How to Choose a Garden Plant
Garden plants add the color and structure to outdoor spaces. Perennials, trees, and shrubs add interest to the garden all year long.
Many popular garden plant s require sun for growth. When deciding on what plants to plant, consider the available space, the soil type and other aspects of gardening. Also, read about the best ways to begin seeds and to transplant.
Shrubs
There's a plant to suit every garden, providing year-round structure and a diverse array of colors, foliage and fruit. They make the ideal backdrop for flowers, act as a low ground cover or can be used to make hedges. They are often easy to maintain and provide a natural habitat for wildlife.
Shrubs have multiple stems and are perennial woody plants. They do not die to the ground in winter, as most herbaceous plants will. They can be upright, similar to forsythia or lilacs, or they can lay flat on the ground, like the evergreen camellia. A plant's height is typically less than 13 feet, though some experts use a lower limit of 10 feet. The ones that are taller are called trees.
In general, shrubs are slower to grow than trees and are generally more rounded. They can be shaped with annual pruning or left to grow naturally and are well-suited for small gardens where space is limited.
Many shrubs produce stunning flowers, like camellias, which can add an elegant accent to your winter garden with their beautiful blooms that are a mix of white, pink or red. Forsythia and azalea as well as flowering shadbush are able to add colour to your garden in the spring, while the rhododendrons provide a range of scents and colors throughout the summer.
Low-maintenance trees include holly juniper, Japanese boxwood, and inkberry which are suitable for growing as a hedge or playing as accents in the landscape. Inkberry shrubs are popular with bees due to their gorgeous deep-green leaves. Bees pollinate the flowers to make gallberry honey, which is sweet honey.
You can also plant shrubs that require minimal maintenance to maintain their scent. These include chamomile and lavender. This herb is renowned for its soothing properties. It is utilized to decrease anxiety and stress, as well as to aid digestion. Mint is another low-maintenance herb that's used for its refreshing flavor and medicinal properties. Its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties can aid in treating stomach upset. Its leaves can be made into tea to ease stomach the pain and indigestion as well as to ease minor cuts and scratches.
Trees
Trees have been adored for centuries and have played an important role in many different cultures. They can last for hundreds of years and have a huge impact on the natural environment. They improve the appearance of homes and gardens by providing shade and shelter as well as food for wildlife. Select a tree that is suitable for your home and site. Avoid trees that produce a mess of seeds and fruit or that shed regularly twigs and branches.
Like all plants, trees produce their own food by a process known as photosynthesis. Through their leaves they absorb carbon dioxide and water from the air. They combine them with chlorophyll to produce oxygen and sugars. This happens in special cells called stomates in the leaf. Trees then transport these chemicals to the rest of the plant via tubes known as xylem and phloem.
The crown is the highest part of a plant. It is made up of branches and leaves and protects the roots from sun. The crown also absorbs energy from sunlight (photosynthesis) to keep cool and evaporate excess water through its leaves.
The roots of trees are very deep, which helps them stay solid in the winds and snow. They also help to hold soil in place, which helps to reduce erosion. Trees are the backbone to our natural environment. They aid in regulating climates by absorption and release of CO2 while filtering water and taking out smells. They even absorb pollutants which reduces the amount of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and ozone, as well as other harmful gases in the air.
Many tree species have distinct shapes. They can have broad round crowns that provide dense shade, or narrow, oval-shaped crowns that appear more open and airy. Some species have a broad round crown, whereas others have a more egg-shaped form. Examples include oaks, horse chestnuts and maples. Some species have an open-headed, slender appearance with a canopy that looks like an umbrella, like hackberries, elms, and the zelkovas.
Trees are divided into three botanical groups: the ferns (including tree ferns), gymnosperms such as conifers and cycads and angiosperms that include flowering plants. Many of the characteristics that differentiate gymnosperms and ferns from other woody species, like their cambium or tuberous root systems, can also be found in other categories.
Vines
Vines can transform a garden by adding interest to shady areas as well as concealing ugly fences. They soften the appearance of a plain structure or wall, and create a stunning frames for windows or entrances. They add color and bloom to the edges or steep bank of a steep slope. They also disguise a utilitarian area and block too-brisk breezes from seating areas.
There are more than 30 varieties of vines. However they can be categorized into four main categories based on how they grow. Clematis, honeysuckle, and wisteria are twiners that work by wrapping around a support. Twiners can be divided into two groups that twine clockwise, and those who twine counterclockwise. Climbing figs Virginia creepers, and philodendrons are among the plants that are able to attach themselves to structures with tendrils.
The same principles apply to planting ornamentals made of wood as well. Evaluate the growing site such as the light exposure and soil conditions before choosing a vine. Vine growth requires regular pruning after it is established to maintain the desired appearance.
It is recommended to trim in the same manner as you fertilize. This will help prevent the accumulation of nutrient salts and encourage vigorous growth.
The amount of pruning needed will depend on the species and the environment and the level of energy you have. If you don't want to spend the majority of your time looking after your trellises by herbicides or loppers, pick an average-growing plant like Dutchman's pipe or crossvine. Consider a fast-growing, but hardy vine like American bittersweet. It produces bright red berries which hold their color into the winter landscape.
For perennials that are expected to remain in the garden for a number of years, such as sweet pea vine or clematis Train them with ties instead of wires. Use rubber ties that won't cut into the stems as they expand. For annual vines, such as runners beans, hyacinth bean, or morning glory attach them to the structure with strings or yarn that's not too tight. You can also use wire or string to attach the vines a teepee, if needed. Just be cautious not to strain them too much.
Containers
Containers are a great option to add color to your home landscape without taking up the space of your patio or yard. Many plants can be grown in containers, including plants, flowers and vegetables. The key is to understand the needs of the plant as well as the type of container needed. Containers can be anything large enough to hold soil and support the roots of the plant, and allow for adequate drainage. This could include terracotta pots or half-barrels made of wood. It could also include window containers, buckets, or baskets, old cooking pots, or even old garden equipment.
Container plants require more frequent watering than those planted in the ground. This is due to the smaller size of the root system and the drying effects of direct sunlight in summer afternoons. The containers should have enough drainage to prevent the accumulation of moisture that can lead disease and rot.
Adding a layer of organic material, such as coco coir, peat, or compost at the bottom of the container helps keep moisture in the soil. The OM is also a source of nutrients. The plants will flourish if you water the container frequently to keep the soil moist.
The soil mix used to fill the container should be drainage, especially in hot conditions. To improve drainage and preserve soil texture, it's ideal to combine organic matter such as manure that has been rotted, shredded leaves or sand with coarse granular material such as sand.
A trellis can be useful to support vines in containers. This will keep them from becoming too top-heavy and falling over. It is essential to shield containers from rain and wind since they can easily be blown or rained upon and can turn muddy quickly.
It is recommended to fertilize regularly because the soil in a pot may not contain many nutrients. This should be done at the initial soil mixture stage. During this stage, add 1 cup of organic general-purpose fertilizer like 5-3-4 or liquid Emulsion Fish.