How Do I Choose a Landscaping Plant?
The first step in selecting plants for your landscaping is to decide what your overall theme is. Next, you will need to decide which type of plant is best suited for your particular landscaping theme. Avoid invasive species, choose a fast-growing and shade-tolerant plant. Here are some tips that will help you choose the best plants for your landscaping. Remember that the more information you have the better it will be to select the right plant for your landscape.
Choose a theme to your landscaping
First, determine which landscaping features you would like to include in your landscape design. You can choose to incorporate hints of the theme throughout your yard, or replicate it completely. Think about what type of shape you want to give planted areas, and which colors would complement each other. Try different layouts to find the best design for your space. For example, you might create an outdoor space with succulents, or a tropical, desert-like landscape.
It is important to create a cohesive appearance in order to make a landscape look great. Consider the height and width of plants and the overall design theme. Avoid large groups of plants. They will make the room look cluttered. Instead, group plants according their size, texture and color. If you have a long bed, place taller plants towards the front and shorter plants toward the back.
Choose a plant that is fast growing
It may not be difficult to choose a landscaping plant that will grow quickly. Although it is possible to find general information online about how to care for your plants, they don’t always take into consideration the specific growing conditions of your area. Experts have modified state extension service literature over time. Then there’s the issue of local climate. What will your growing zone be? It’s possible for a plant to grow quickly in a warmer climate.
Another factor to consider is the size. Fast growing plants generally grow only as fast as their roots allow. Larger plants and trees cannot continue their top growth until their roots catch up. A smaller shrub may be a good choice if you’d like privacy. But remember, fast-growing plants tend to be more susceptible to root problems. To avoid this problem, choose a plant that doesn’t require a lot of water.
Selecting a plant that needs shade
What is the amount of shade your garden gets? Hostas, which are shade-loving, are great choices for low-light gardens. Their showy, big leaves are attractive and can tolerate low levels of sun, though this plant may not grow as well in direct sunlight. It is also toxic to pets so you should not allow hostas to be planted in your garden.
Unlike gardens in full sun, a shade garden has unique conditions that make it challenging to choose plants. The air can be slightly cooler and humid, and the ground can be compacted. It is important to determine the soil type and shade requirements of the plants before you start choosing the right landscaping materials. Some shade-loving plants can be found in borders, making it simple to find a shade-tolerant plant to grow in your garden.
Avoidance of invasive species
These tips will help you avoid invasive plants. First, determine which plants are invasive in the area. The USDA, National Invasive Species Council, as well as some college biology departments, publish lists of invasive plant species. These lists will help you make the right choice when planting your landscape. You can also find posters on the topic if you want to avoid invasive plants in your landscaping. Check out the invasive plants poster to see what plants should and shouldn’t be planted in your area.
If you are concerned about invasive plants, you have the option of hand pulling and digging them up. There are many herbicides available. You can use herbicides on the stems and leaves invasive plants. You should apply the herbicide to the invasive’s trunk or stem, 12 to 20 inches above the ground. This method can be used to control small numbers of invasive species, but it can also damage native vegetation.