LANDSCAPING FOR FUNCTIONALITY AND AESTHETICS

http://www.onlineplantnursery.com/garden-delights-nursery-blog/landscaping-for-functionality-and-aesthetics/

The better perennials

Perennials are by far the best type of flower and plant to place in your garden or landscape area. They will save you money each year instead of having to buy new flowers each season.  Additionally, most of them are easy to care for and maintain.  Here are some great choices for perennials that you should consider adding to your garden or landscape.  The Blanket Flower is a great choice.  It is very heat tolerant and drought resistant and will give you color for the entire spring through the summer. They will bloom in reds and golds with three inch blooms that are similarly looking to that of a daisy.  Garden Phlox is another great choice.  It is a wonderful bordering plant and can grow up to four feet tall. The flowers this plant produces are fragrant and will bloom from the summer months of the year all the way into the fall.  It is also great to act as a ground cover in some areas.  Russian Sage is also great.  It is a larger perennial that is perfect for larger landscapes.  It will be about five feet tall and about three feet wide and will produce beautiful blue blooms during the summer months of the year.  They love lots of sunlight and are very tolerant of heat.  They are also drought resistant and will be breathtaking in your landscape.  Peonies are also beautiful choices.  They produce very fragrant and lovely blooms during spring through the fall.

They can grow anywhere from two to four feet and grow in clusters to form a shrub-like appearance.  Irises are another great choice.  They have a shorter blooming period but will take your breath away. They grow in any color one could imagine and will multiply each year when they return.  Daylilies are also beautiful and even though their blooms only last one day, they bloom all spring and summer long.  They are also low maintenance and can grow in a variety of conditions.  Try one of these perennials in your garden today!

Choosing a garden

If you are new to gardening or landscaping, you might feel overwhelmed with the many options that are available.  Every garden and gardener needs a plan.  You want to start with what type of garden you want. There are several types of gardens that you can put in your yard.  If you want something that just looks pretty in your yard, try a flower garden.  You can fill this area with a multitude of plants that grow each year. They will also provide lots of colors and most are hardy and versatile.  Most of these will also make delightful and beautiful fresh cuttings that you can turn into arrangements for your home.  Research that perennials are best for your climate area.  You can also plant a vegetable garden.  These will just as beautiful as most of them produce flowers before they bear their vegetables.  They will also give you something delicious that you can cook with or eat raw.  This is also a great type of garden for the whole family to get involved.

Some gardens take more effort, but it will be worth it!  You can even have some of these plants indoors to give you year round fresh vegetables! A harder garden would be to try a fruit garden.  These are fairly high maintenance and pests, and other animals are often drawn to the area. The soil needs to be adjusted, and they are fertilized at the right times to ensure proper growth and development. The work will be all worthwhile once you are enjoying fresh fruits! Every garden need to have a plan and make sure your schedule allows the right amount of time to fully care for and maintain the area.  If you cannot just pick one, do not worry as you can have multiple types of gardens in your landscape area!

Bonsai Care tips

Bonsai trees are wonderful plants you could add to your indoors.  It is long lasting, and each one will have its unique shape and style.  Here are some tips on caring for this plant inside your home to make sure it grows and develops properly. Before just placing it, any old place ponders on where you want to put it. These trees need lots of sunlight, so placing near a window will be the best choice. They do not grow well in sun all day long as too much is a bad thing for these indoor wonders.  Temperature is also something to consider.  They should not be placed near things such as televisions or heaters and love cooler temperatures.  Place where there is cooler air as heat will dry the plant out quickly, and it will not survive.  Humidity is also a factor.  These trees love moisture!

Some experts even recommend placing them in your kitchens or bathrooms due to the level of moisture in the air in these rooms.  They also believe that keeping the plant on a drip tray will allow for prolonged evaporation that will be better overall for the tree.  Misting the tree is also a great way to increase moisture levels.  Even though you want this to be an indoor plant, you will also want to think about letting it get some outdoor love as it will benefit drastically from the warm summer months and the contact with nature.  Many ask a lot about how water this kind of tree.  Since they are kept in pots to control the root system, they will require extra watering.   If the climate is warmer, the bonsai will also need additional water to thrive. Check the plant by touching the top of the soil in the pot.  If it feels dry, water needs to be added.  Bonsai trees are beautiful, low maintenance and will make an impact on any home.

