More than half of Americans spend time in their garden sculpting and maintaining their plants. While this can be a relaxing activity, it can also be a lot of work.
If you are wondering how to make your garden look beautiful while also making it simple to maintain then you need to consider the types of landscape plants to include.
Start with this basic guide for your landscaping design.
What are Landscaping Plants?
Before you think about how to choose landscaping plants you need to understand their purpose. Most plants used for landscaping serve as part of your landscape design.
For example, they can be used as a border, a privacy wall, or an accent to your garden.
Another quality of landscape plants is that they usually last a long time. They also may require little maintenance such as watering and trimming.
Different Types of Landscape Plants
Plants for landscaping come in all shapes, sizes and colours and can be chosen to fit your design aesthetic. There are general categories of plants that divide into species.
It may be overwhelming at first when choosing plants, so start with the basics then get help from a professional landscaper to see what fits best in your garden.
Shrubs
One of the best landscaping plants is shrubs. They are considered small trees since they can live up to and over 100 years. They also provide your yard with privacy, depending on their size and number.
Use them as an unofficial, natural fence to create borders around your property or as accents to divide sections of your yard.
Trees
If you are deciding what to plant in gardens that will offer you years of enjoyment then consider trees. They last a lifetime and essentially become a part of the character of your home.
Trees also provide shade to your outdoor space as well as inside your home when planted in the appropriate spot. They may even offer you fruit or nuts, depending on the type of trees you plant.
Grass
This type of plant is commonly known as your lawn, however, other grass varieties can be used in your garden. Adding ornamental grass to your garden adds whimsy and an earthiness that beaks up sections of flowers. Grass can also be used as backdrops or as their own potted plant on tables or benches.
Annuals vs Perennials
Learning how to choose plants for your landscaping also depends on whether they are annuals or perennials.
Annual plants will only grow for one season and then die. They require replanting. So, if you want to change your garden every year consider these. Perennials like bulbs return each spring so they don't need replanting and require less maintenance.
Choosing Plants for Your Landscape
The types of landscape plants are vast and require much consideration. The ones you pick depend on your geographical location and how much much time you want to spend in your garden.
Get help with your selection by contacting us for an estimate of your landscaping needs.
