There’s a reason landscaping is a profession – selecting and installing plants is no easy task. You can go to the nursery and pick what you think looks good, but there’s no guaranteeing that those plants will work well together and in your yard. Plant selection can make or break your yard and there are some do’s and don’ts of landscaping. In this blog, we’ll cover a few of the basic rules that come with landscaping, so keep reading if you want a few tips on plant selection.
The Do’s
Drought Tolerance
Putting plants in your front yard used to be easy, as you could just get some nice green grass and be done, but now the drought has forced us to move on from grass and adapt to new more drought tolerant solutions. Hardscape is one of the ways to dodge the drought as brick, stone, and concrete can help cover your yard. Drought-tolerant plants like cactuses and succulents are another good option and look better in a yard than one would think.
Correct Zone
Plants are not universal – specific plants grow better in specific areas. Here in Los Alamitos we are in the 10b range, meaning the average annual minimum temperature is between 35 and 40. Once you know your zone you can then look up plants that grow in your zone. This should not be a big deal as the local nurseries mostly have plants that grow in this area, but this is much more important if you are into gardening and want to know the right plants to plant and when to plant them.
Location for Growth
Plants grow. A small bush that you planted yesterday is not going to stay a small bush forever; thus, when planting your plants, you want to ensure that you give them plenty of space to grow and not have to overlap and compete with other plants.
Correct Lighting
Lighting is a key element of any yard as it can determine not only how your yard looks but also which plants will survive. If a plant needs a lot of sun, then you have to ensure that it is placed in the sun rather than under a tree. You want to place eye catching plants in the sun, drawing attention, while other shrubs and bushes can be placed in the shade to fill space. Lighting is equally as important at night as you want to keep your yard lit and approachable rather than letting it fall dark and harrowing.
The Don’ts
Running Plants
Running plants are plants that reproduce on their own and spread. The best known example of a running plant is bamboo. Some people may want bamboo and that’s okay just you should try to get clumping bamboo; otherwise, the next thing you know your entire yard will be covered in bamboo.
Messy Plants
Nothing looks worse than messy plants that look like they aren’t being taken care of – especially around a pool. Certain plants litter a lot, and, while this isn’t a huge issue for non-pool owners, these plants can be a real nuisance if their mess gets in your pool. Some plants may look amazing, but be sure to do your research before buying them and make sure they aren’t high maintenance and messy.
Poisonous Plants for Pets
There is a long list of plants that are poisonous to pets and can even cause death in some cases. If you have a pet, then you should look up any new plant you buy and confirm that it is not poisonous. You may assume your pet would never eat a plant, but you want to avoid any poisonous plants just to be extra cautious. Check out this link to see a list of poisonous plants: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants
Allergic Plants for Gardening
Gardening is a great way to make the most of your yard, but you want to be careful and ensure that you avoid any allergies. Allergies are a terrible thing and it seems like everyone knows someone with serious allergy problems. Thus, when gardening you want to be extra cautious and avoid any plants that could possibly lead to issues.
Gardening is awesome and a fun hobby because gardens not only look good but taste good as well! Let us know in the comments which plants are your favorite and look best in your yard?