Landscape Design

Two words every homeowner loves to hear: "low" and "maintenance". We would be lying if we told you there was such thing as a maintenance-free landscape. However, with a little research and planning you can create a gorgeous landscape that is functional, meets all your needs, and requires minimal time and yes, LOW maintenance. So, if you’re goal is to spend more time relaxing and less time working in the garden, follow these four tips on how to keep your landscape low maintenance:

CHOOSE PLANTS WISELY
Low maintenance plants include those that don't grow too big, or at least grow slowly requiring minimal pruning. Drift Roses, Eleanor Tabor Indian Hawthorne, Nandina Firepower and Liriope are good choices for shrubs. Incorporate perennials that don’t need a lot of water like Autumn Joy Sedum, Hens & Chicks, native Coneflowers, Lambs’ Ears, Daylilies and Coreopsis. Complement these with a drought-resistant grass such Blue Fescue, Fountain Grass or Yellow Pampas Grass. Trees are also typically lower maintenance. Consider Crepe myrtles, Japanese Maples, Dogwoods, Yuccas and Redbuds.

REDUCE TURF AREAS
The more open grass areas in your landscape, the more weeding and maintenance work you’ll have to do. There are many things you can do to reduce turf areas in your yard.

Mulch may not seem very important in the grand scheme of things, but it’s actually key for the health of any landscape and helps to minimize lawn maintenance. Use mulch to seal in moisture for less watering and to discouraging weed growth. Mulch can also create a unified look and comes in a variety of colors and materials. McDonald Landscapes recommends maintaining mulch to a depth of 3 inches to reap all the benefits that mulch provides.

Hardscapes such as patios and walkways can also minimize the space that needs be maintained. These structures also make it easier for visitors and family to enjoy your garden.

ADD IRRIGATION
Irrigation cuts landscaping maintenance time by ensuring that every plant gets the water it needs, and there are a variety of irrigation options available.

Soaker hoses are convenient and a very cost-effective way to water. When water is turned on and pressure builds inside the hose, water is forced out of small pores in a steady drip that can easily be absorbed by plants. Incorporate soaker hoses throughout your garden. Wind them around trees and shrubs, or line your vegetable garden for an instant irrigation system. Covering them with mulch helps them disappear and less likely to lose water to evaporation.

Drip irrigation systems are another option. Drip irrigation sends water directly to a plant’s roots in a slow drip where it can be easily absorbed. To make irrigation systems even more convenient, may types offer timer based controllers so you can “set it and forget it”.

PLANT IN THE FALL
Did you know that fall is actually the best time to plant most trees & shrubs? Fall planting allows plants to root prior to summer drought and helps reduce watering in the first year.

When summer arrives, you may turn on your TV for entertainment, but there could be an equally entertaining show going on right in your own garden with "the plants of summer." When the sun is high and the temperatures soar, these plants display beautiful blooms and foliage, often attracting bees, butterflies and birds in the process. Add these beauties to your garden for a great summertime show!

Agapanthus, also known as Lily of the Nile is an ideal, easy-to-grow perennial that produces colorful globes of blue or white trumpet-shape flowers in summer and fall. Its evergreen leaves add texture to beds, borders, and containers all year long. Prefers full sun.

Miss Molly Butterfly Bush is nice & neat shrub with compact branching and beautiful rich Sangria-red flowers. Its distinctive flower color makes late summer gardens pop and attracts tons of butterflies to the garden! This one prefers full sun and is perfect in the landscape or in a container on a porch or patio.

Blue Chiffon Rose of Sharon is a stunning shrub featuring huge double blue flowers with a lacy center. This summer-blooming shrub grows 8-12 feet, is drought tolerant and loves the sun. Plant and prune into a hedge or simply place it in sunny spot in the landscape for a profusion of beautiful blooms!

Madison Jasmine Vine is an easy-to-grow climber that produces beautiful clusters of starry flowers you can smell from feet away! The butter cream blooms are what makes this evergreen vine stand out in a crowd. 'Madison' is a cold hardy variety with glossy, dark green leaves that change to a rich bronze-red in winter. Grow it on a trellis or arbor, or along a fence. It prefers full to partial sun and rich soil well-drainage soil.

Windmill Palm has an upright, single trunk covered with dense, brown, hair-like fibers, with fan-shaped fronds that extend 1.5-foot-long. A very slow-growing palm, Windmill Palm can reach 40 feet in height, but is typically seen much smaller at between 10 to 20 feet tall. This particular tree works well as an accent tree or while still small, can placed in a container.

Bountiful Blueberry is an tasty evergreen shrub offering lots of large, super-sweet berries and boasts dramatic foliage with white bell-shaped flowers in the summer. This plant adores the sun ~ the more sun, the more berries! Plant in the garden or in a container with other edibles or flowers for a truly unique planter.

Add a stylish, focal point to your garden design and give a spot to your fine feathered friends.

A bird bath is an artificial "puddle" or small shallow pond, filled with water. It offers a spot for birds to bathe and 'cool off' as well as, offering a spot for birds to drink from. It is an attraction for many different species of birds, especially during the heat of the summer and during drought periods. A birdbath can also be a garden ornament to add interest in the landscape.

Birdbaths often times are a central feature of an overall plan for a garden setting. They are placed where they may be viewed through the windows of a home or from a deck or patio. They also may be placed on a small patio, deck, or terrace.

This season, we are featuring our Michael Carr Birdbath collection. These beautifully glazed ceramic bird baths infuse color and modern design into your landscape... and they make excellent gifts. Consider adding a bird bath to your outdoor space and you will be rewarded with visits from the fine feathered friends for years to come. We promise you'll love it as much as they do!

Plant your landscape now so you can sit back and enjoy it in the spring! When it is cold and dreary, you are probably not thinking how you will use your outdoor space, deck and yard in the spring and summer. However, our designers are busy preparing ideas to make the most out of your outdoor space now. Put those dreams into action so that you can have the perfect place to gather this spring. Whether it be adding a firepit, repaving a walkway or adding a new bed to your landscape, if you act now then all the mess will be gone and the plants will be ready to grow and you will have instant look as soon as the warm weather hits.

Most do not realize this, but now is a great time to plant trees & shrubs as it gives them plenty of time to get established before the heat of the summer sets in. By the time spring arrives and the plants or lawn “wake up”, they are well established and familiar with their surroundings. And, by the time summer arrives they are prepared for the stress that season can bring to the landscape. Remember, spring is just around the corner!

Best of all, if you book a landscape job by February 29 you will get 15% off.

To schedule an appointment and discuss your project with one of our Landscape Designers, or to learn more about our services, please call:

757.722.3125 (ext. 312) Peninsula
757.421.9405 Southside
Or email us at landscape@mcdonaldgardencenter.com

{ Happy Gardening! Posted by McDonald Garden Center, January 10, 2012 }