Spring is the time to renovate your landscape
Spring arrives gently in March, but when April hits, spring takes off running. The warmer temperatures start the first rounds of the most colorful season, when most of the flowering trees bloom. They are joined by thousands of spring-blooming shrubs, and while there are plenty of summer flowering shrubs, spring flowers are the most appreciated because they help cure us of our winter blues.
The warm weather and colorful blooms are the major causes of spring fever. When spring fever hits, we get the motivation to plant. The month of April is when you’ll find the greatest selection of trees and shrubs at area garden centers.
Like many other businesses, the nursery business has been struggling with supply issues since 2020. Plants that are new and different are always in limited supply, so if you are looking for newer varieties of trees and shrubs, start looking in April.
Spring is also a time of renovation.
An aged landscape – especially if it has not been properly maintained – can negatively impact the appearance of a house. You can replace the roof or windows and nobody will notice. Renovate the landscape and many people will take notice.
The foundation plantings – evergreens planted up close to the house – are what most frequently age the home. They are called foundation plantings for two reasons. The first is they are usually planted to cover the foundation of the house. Secondly because they are the “foundation” of the landscape.
Maintaining them is a challenge, from a motivational standpoint, as well as having the skill to do it properly. Before you know it, 10 or more years have gone by and the cute little plants you enjoyed planting are covering half of your windows.
Now is a great time to replace them. When you do, you should look for evergreens that are easier to maintain. Taxus, also called Japanese Yews, were the most common evergreens planted in the last century. If your home was built more than 30 years ago, these plants were most likely used along the foundation.
Plant growers are always working to improve their product. They have succeeded with several evergreens that are easier to maintain. Today, the most frequently used evergreens for foundation plantings are boxwoods. There are many varieties to choose from, with the biggest difference being the rate they grow. Some varieties are slower growing than others.
The slower growing varieties are going to be easier to maintain because they need less trimming. The most popular varieties of slow growing boxwoods are the “Baby Gem” and “Green Velvet” varieties. Baby Gems can easily be kept around three feet tall. Green Velvets will get slightly taller, easily maintained around four feet tall.
These may be too small for your needs, especially if you have a multistory home. If this is the case, you can use a variety called “Winter Gem,” which gets its name from its durability in our cold winters. This type can grow as tall as six feet.
These plants will all do well as foundation plantings in your landscape.
Evergreens should never be the beginning and end of the landscape. They should be the anchor, with other plants that will add color and interest through the growing season. You may want to hire a landscape designer for help with the design and installation. If yours is a “do it yourself” project, find a garden center with employees who can help with designing your landscape.