Christmas trees

Christmas is the most loved time the entire year, and most people start shopping, planning and counting down months before it even arrives.  Christmas! Everyone seems to get along, and everything feels right.  Many people have a tradition of going and cutting down their very own real tree to put in their homes and decorate.  The most popular types that are bought for home decoration are white pines, scotch pines, balsam firs and Douglas firs. A few things to remember is these so they will last you all season long.  When you are buying your tree, you want to make sure you either go out and cut your own or visit a tree farm with a good reputation.

When you visit the nursery or area where you will be cutting, check the area for needles on the ground.  If there are many of these, it may signal that the trees are not healthy, and you should take your shopping elsewhere.  There is a simple way to see how fresh a tree may be.  Take your hand a lightly grab a branch and pull towards yourself.  When you do this, the needles should not falloff.  When you get your beauty home, you want to take care of it.  Most recommend cutting a few inches off the bottom before you put it in water as it absorbs water better and will last longer. They need lots of water.  When a tree is first cut, they can take in a gallon of water in a single day.  You should never let the water level get too low, so check on this daily.  Also remember that the temperature in your home will affect how well the tree does.  They love cooler temperatures so the lower you can go, the better for the tree. Christmas is special for most families, so make sure to get the best tree you possibly can.

Do organic gardens at home

Just imagine growing your own fresh, natural, better tasting vegetables own your own in your back yard. What an amazing way to eat! If you can plant a plant and water it, you can succeed in your organic vegetable garden. It is that simple. And the benefits for your health and the health of your family are worth the commitment. First you will need to determine where in your back yard is a good place for your garden. Your garden needs about six hours per day of sunlight, and you will need a place with good drainage and rich soil. Do some work for your garden area to enrich and fertilize the soil. It can be done naturally using mulch and compost. You can purchase compost at your local lawn and garden store or, if you want to be sure that you have natural compost, you can start your compile pile, bin or barrel.

Simply add food scraps, grass clippings, leaves, coffee grounds, etc. Remember to locate this bin or barrel away from your home and stir it all up a couple of times a week. It will smell a bit unpleasant, especially if it is warm in your area. Add this material to your soil, mix it all it, add some peat moss and maybe some earthworms and your area will be ready for your to plant your vegetables. You will need to research and get some advice as to which vegetables will do well in your area. Your local nursery or gardening store can give you excellent advice in this area. Pests and disease will be another concern for you as your garden begins to grow. Get rid your garden of pests or prevent them to begin. Natural predators such as lizards, birds, frogs and even other insects are great to add to your garden. These will control your pests in a natural way. Most diseases can be handled with warm water and mild dish detergent. You will also want to add some fencing if you live in a rural area where wildlife might enjoy your garden before you do. It is a simple process. You will need to plan some and learn and enjoy the benefits of eating healthier.
 

Preventing Weeds

Weeding our garden and landscape areas can be quite time consuming and is not a favorite maintenance item on any gardener’s to do list. Several things to help keep weeds out and to make your garden or landscape area look healthier. In every square inch of your garden, there are hundreds of weed seeds.  However, not all of them will sprout as some are too far down in the soil to get any sunlight that is required this pests to grow and flourish.  So a great way to prevent more weeds from coming in is to not disturb the soil in your garden unless you need to.  

If you need to remove weeds, wait until the soil is moist and kill them at the root. It will keep the seeds lying in the soil never to bother anyone!  Mulching is also another way to keep these weeds at bay.  It will starve the weed seeds of sunlight which they need in order to grow. It keeps the soil moist which plants and flowers love and will  encourage growth and productivity.  If you do not like mulch you can also use other things such as wood chips, bark nuggets and pine needles to get the look and benefits that you want in your garden area.  You also want to weed areas if needed after a rain. The soils roots of the weeds will come out with little effort. Destroy weeds at the root to remove that one fully from the area without fear of it coming back over and again.  If weeds are larger you will have to lop off the head of the plant that will also keep it from spreading its seeds over your landscape.  Whatever method you use to keep weeds out your garden area, just make sure to be smart and efficient in the removal and prevention of this time consuming plants.

