Dan Eginton
Have you noticed the amazing variety of plants that are available at your local nursery? It’s easy to understand why many people feel overwhelmed when trying to pick the best plants for their yard.
Start the planting process by understanding your site constraints before moving on to aesthetical considerations.
If you have a small space, pick plants like soft touch holly or shishigashira camellia because they won’t outgrow the site in a few years.
Is the area sunny or shady? If you get lots of sunlight throughout the day, consider planting a crape myrtle, a dwarf nandina or a dwarf loropetalum. Japanese spreading yews, fatsia, azaleas and pieris are good options for shady areas.
Also take drainage and erosion into consideration. If you have drainage issues, investigate plants that can have “wet feet” for brief periods of time. Plants with shallow root systems can adhere to the soil better, providing a better choice where erosion is a problem.
Are there local or homeowner association regulations that dictate how close you can plant something to your property line?
How high do you want your plant material to grow?
Make sure the plants you choose have a relatively high tolerance for pests. If the plant is highly susceptible to disease and you don’t care for it properly, it most likely will die.
Increase your odds for success by choosing indigenous and naturalized plant material. Find out which plants thrive in the soils and temperatures in your area.
Look at the existing plants you have. Oftentimes people try to plant something beneath an old tree, disturbing its roots and potentially killing the plant.
Next, move on to what you plan to do in the space. Do you need to screen something? Do you want a courtyard, a space for entertaining or an edible garden?
Do you want to spend lots of time working in your yard? Ninety percent of my customers want low maintenance yards.
Think about any focal points you might want to see from your living or dining room window. A pretty Japanese maple or a row of dogwoods might work in this situation.
Color, texture and fragrance also are important. At what time of year do you want the color to be most attractive? If you want vibrant fall colors, choose something like a red maple tree or a burning bush shrub. Tea olives, winter Daphne and gardenias are some fragrant options.
Choose plants that are durable if you have children running around the yard. You can walk on certain ground covers, which are commonly referred to as “stepables.” This includes moss, creeping Jenny, dwarf mondo and many other plants. If you’re in an entertaining area, you can buy things that might be less durable, but more attractive. A camellia is a good example.
With a little homework, you can narrow the plant options available before setting out to the nursery.
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