The beginning of easy care landscaping is to find and use plants that are of the 'plant once and enjoy' types. In the Northern part of the US this can certainly mean evergreen trees and shrubs. Save time and energy by planting an evergreen, also known as conifer. After an evergreen is established, it needs little care except for an occasional trim and look over for broken branches, signs of deficiency or bugs. A couple inches of bark mulch keeps the evergreens content. Generally speaking you would want to arrange evergreens by size, largest mature size to the back and shortest to the front. Estimated mature size could be important because evergreens cast shadows all year round. Unless your home is exceptionally large or tall, stick with dwarf and semi dwarf evergreens as foundation plantings. Leave room for them to fill in the space comfortably. Dwarf and semi-dwarf evergreens require very little trimming. Read more about evergreens here

No matter what the particular design is beds and borders look neater when they have some sort of edge. That can be either a hard landscape item like bricks or stones or you can use plants. When using plants look for something with similar light and watering requirements as the rest of the bed. Ideally the plants you choose as an edging would be neat looking on their own. Dwarf boxwoods and cedars are wonderful evergreens to use for edgings. Hostas are an excellent choice but select carefully for size as some will get very wide. We have used the Hosta 'lemon lime' {very small} with very good success as an edging. For the sunny border Hosta "Goldedger" shines. Some of the smaller daylilies make nice edgings. Daylilies 'THREE SEASONS' - 'EARLY AND OFTEN' and 'BOOTHBAY HARBOR GOLD' although not overly short or compact would all be good choices because of their long bloom times. Annuals, can be worked into many designs, again using a compact variety that looks neat. Compact Marigolds, Ageratum, Geranium and Zinnias are all good plants for edgings that will have flowers most of the summer.

Usually of smaller proportions than shade trees, ornamental trees are perfect in size for many of today's landscape designs. They are neat in appearance and will delight with showy spring flowers. Ornamental trees include among others Flowering Crabapples, Cherries, Dogwoods and Magnolia trees. Height varies greatly over these species. Very dwarf cultivars can be used in foundation plantings or perennial shrub borders or set just beyond into the yard a bit. Avoid the temptation to plop one of these ornamental trees right in front of a large window. In no time it will take over your view. An ornamental tree set right in the middle of the front lawn by itself will look lonely. Work these beautiful additions to your yard into beds and borders.

Ornamental Tree Magnolia Leonard Messell	Leonard Messell Flowers
Royal Star Magnolia First to bloom for us ! Deliciously scented.	Molten Lava Flowering Crabapple. Buds are a pretty cherry red pink opening to a blushed white. In the Autumn it is covered with small red fruits, very charming.

Replace a small lawn area

with ivy, heather, small perennials or a low growing herb as the ground cover. Besides saving time and money and not having to mow a lawn these other plants will add a different plant texture to the yard. This will look especially nice with a slightly taller perennial planted at the back edge to soften the height transition to trees and shrubs.

Plant

in ground or place large tubs of ultra sweet scented flowers like Sweet Peas and Oriental Liliums near to sitting areas in the yard. Place them close by entrances and gates and anywhere that people will come in close proximetry to them. The bright colors and wonderful scent will add more magic to the atmosphere of the summer landscape.

Put some Autumn color into your landscape designs. When Summer flowering garden beds begin to fade add fall color with Chrysanthemums, Asters and/or Sedums. These plants can still be found at most garden centers in the fall. Usually several size containers will be available, almost all will be easy to manage. Even just one or two bright colored Chrysanthemums can liven up a fading flower bed. Add a bit of fun to the autumn landscape with pumpkins. They can be set right into and amongst existing plantings. Their bright orange color is wonderful to mix with the Mums, Asters and Sedums as well as Burning Bushes and Hydrangeas.

for fall color. Incorporate plants specific for their fall color into the landscape design in an area close by a favorite entrance door. Burning Bush - Euyonomus - signals the beginning of fall foliage change with it's bright red {dwarf} or pink leaves {full size}. The ever popular Pee Gee Hydrangea {paniculata grandiflora}, has a long season of color beginning here in Maine in mid to late August forming large football shaped blooms of bright white and lasting well through November or till snow fall. As the nights begin to cool the white blooms turn pink and eventually gold. A planter to hold a colorful chrysanthemum and a bright orange pumpkin may be all you need to complete your Fall landscape designs.

When planting smaller perennials use a minimum of 3 to 5 plants of one variety in a group to make a noticeable splash of color. Color and color combinations in the landscape are totally in the eye of the individual gardener. Shades of all one color can look and feel very serene. Contrasting colors will show more of a party atmosphere. When blending perennials use a minimum of three colors or shades to avoid a spotted look.
Pay attention to bloom times when grouping perennials. Try to have groups in bloom at the same time or at least overlapping in their flowering times because many perennials will naturally begin to die back after they bloom. The leaves will not look as pretty as before flowering. You probably do not want to have browning leaves mixed in with fresh blooms. By making groups that flower at different times you can draw the eyes attention away from fading flowers to fresh just opening blooms.

Trees are a natural form of air conditioning in the landscape.
Looking to shade your house or deck ?
First ask yourself - do you want or need shade in this location year round or just during the heat of summer?
Year Round ? Plant large evergreen trees like a Spruce, Pine or Fir. These will throw shade during all four seasons. Leave enough growing room, all of these types of trees can get very large. Most large growing evergreen trees can reach heights of 50 feet or more and will cast very long shadows all year long.
Shade just during the heat of summer ? Plant a deciduous tree like Maple, Birch, Linden, Oak and Ash varieties. Spring brings a flush of gentle color as first flowers then leaves appear. Almost like magic the deciduous trees grow their leaves as temperatures warm in mid to late spring. In full leaf during the summer they make an enormous contribution to cooling your home, deck and yard. They provide more color in the fall with the changing of the leaves. Then again as if by magic the deciduous trees lose their leaves and allow the winter sun to shine through.
Check the width proportion as well as the height on specific cultivars. Most large shade trees will reach heights of 30 - 50 feet in Maine.

