Choosing the Best Plants for Your Yard

Did you feel excited when you first saw the space in your backyard and thought of what you could do with it? Maybe you ran right out and bought some plants and started planting them. Or did you first consider the kind of soil you have in your garden, or perhaps, think about the kind of plants that would do well in your yard? If you didn’t, maybe now your garden is a mess and you need to rethink what you should do. Maybe you haven’t made that mistake yet and are wanting to avoid making it. Here are some things to think about.

This spring before you buy any plants you should think about where you want to place the plants in the garden.
– shade loving plants for those sheltered areas
– sun lovers for the warm spots
– drought resistant plants for the parched areas which may be either sunny or shaded
– swamp plants for the poorly drained parts.

What to plant? These pointers should help you:

- Start small: You can always increase the size of your garden if you choose to. But do it gradually. This is particularly important if you're on a budget, of course.

- Test your soil: First, you need to determine the pH level of your soil and what kind of nutrients you need to add. You can alter the garden soil's pH, however, it is a lot easier to maintain a garden without having to alter it's soil's pH level. Working with what you have is easiest but it means choosing plants that will survive with the kind of soil your garden has. After you know what condition your soil is in, amend your soil and then add fertilizer before you plant anything.

- Color of the plants: Having the right color scheme is one way to determine what you want to plant and a way of maintaining a harmonious look throughout your garden. Start by imagining the color of the flowers when they are in bloom. Another thing is to look for plants that have different colors for their leaves to add interest. Foliage color is not only confined to green you know. Try experimenting with colors. You can even plant flowers whose bloom colors would not look good together in the same bed, if they have different blooming seasons.

- Plant in groups: Some people think a good green thumb rule is to buy at least one of a number of varieties of plants. This method of plant selection tends to make the garden seem spotty however, whereas plants placed in groups makes your garden fuller and more organized.

- Positioning the Plants: Once you’ve decided your selections it is time to choose how you are going to position them in your garden. Before planting anything, try arranging them while they are still in their pots according to how you plan to plant them in your garden. Grouping them in sets of threes or fives usually looks better than planting in groups of even numbers. Lastly be sure that you have an interesting combination of colors and textures of plants.

Choosing the Best Plants “by the yard”

A Reading Garden

One of the newest trends in community landscaping is the "reading garden". What is a reading garden? It's the perfect place to enjoy a great author and the great outdoors at the same time. Community reading gardens are cropping up in public areas ranging from outside public libraries and schools to city parks. They are community spaces where reading and reflection can be grown and nurtured. With a few modifications, you can turn your patio, deck or backyard into your very own reading garden.

Here are some helpful hints for creating a reading garden in your backyard.

Some essentials include a quiet area, a garden bench or hammock, shade and light and flowers and plants for inspiration and beauty. Think of color, shape, atmosphere and scent.

You may also want a weather-proof place to sit, of course, and a place for resting your novel and a cup of tea. Ideally, put the reading area under an awning or in a small gazebo so that a minor drizzle won't send you indoors.

Start by taking a look at your yard and deciding where you do or where you would enjoy sitting. Then design an area around it for privacy and reflection.

Think color: I don’t know about you but color inspires me. So make sure you have lots of colorful plants around the area. If you’re on your patio you may need to use containers to provide a place for those plants to grow. Consider whether you want to spend more time reading or gardening, and choose high or low maintenance flowers and plants to accommodate that. I love perennials but annuals are very colorful and usually bloom all summer so they may be the better choice here.

Think shape: You want a space that makes you feel comfortable and cozy. As mentioned earlier a gazebo is a great way of achieving this, but there are other ways. For privacy and quiet, try a hedge or screen of ivy. A border of flowers, plants, stones or shrubs can set off your outdoor "reading room". If there's no tree for shade, try taller shrubs, bushes or growing ivy on a trellis or pergola.

Think atmosphere: Atmosphere is very important. If this space is not quiet enough then it is not relaxing and it is hard to concentrate on what you are reading. If it is not private enough then you may have the same problem. You want to be comfortable. No one will sit and read long if what they are sitting on is hard and uncomfortable. A comfortable garden bench or a relaxing patio chair and ottoman will fit the bill.

Think scent: There is nothing nicer than smelling the roses so to speak. The fresh scent from your flowers will excite the mind and help it come alive with pictures in the mind created by the words on the page. So it is important to choose flowers that will fill the air with fresh scents.

After you have created your very own reading garden the final step is the simplest. Open up a book and experience the beauty and inspiration of your reading garden.

Beautiful spaces can create beautiful minds!

Reading Gardens “by the yard”