Rose Gardens

Making an area in your garden that is completely devoted to the beauty and splendor of roses is a great idea and will give a very sophisticated feel to that particular area.  These flowers have been and will remain popular among homeowners and gardeners simply because of their classic look.  Just like other flowers with many cultivars, there are hardy rose bushes and not so versatile ones. This type of garden will require more preparation than others and also will need more care and maintenance to encourage these beauties to reach their potentials. Make a beautiful rose garden right in your backyard.  When choosing a location, make sure to pick one that gets anywhere from four to seven hours of sun if the soil has good draining qualities. The pH needs to be slightly acidic of anywhere from 6.2 to 6.8, but roses will also do just fine with pH readings of up to 7.5.  Preparation also helps and in the fall months of the year, and this is a prime time to mix in fertilizer the following spring.  Anything like grass clippings, leaves and coffee grounds will have a wonderful effect of adding much-needed nutrients.

When planting the roses, make sure to loosen the ground so its an easier time of adjusting and branching out in their new homes.  When planting, make sure to about two to three inches of mulch to help keep water in the soil, weeds away and give the area an overall finished look.  Adding compost regularly is also recommended by experts to keep the entire area healthy and full of nutrients.  Follow these tips to a healthier and happier rose garden and enjoy the fruits of your labor each spring!

Types of Bird feeders

Birds are a unique, versatile creatures.  They make lovely music with their chirping and make our garden and landscape areas look alive with all of their humming and buzzing about.  With that in mind, we need to make sure that we put bird's feeders in our gardens to help them with food sources as the constant build up of areas has this limited in some places.  There are several kinds of bird's feeders you can enjoy in your garden.  Here are a few types to try out.  Tray and platform feeders are quite popular.  They attract a wider range of species including sparrows, pigeons and even finches. These kinds are that they do not keep the elements such as snow and rain out.  Once seeds become so wet, they can start to sprout, and birds have no use for this.  As moisture builds, they may also start growing fungus that will deter birds from feeding here.

If you choose to use, this kind makes sure to have a screen on the bottom so water, and other elements can drain out and make sure to empty and clean it at least once a week.  House feeders are another popular choice.  They keep the seeds dry and protected and will attract multitudes of different kinds of birds including finches, grosbeaks, cardinals, chickadees and sparrows.  What a variety!  If you have a smaller landscape, try a window feeder.  These attach to your glass using suction cups, and they have hooks that attach to the frames as well.  They bring finches, chickadees and many other birds to the area.  They also give you a personal and up close look at the beautiful wildlife in your area that will be something very wonderful to behold.  Tube feeders are also a great choice.  They keep the seeds dry and can keep most squirrels away from the area.  You will love watching the birds move around this tube and feed as it is quite interesting to watch.  Try one of these birds feeders in your garden soon and bring the wildlife to you.

Landscaping with bridges

Deciding to add a focal point such as a small bridge in your backyard garden is a great move and will pay off with the many ways that you can use it in decor as well as all of the many varying compliments you will receive from this beautiful addition.  In a Japanese garden, bridges take on quite a different meaning and effect.  These will look simply gorgeous over a pond, a small river or any other small body of water in your landscape.  They will create a tranquil and peaceful environment,  giving you the zen you are looking for.  Gardens are supposed to give us a calming feeling and be somewhere we can relax.  For some reason, bridges seem to do that quite well.  These also look nice over a rocky or stony area and will give you much needed life where it is otherwise hard to grow plants and flowers.  When first looking at designs for Japanese bridges, you may be overwhelmed.  There is so many different types of bridges to choose possibly from, and each type has its own different things it will bring to your garden.  Once you have fully decided on the design you want and placement of your bridge, you will also need to think about whether to leave it as it is or accent it with various plants and flowers.  Here are a few in some categories that will do just that! Evergreens are essential with this type of garden or bridge.  They represent the permanence of peace and calming.  Some evergreens that are great for this are cedars.  Cedars will also add a lovely scent to the area.  Also, Canadian Hemlocks and redwoods are perfect!  With their dark green foliage, you can have a brightly colored bridge that will really stand out!  Pine trees are also great for this type of design.  You can also add flowers such as Japanese Irises, peonies, azaleas and Japanese Maples to the area to  complete and bring together the zen look you are trying to achieve.  All of these flowers and trees are whimsical in their appearance and will look beautiful much of the year!  Try out a Japanese garden bridge and get creative with you garden area!

