Is Your Seasonal Landscaping Lackluster or Lush?
As the vibrant colors of summer are dwindling down to the muted tones of fall, it’s time to take a fresh look at your landscaping.
The key to planting for all the seasons is to create a design that staggers points of interest. What’s the point of a yard that wows in the spring and summer only to leave you yawning the following months? Fall and winter are the overlooked months when landscaping.
How great would it be to look outside in the dead of winter and smile?
As premature as it sounds, let’s start planning right now. It’s time for a yard inventory. Anything you like? Do you have any blooming foliage – or is your yard on the verge of verdant bankruptcy?
Take a critical look.
Analyze your current landscaping in terms of seasonal groupings. As the seasons progress, do you have a point of interest in each area? If not, some plant modifications may make a world of difference.
Pull out that pencil and paper, it’s time to start equally dividing your plants, bushes, and trees into various points of interest across the four seasons. Create a plan with either uniform design, repetition and symmetry, or free-flowing design that includes more variety and an asymmetrical layout.
Do your research.
When considering plant groupings, it’s important to consider:
- The mature size of the plant (pull out that tape measurer)
- Shapes and textures that work together
- What zone the plant requires (you want it to live, right)
- Water, space, sunlight, and soil requirements
- The colors and accents of each plant
Plan the placement of your plants.
Now is where you can get creative. With the information that was compiled during your research, determine when the peak foliage time is for that plant. Work a variety of these plants into each grouping.
Seasonal varieties that work.
Spring – Choose early blooming shrubs, such as a Northern Sun Forsythia or flowering trees. Stagger these early bloomers with the late spring bloomers – like lilacs.
Summer – Again, look for plants that bloom in the early and late summer. Hydrangea shrubs are an excellent choice for summer blooming.
Fall – This is where your vibrant foliage comes into play. The deep red of Sumac shrubs appears earlier in the fall before the leaves start to turn on maple and oak trees. Vines also add dimensional interest.
Winter – Yes, I know. Winter plantings are the most difficult to plan. For winter months, consider the differences in bark color against the white of snow. The red bark of the red osier dogwood and white bark of birch provides a nice variety against a backdrop of evergreens.
That’s right, don’t forget the evergreen. There are so many choices available!
No time for the research and planning? The team at McDonough Landscaping can help! We’ll help put together a creative, individualized plan that works just right for you. Maybe you prefer the look of lively contrasting colors over the subtle, quiet calm of complimentary colors? Or, the thought of a mix of shiny leaves and needles is more appealing than softer textures fruit-bearing plants. Whatever your choices, we can help to create the perfect landscaping plan.
Give us a call today at (651) 755-7901.