Selecting plants appropriate to their planting sites plays an essential part in any landscape design project, and failure to abide by this gardening philosophy can result in increased maintenance needs and the failure of plants once installed. By contrast, plants adapted specifically for their sites tend to take care of themselves with minimal input from you – they establish quickly, grow steadily over time, produce sturdy top growth that withstands insects and diseases more successfully than unhealthy or inappropriately sited ones.
Selecting plants for your landscape is a major task that may seem overwhelming at first. There are a variety of considerations when making this selection: your climate and light conditions where planting will occur, maturity size/growth habits of each plant species you consider and any future maintenance requirements they will have.
plants designed to thrive in their chosen environmental conditions will be better equipped to withstand temperature extremes, sun/shade exposures, soil type and moisture levels as well as any special circumstances such as air pollution or soil acidity.
Finding the appropriate plants for your landscape requires thoughtful consideration of both function and aesthetic preferences. Consider what purpose this space serves – will it provide shade, privacy screening or attract pollinators? Also think about what colors and textures would enhance it most as well as whether or not your preferred style (formal/informal) or budget can accommodate it.
To determine which plants will best fit into your landscape, the final factor to consider when selecting plants for landscaping should be their maintenance requirements. Are you comfortable managing it yourself or hiring professional gardeners? How much time and energy do you have available to spend on maintaining it? Have children or pets who may play in your yard that could exacerbate maintenance requirements?
Consider all of the varieties, colors and shapes of shrubs and trees when planning your landscape design. Deciduous varieties such as hollies and pyracanthas produce vibrant autumn hues while evergreen varieties provide various shades of green (yellow, blue or variegated with green) to fit into any color palette.
When choosing which plants to buy, take note of both the colors and textures of their foliage and flowers. Take time to observe blooming flowers before purchasing any plant that could overwhelm its designated space or is too big or bushy for it. Beware purchasing invasive species as these can present serious issues for ecosystems in your area and be difficult to control once established in nature. By following these tips you can be assured that whatever plants you select will grow happily for years!