Why use landscaping stones?

A homeowner or gardener would like to use landscaping stones when creating a special place on the lawn or designing a beautiful garden or another area. Landscaping stones are great to use when try to stop soil erosion, and they are also great to create a wonderful art that will drain unwanted water very well. Placing landscaping stones in certain areas can remove unwanted water buildup and will cause the water to drain in other directions. It will help a lot with that terrible problem of soil erosion, especially on sloped banks and lawns. Also, it will allow water to drain out of the garden instead of standing in certain areas around the garden or natural area. They will also provide a beautiful natural look when placed around the garden or another area as a beautiful border. These stones also come in a lot of colors, and there is one that will go with all homes and properties. Gorgeous landscaping stones can give the lawn a splendid look as they are used for landscaping projects and ideas. The larger size will look great when added to natural areas or gardens to decorate the inside of the garden. A large landscaping stone with beautiful flowers growing around it will be beautiful during the spring and summer months of the year. These landscaping stones will also look great when used to add a wonderful border around a sidewalk, driveway and water garden. They will also give a great look when used to outline a swimming pool area or a lovely patio or deck area. Landscaping stones will also survive those harsh winter months of the year and will not have to be replaced in the coming spring and summer months. These hardy stones will last for years and are great on a budget. Go ahead and design that lovely lawn or garden that you have been dreaming of and get ready for the winter months of the year.

Clearing a Lawn of Wild Onions

I am sure that there are some gardeners and home owners that just despise those pesky wild onion plants that appear on our lawns during the early fall months every year.  There are several ways to rid a lawn of these terrible weeds.

Gardeners and home owners can use a wide variety of chemical solutions that can be purchased at a home and garden center.  These solutions will need to be applied to these weeds at certain times so it is best to get all the information needed when purchasing these.  Also it may be hard to kill these weeds with chemicals because their stems or leaves will grow straight and will allow chemical solutions to roll right off of them.  They are very hard weeds to kill so it might talk some work.  It is also a good idea to mow over these before it gets really cold one night and that may help to kill them out if it is going to frost real heavy that evening.

Another way to get rid of these weed is if you only have a few in the yard they can be dug up but you need to make sure that they are dug up completely and none of the bulbs are left.  If there are any bulbs left from the plant they will come right back in no time at all.  Also the bulbs from these pesky weeds can grow under the soil about 6 inches deep.  Do not try to pull them up because you will probably not be able to get roots and bulbs out this way.  They will need to be dug up individually and taken care of.

Getting rid of these weeds can be a very big job and it may also help to mow over them and open up their leaves so that any chemical solutions that are used can penetrate the leaves and stay on them.  They have a really smooth leave and liquids seem to run right off of them.  Gardenersand home owners can check with a local home and garden center to find out the best way to get rid of these.  Also when they are mowed they will put off a strong onion odor that is just terrible unless you like the smell of onions.  These weeds haunt all gardeners and home owners every year if they are not properly removed when they are seen growing.

Walking and Enjoying Nature

Nature has been a part of human lives for ever since the first human. We have constantly been surrounded by nature and its glory. Living off the land has been a major part of life for ever since the first plant was planted. But here of the recent times advanced nations are getting further and further away from nature and further into electronics and items of the modern world. It can be extremely stressful and can grieve the body viciously. Every once in a while a good time spent outdoor will help release the stress and reset the body.

