Planting Design

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Planting Design

At first glance you may think this is about landscaping and to a certain extent it is, but planting design is more about the arrangement, the species selection and achieving an overall botanical harmony rather than changing the layout of your lawn. Sounds complicated but in reality it is quite simple. Planting design is all about creating a synergy, if you will, between you and the garden. Gone are the days of going to the local nursery or store and buying a few plants that look cute. Think about it, how often did that impulse plant purchase live? Chances are not too long or they caused the destruction of some other plants you had. It is important and strategic to have a planting design so you can achieve the look and coverage you desire.

You must always remember that you are dealing with a three dimensional area when creating a planting design, so not only are you trying to cover an area but also the depth and width as well. So not only does size play a role but also does how wide the plants will become as well as how thick. And we are talking in the adult or grown stage, not at the purchase stage. You need to factor in growth when choosing your plants plus you need to consider compatibility. Whether you know it or not, many plants are not able to coexist with others and can cause problems later in the age of the garden. A tree that grows too quickly or not quick enough can and will affect the health of your other plants. Some plants are even caustic to others and you should always check the compatibility of all the plants being considered.

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Water features in the garden

Water features in the garden

One of the easiest ways to improve the look and feel of almost any type of garden, is to simply add a water feature to it. Water features come in a variety of different forms and sizes, and since they add a sense of serenity to a garden too, they’re wonderful to put close to sitting areas, or within private garden spaces.

Water features also draw birds, bees, frogs and other critters to the garden, and these can help you control pests on your plants and flowers naturally. Which type of water feature you put into your own gardens is a personal choice, so here we’ll look at the most popular options.

1. Simple Bird Baths - A bird bath can be a simple shallow bowl filled with water, and set out into your garden area. Bird baths do a wonderful job of attracting birds, and you’ll have fun watching them play and bathe. Bird baths can be sat onto the ground itself, but this makes it dangerous for the birds because cats can reach them easier. The best way to have a bird bath in your garden is to put it on a matching pedestal, and make sure it’s several feet away from any tall bushes or shrubbery that cats may easily hide in.
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Deer Resistant Plants: Planning a Garden that Lasts

Deer Resistant Plants: Planning a Garden that Lasts

Deer are graceful and elegant creatures aren?t they? The way they leap elegantly, and the soft expression in their eyes takes you back to when you first saw the Disney movie ?Bambi? when you were a child. However, deer are also gourmet diners, nibbling everything from fragrant herbs and grasses to the roses in your garden, the one you worked so hard to plant!

Unfortunately, this problem is becoming worse as housing developments keep being built farther out into deer habitat and as deer keep multiplying rapidly from lack of natural predators to keep herd sizes in check.

Gardeners who live in areas with deer can testify to the relatively uselessness of deer fencing, which was allegedly designed to be deer proof and which only fence salesmen. Essentially, unless you build it 10 feet high, a height that is banned in many communities with home ordinances, it is not the solution. Deer do their worst garden damage from late fall through early spring, and that damage is most severe during very cold winters when snow covers the ground for long periods of time, increasing the difficulty for deer in search of ready consumables.
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