Create a more inviting landscape
by adding color and interest that extends beyond the summer season
by Heather Duarte - June 2007
Heather Duarte is a horticulturalist with Ryan Lawn & Tree. She can be reached at 913-381-1505.Summer is finally here! Many people connect summer and vacations. Do you realize you can create a vacation spot in your own yard by making your landscape a more inviting place to be? Seasonal color is easy, but challenge yourself to think beyond the growing season.
First, think of what you would like to accomplish in your landscape. Some things to consider include: Do you need a specimen to focus your attention when you look out the window? Are you trying to draw attention to a certain area of your yard, like your front door perhaps? Are you trying to create some privacy?
Second, consider your existing landscape. Do you have a lot of large trees that create shade? Or are you in a new area that has a lot of sun? Do you have good drainage?
There are many options out there. For bold color, try planting annuals. Vinca and petunia are great for sunny situations; try impatiens in the shade. Flowers are great, but let’s challenge ourselves to think beyond the obvious.
Lots of annuals and perennials can be grown for their foliage. Coleus is an annual that comes in many bold colors; Dusty Miller is a silvery-white with unusually textured leaves. If you don’t want the hassle of planting every season, try perennials like Coral Bells or Jack Frost Siberian Bugloss. Both have interesting foliage.
If you spend a lot of time outside on your patio or deck, consider planting jasmine in an interesting pot. The white flowers smell heavenly. If you have more space, plant Korean Spice Viburnum. The spicy scent of the pinkish-white flowers are wonderful when in bloom.
A well-rounded landscape has something for every season. Evergreen foliage provides color during the winter months, after most things have gone to bed for the season. There are many shapes and textures out there. Ornamental grasses are another great option for year-round interest. They grow during the season, but their foliage can continue to add interest during the fall and winter months.
We cannot forget trees and shrubs. When choosing a tree, think about what its bark looks like. There are many trees that have unusual bark that can provide interest throughout the year; Paperbark Maple or Shagbark Hickory come to mind.
Branch structure is also important when thinking beyond the growing season. Bald Cypress and Ginko have a very clean branch structure. Many deciduous shrubs also provide interest during the winter months when their branches are exposed. Want something new or different? Consider a trip to your favorite garden nursery to choose from contorted and weeping varieties of common trees and shrubs.
Fall will be here before we know it. Show off your landscape in the fall by planting trees that are known to provide excellent fall color. ‘Red Sunset’ and ‘October Glory’ are both cultivars of Red Maple that are known for their brilliant fall color.
There are many trees and shrubs that provide colorful foliage during the growing season. Most Japanese Maples have reddish foliage that gets even brighter during the fall. Some shade trees have cultivars that provide unusual color during the summer season. Norway Maple comes to mind: ‘Crimson King’ has purplish foliage during the growing season; ‘Princeton Gold’ has yellowish-green foliage that is brighter than most.
Do you enjoy watching birds? Plant trees or shrubs that produce berries. The berries provide interest during the winter months and also become food for the birds. A disease resistant crabapple provides beautiful flowers in the spring and interesting berries for the off-season. If you don’t have enough space for a tree, consider one of the many Viburnums out there.
Summer is here and it’s a wonderful time to be outdoors. As you are outside enjoying your landscape, remember that there are many options to choose from when it comes to improving your landscape. Annuals are great to bold color, but don’t count out annuals that are grown for their foliage. Plants that provide fragrance can be a wonderful addition. Evergreens are a common choice for winter color, but deciduous plants offer winter interest as well. Think outside the season. Happy Planning.