Walking and enjoying nature is the best way to do this, but simply walking outside may not be sufficient. There are many things you should look for on picking a route to walk. You should take into consideration many things including traffic, weather conditions, accessibility, and surroundings: because taking a stroll through the middle of town is not going to be as relaxing as you need. Traffic involves both cars, bicycles, and pedestrians. If your walking on the road you need to be aware of blind spots for cars such as hills and curves, these places are very dangerous as the car may not see you until its too late. Always remember to be walking into traffic when on the road. When walking on private paths you should take care of not running in to's cyclists and pedestrians. Also be sure to carry a phone at all times in case something happens, a relaxing walking path will involve little traffic so that you can be alone to get fresh air.

Weather conditions should be took into consideration especially if the path you follow involves a creek that may flash flood in the example of a thunderstorm. Your walking path must be accessible and easy to get to so that you don’t strain yourself to the point its no longer relaxing. The last major thing is to make sure that your surroundings remain natural and peaceful so that you have little interference from man-made objects.

With all of this took into consideration good walking path can be found, so that you can start walking and enjoying nature as it is meant to be enjoyed. So look into finding you a relaxing walking path.

Nature Is Better For One's Mind Than Electronics

The world today is full of the wonders and great inventions of technology. These neat “toys” have helped our world in so many  and computers. However this also means that the younger generation are spending more and more time inside and are missing out on all the treasures that can be found in nature. Mother nature has provided us with an amazing playground and a vast library of knowledge that you just can not take advantage of if you are tethered to a video game all day.

A walk through a state park, on the seashore, or even just spending some time in your own backyard can open a whole new world to a young person. Nature is full of colors that only nature can produce, interesting plants, odd insects, and amazing creatures that you might not find in a zoo.

If you live near the coast take them on a shell hunt. Once you get the shells home you can not only investigate what types of shells they are, but these shells can serve as a great material in craft projects. They can be used to make jewelry or can be glued to decorate most any surface. Sea shells look great as a decoration on flower pots, jewelry boxes, or you can even turn them into creative Christmas ornaments.

The forest and wooded areas that are in your area can offer you and your children a great chance to spend a ton of quality time together. During this quality time and exploring what miracles of mother nature your child can gain a lot of information. One great great activity would be a leaf scavenger hunts. Provide each child with a photo of different species of leaves such as oak leaves, maple leaves, elm leaves, and other leaves. Once the scavenger hunt is over the leaves can be dried between two pieces of wax paper and your child can then make them into a book.

Another way to teach your child about nature is to allow them to plant a small garden or even just a few plants in planters. Let them choose foods that they enjoy such as watermelons, cucumbers, or corn. Not only will they learn a ton about plants, but they will learn responsibility and fill a sense of accomplishment when the whole family sits down and enjoys something that the child has grown from a seedling.

No matter how you get your child out from in front of the television and in nature the important thing is just doing it. Nature will not only teach them some great information, but also teach them to take a moment and admire the natural beauty that surrounds us all each day.

Plants for Winter Wildlife

Summer days with the droning of cicadas and the sun warming the green fields are almost over. Late spring and summer are times of plenty for people and for wildlife. Bushes are replete with sun ripened berries, the grass grows tall and green, the boughs of trees offer shade and shelter to a myriad variety of birds, mammals, and insects, and there is plenty of browse available for the animals of the forest. Soon though, the winds will blow chill and whip the winter bared branches of fruitless trees over fields that lie stripped after the harvest. Winter is a time of want for wildlife, but with a little forethought the gardener can supply a twelve month harvest of food and shelter for the wildlife in their area.

When planting trees the gardener should keep in mind that deer, squirrel and chipmunks, in those areas where the smaller mammals do not hibernate, trees such as the oak and hickory bear and abundance of food in the form of acorns and hickory nuts. Deer especially love the acorns of the white oak and will gorge themselves on this natural source of nutrition for as long as possible while squirrels will seek out hickory trees and will begin to harvest and ‘squirrel away’ the fat-rich nuts for as long as they can be found. For smaller animals such as birds the highly popular dogwood is very useful for the tiny red berries it bears in late fall and into early winter.