Putting some annuals around the base of a newly planted tree will not only look nice but will also help to keep the tree watered. Both the annuals and the tree will need extra water when first planted. Water the annuals regularly and the tree gets watered by default. If it is a deciduous tree and in the sun put in sun lovers like petunias, marigolds or zinnias. The Wave series of petunias are exceptionally nice as an under planting for your new tree. As the season progresses the plants will shade the soil under your new tree thus holding moisture in the soil.
For under planting of an evergreen tree or in shade try putting in impatiens or coleus.

Make life easier on yourself by keeping water and arid plant lovers apart. Whether using automatic or hand watering systems it is much more efficient when all the plants in a group have the same requirements. Remember this also when adding annuals to established beds. The annuals will need drinks more often than established plants. Water lovers won't mind but some trees, shrubs and plants like Sedum and cactus will.

A minimum of three feet is essential for a foundation bed next to a building. Six feet is better. Landscape shrubs planted any closer will grow with a noticeable lean out from the building. Be aware of the drip line of water off the roof - it would be best to place shrubs in front of that line and leaving room to grow.

Use dwarf and miniature evergreen trees and shrubs for landscaping around buildings. The evergreens retain their foliage, in this case needles, year round. Deciduous shrubs may be used nicely for accents but remember in winter they are just sticks no foliage {leaves} and no flowers. Evergreen Rhododendrons work well. They have year round foliage and gorgeous huge showy flowers in Spring. Watch sizes on these some get very large and may dwarf or overtake your building. Many though are excellent size wise growing less than 8 feet tall.

When does it flower ? Give some thought to when you would like to have landscape shrubs in bloom. If you are landscaping a summer cottage for instance you would concentrate on shrubs and perennials that bloom in the summer not early spring. While most plant tags indicate a bloom time you must also consider where in the world you are and make adjustments for anticipated flower times. Ask at local nurseries and keep your eyes open during your routine travels for landscape shrubs and flowers in bloom. Make mental or written note of local flowering times.

Dwarf and semi dwarf fruit trees can do double duty service. At 6 to 20 feet the smaller trees fit just about anywhere. All have beautiful flowers in Spring so can be used just like ornamental landscape trees in the home landscape. In the fall you will be rewarded with fruit fresh from the tree.

Ideas to help keep all your landscape designs looking good !

Protect tender evergreens from drying wind and sun. When temperatures stay below freezing long enough to penetrate the soil the roots of evergreens also become frozen and for that time are unable to pump water to the needles. During this time tender evergreens should be shaded from the sun and wind. Snow cover is perfect for shorter evergreens like Heathers, Daphne and spreading Junipers. But snow cover is not always dependable. Evergreen boughs are good to place around these plants after the ground is frozen. Taller tender evergreens can be protected with stakes and a piece of burlap. Place the stakes in the ground around the shrub to be protected.{This is much easier to do before frost has sunk in.} Staple the burlap to the outside of the stakes surrounding the plant.

Add an extra layer of insulating protection to your plantings by being sure there is three or four inches of natural mulch covering the roots of landscape trees and shrubs. Leave *breathing room close to the trunks with no mulch for five to six inches out from around the neck. The mulch should extend out at least to the drip line. Don't over mulch landscape plants, especially Maples. The roots need to breathe.* The breathing room around the neck is for air and protection for your landscape trees and shrubs from mice **During the winter months, some of your trees and shrubs are going to need protection from mice. Once snow covers the ground, mice will eat just about anything they can find. They will tunnel through the snow and when they run into plant life they will gnaw on the bark and soft wood. They can cause serious damage to or even kill a tree or shrub. The bark on a tree or hardwood shrub is like our own skin, anytime it is broken an entrance is created for bacteria, virus and fungus.

past Autumn's first light frost cover them when there is even a chance of frost. Use sheets, blankets, paper bags, pillow cases, whatever you have. Even here in Maine this will let you enjoy your Chrysanthemums and other annual flowers and vegetables for a few more weeks in the fall. Leave the covers on until after the area has warmed back above freezing next day.

Soaker hoses & drip lines - Soaker hoses & drip lines save you time. If you pay for water the use of soaker hoses or drip lines will probably save you money. Using them will save water. Anyone with the ability to hook up and use an outdoor spigot for yard and garden hoses will be able to hook up a soaker hose or drip line.

from Spring flowering shrubs. Preventing your flowering shrubs from making seeds enables them to instead grow faster and make more flowers for next year. Lilac bushes and all Rhododendrons and Azaleas especially appreciate this little extra step.

Any plant that has been stuffed into a pot, window box, hanging basket, or other container will begin to look exhausted quickly if not fertilized. Yellowing leaves and dwindling flowers scream hungry plants. A liquid fertilizer will show quick results.

When setting out landscape trees and shrubs and perennials be generous with the water. If planting early enough in the season you can take advantage of Spring rains to do much of that watering. But for dry years and later in the season planting, apply water every other day for a week. Longer for large trees. Then water thoroughly twice a week until the fall rains come. Water needs are different with every plant in every yard so one must pay close attention to the actual watering needs of individual plants. Ask at your favorite local garden center for more precise watering recommendations.

© Blue Hill Country Garden 2005-2011
*Above information is based solely on how we do things here in Blue Hill Maine.
Please seek more information in your local area.
Blue Hill Country Garden
Blue Hill, Maine