set
some expectations to develop over time.
Consider
the seasonal changes
Trees and shrubs change throughout the season. Some will feature
spectacular bloom, ornamental cherry and pear trees en mass are
spectacular. Many shrubs and trees offer diverse foliage textures
and color - you'll find variations like lacey, weeping, golden,
midnight. Even branch structure or bark are a value, such as the
fine branching and bark of a birch or weeping trees that offer
draping fine branches which sway with the wind.
Grasses
While they are neither shrub nor tree, ornamental grasses have
proven their place in any permanent landscape. The papery shush of
wind passing through grasses is soothing, grass blades and seed
heads add grace and texture. Grasses make an excellent fill for
spaces between shrubs or below trees. Grasses also lend attractive
structural interest in winter.
The bigger
picture
You don't just throw a room together and expect it to take care of
itself and look the same or better for years to come. Plan ahead for
upkeep, changes or expansion.
You will want to consider costs of mulch or decorative rock, ground
cover, weed mat, edging, soil amendments, fertilizer, maintenance
tools - pruners, hedge clippers, trimmers. You may want to add
pathway pavers, stepping stones, patios or walks.
Last tips
Don't buy on impulse. Make a trip to visit one or more garden
centers or nurseries and take notes on what is available. Also
consult online sources, professionals and garden enthusiasts for
possible problems or what plants are working well for others.
Ask about upcoming sale times. Sales are good and you will be able
to buy more for your hard earned dollars if you plan and wait.
As a general rule, smaller plants transplant with greater success
and cost less. So, unless you need the look of a larger plant right
away, you might save some bucks and buy less mature plants. You also
get the pleasure of seeing a space come together over time.
When and
how to plant
When it comes to ensuring your new planting will thrive, an often
over looked factor is timing of when you plant. The general
recommendation is to plant either in the spring or fall. But what is
of greater importance is not to plant when conditions will be harsh
- hot, dry and windy. It takes a few days and weeks for tree and
shrub roots to adjust to the shock of planting. There may be a delay
in the uptake of water and nutrients needed by the leaves.
So, choose a good site in accordance to the particular plant's
needs. Take time to properly prepare the soil. You can even dig the
hole. But it is best to watch the weather forecast and wait for a
gentle cycle of weather, one that offers several days of cooler,
cloudy or rainy weather, and no intense heat for a period of time.
Plant labels give you all the information you need to know in how
and where to plant your new treasure, including how large to make
the hole.
Most often instructions will say to make the hole about twice as
wide as the root ball or pot size, loosen the soil at the bottom to
make it easy for the plant roots to stretch downward as well. When
set in the hole the top of the root ball should be level with the
surrounding ground. At this point be sure to add water to the hole
and observe that it drains down easily before back-filling around
the sides. Water again when finished and to mulch over the top to
prevent water loss.
Need
inspiration?
As English author Charles Caleb Colton said, "Imitation is the
sincerest form of flattery."
Take your camera and go out. Walk through historic home
neighborhoods, especially from alleyways you will see some amazing
outdoor living areas. Observe landscapes from the street view too.
When you get back home, while looking at pictures note what
shrubberies and trees others have used and look at your space.
When you go to the garden center, take notes and
pictures. See what strikes your fancy. Go home and review the
condition requirements of your top choices, and compare to your
plans. Then decide what plants you wish to purchase.
As trees and shrubs represent the larger living material used in
plantscaping, the materials are significant investment of time and
dollars. Used creatively and in conjunction with hardscaping -
pathways, lighting, statuary and more - their use when planned out
can provide unique and deeply satisfying environments and even a
return on investment with the sale of a home if done carefully.
Remember, start with a plan of what you want to achieve in your
green space and your outdoor space can become your dream space.
Temperature zone map
http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/
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