Evergreens, such as pines, firs, and cedars, as well as practically any varieties of evergreen shrub should not be overlooked. While most evergreens bear very little in the way of food, except for the tiny nuts found in pine cones, they do provide much needed shelter to smaller animals which are very susceptible to the cold weather. In more rural areas deer will even use groups of evergreens

which have been placed as borders and hedges as handy places to shelter themselves from the storms of winter.

Bird feeders are fine, and hay or corn left out for larger wildlife is good, but with a little thought and planning a gardener can easily landscape an area to not only supply themselves with a spring and summer bounty of shade, fruit, and flowers but also provide for the native wildlife in the area. A spring spent growing lovely flowers and a summer spent taking in a bountiful harvest can easily become a winter spent watching the birds, squirrels, and other wildlife as they enjoy the food and shelter the gardener has provided for them.

 

Recycling, Repurposing & Saving Money

With the economy getting tight and budget cuts everywhere, people are starting to get creative every which way they can. Many homeowners are beginning to cut money on their ways of gardening, groceries and even repurposing to make some extra cash to make ends meet. There are so many different ways to recycle and repurpose that people are sharing their ideas all over the social media sites. Some of the best ones are listed below.

1.       Recycling old tires – People are starting to recycle old tires by collecting them off the side of the road and using them as garden containers. They make great containers to grow your root vegetables or garden herbs. Add a layer of newspapers on the ground, then lie them on top and fill with a mixture of topsoil and compost, then plant your vegetables inside. The tires and newspapers will keep the weeds from growing and the smell of the rubber will keep rodents like rabbits out.

2.       Growing your own herbs and dehydrating them – Many homeowners are starting to grow their own fresh herbs which can be grown from seeds or small starter plants purchased at your local garden center and then as they get large enough you can take them and dehydrate them, drying them out and chopping them up and storing them in jars and containers to use later on. This also works well for onions, okra, peppers, tomatoes and other vegetables that you use often to cook with. 

3.       Repurposing – Repurposing can come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from purchasing something at a yard sale or your local thrift shop and refinishing it to turn around and sell to make a profit. Repurposing, is also classified as finding things like wood pallets and turning them into furniture, planters, herb gardens or using them as other creative ideas.

4.       Couponing – Ladies and men alike, even college students are turning to couponing in order to save money on groceries so that they can stretch their dollars and spend it somewhere else. Couponing has been taking the nation by storm and more and more people are spending hours clipping coupons in order to save hundreds of dollars on their grocery bill!

There are hundreds, even thousands of ways to save money. Savingmoney is all about adjusting things to your lifestyle, changing things up so that you can still have what you need and can get by on. Use your mind, be creative! 

How to Grow Moss in Your Backyard

Growing moss is the perfect alternative to having a high-maintenance lawn that requires constant attention.  Moss provides lush, green ground cover that never needs cut and only needs occasional watering once the plant is mature.

Preparing your backyard for planting moss is relatively simple with little elbow grease.  It is most important to prep your soil, plant any complimentary vegetation before the moss and provide a moist environment with plenty of sunlight.

Prepping Soil

Before planting moss on your landscape, all debris and dead vegetation must be removed.  An effective method to even things out is to use a stiff rake and a coal shovel to pick up tiny rocks and unwanted materials that could keep moss from growing.

Divits and tiny indents in the soil can also be hazardous to the growth of moss.   Water can collect in these areas, killing the vegetation.  Once you have the debris away from the area where the new moss will reside, take a look at any vertical surfaces that the moss may meet.  If you plan to have your moss grow up a tree, for example, be sure gradually to increase the grade of the soil leading up to the tree.  When meeting a vertical surface, moss tends to stop growing so it is necessary to create a 'hill' effect leading up to the surface.

Plant Additional Plants First

Seedlings will not be able to grow under a thick bed of moss, so it is important to plant them ahead of time.  Annuals or perennials make great additions to any moss bed, so feel free to experiment with colors.

To make things easier on yourself, try getting mature flowers to plant along with your moss.

Growth Rate

There are many different types of moss and all of them take some patients to develop.  Pleurocarp moss types can double in size in only 6 months, depending on the level of care and attention.  When planting moss you need to space out everything using tiny pieces.  These will eventually grow together to form a beautiful carpet of moss across your landscape.

How to Water Moss

Moss requires a moist, sunlight rich environment to thrive.  When you first start growing moss, water everything daily for the first two months to promote optimum growth.  After that, water the moss every three days for the third month.

The watering eventually tapers off as the moss continues to grow, so months four and five it is only necessary to water weekly and monthly.

If you are tired of mowing your lawn and constantly landscaping, moss is an alternative that may be best for your backyard.

Before choosing the vegetation for your backyard landscape, try contacting a nursery specializing in moss for tips and advice on your next project.

Finding the Right Conifer for your Landscape

When moving into a new home, planning your outdoor landscape is an exciting event that can be fun to plan.  Conifers are a great starting point and generally enhance the landscape of any residence.  Adding conifers to your outdoor landscape is the perfect way to freshen up an old backyard, or to add privacy to the property line of a home.  

Climate

Conifers usually prefer a climate zone between 4-6 depending on the plant.  The Red Cedar, or  Juniperus Virginiana, is perfect for adding privacy to your backyard with a width of 10 to 20 feet and growing over 30-40 feet in height.  When purchasing conifers for your landscape keep in mind what USDA climate area you reside in, the type of soil, and the amount of sunlight it will receive.

Size

What type of conifer are you looking for in regard to the area of space you have?  With options like the Dwarf Boxwood for smaller areas, to the Spruce Pine that can grow 60-90 feet in height, it is important to take into account all aspects of the space your new conifer will call home.

In terms of decorating a property border or even a front porch, consider the Winter Gem Boxwood.  Though it is a slower growing conifer, it is a compact evergreen shrub that rarely needs pruned.

Light Requirements

Not all conifers are the same when it comes to light requirements, as some thrive in lower light to partial shade like the Spruce Pine, while the White Pine prefers full sunlight and can often live over 400 years.

If the area of your yard has full sunlight, a Virginia Pine Tree can be a great addition to your front landscape area.  This tree can grow to 75 feet at a rate of 2-4 feet per year.  Perfect for areas with dry soil, or even clay, it prefers a climate zone of 4-8 for optimum growth.

The best approach to finding the right conifer is to pin point your climate area, space for planting, functionality of the plant and how fast you'd like it to grow.  Consult a plant nursery for a quicker solution, as many offer conifers for sale online.  Do your homework and have a few in mind going into it.  Sometimes creating a sketch of your ideal yard is a good starting point in developing the vision of your final product.

Remember, we are here to help with any gardening questions you may have.  Feel free to comment and share your thoughts with us!

Backyard Landscaping Ideas- Try Using Vines

Adding vines to your garden or out door sitting area goes a long way with minimal maintenance when decorating an outside space.  Most vines thrive in a USDA climate zone between 4-8, with plants like the Strawberry Vine on the higher end, preferring a climate zone of 8-11.

Here are a few ways vines can be a beneficial addition to your backyard landscaping project:

Add Some Color

Fences and gazebos can look bare standing alone, so why not spruce them up with Humming Bird Vines to attract wild life as you enjoy your outside sitting area.  Purchasing vines for your backyard landscape does require a bit of research, so be sure to check your soil type and climate zone before planting.

Easy to Care for

Not much goes in to caring for vines except basic watering and sometimes pruning.  When growing vines such as the Honeysuckle Vine, expect to see rapid growth in a climate zone of 4-9, and even during winter months.

When working with longer vines it is necessary to 'train' them as they get bigger.  Adding some gardening wire to give them something to attach to is an efficient way to gain foliage and color to any outdoor structure.

Added Ground Cover

If your backyard landscaping project entails covering large, bare areas such as a hill side, there are many affordable vines that provide large ground cover.  Snow on the Mountain provides great ground cover with its leaf span and thrives where grass is normally difficult to grow.

Vines will add color and style to your outdoor leisure area without breaking your budget.  Beautiful and low maintenance, they are a great way to spruce up an existing backyard garden.

If you are looking for backyard landscaping ideas involving vines, try contacting a reputable nursery specializing in vines to find the right plant for your climate area.

Photo credits:
 Summer Field Design Blog