For decades we’ve had landscape principles set up that could hinder us from creating thriving, sustainable landscapes. We’ve covered some of these principles, or rules, previously, but there are far more to take into account amending as a new garden season is upon us. So let’s see how to get your own wholesome yard!
Strategies for Wholesome Yards
Here are a few ways that we could rethink some gardening practices so that our outdoor spaces can be what we’ve always imagined them to be – places where wildlife and people connect and grow together.
1. Plant shorter flowers, grasses and ground covers among larger ones to imitate nature. There’s a tendency to consider garden borders and beds as tiered levels: short up front or on the outside edge, medium-height stuff at the center and tall plants in the back. But our landscapes don’t need to look like bleachers at high school football games.
Go ahead and plant shorter things among taller stuff. Grow a sedge (Carex sp.) or tickseed (Coreopsis sp.) that will reach 1 foot to 2 feet in height among some 3- to 4-foot-tall little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), meadow blazingstar (Liatris ligulistylis), stiff goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigidum) or Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum). The shorter plants will also work like a living mulch, mimicking what nature does by letting plants duke it out to discover some equilibrium.
2. Drop the mulched tree circles. This can’t be taken as a blanket statement. For newly planted trees, it’s been shown that a circle of mulch extending out to a minimum of the tree’s drip line, which is how far the tree’s branches extend out, is effective for establishment (which may be a few years, depending on size). If you hire someone to mow your lawn, a mulch circle might dissuade anyone from getting anywhere near the tree trunk and causing damage.
IWe are advocates for eliminating the mulch circle as soon as possible. Trees growing among grasses or perhaps a perennial bed just seem more park-like, even natural, and you won’t need to keep applying new mulch, because the plants can be a living mulch.
For trees that love shady, cool root zones, like birches, consider letting the lawn become taller, or plant perennials and shrubs in the drip zone and simply beyond where feeder roots extend. Most tree feeder roots, the non woody roots that absorb water and nutrients, usually are in about the top One foot of soil, so choosing plants whose roots can grow deeper will make sure that both trees and perennials get what they need, all while taking resources that weeds would certainly need to get established. There are also lots of perennials, grasses and sedges that can grow inside the dry shade of mature trees.
3. Plant small perennials and trees. We are so excited whenever we buy new plants. We want them to be big right away – lush, flowery, showy and mature. However that will take time, just like it will take time for us to grow up. A larger plant in a bigger pot still has to establish, and that could take as long, or perhaps longer, than a smaller plant, which won’t be in as much shock as a mature plant when you dig it in. Smaller plants are also cheaper, so you can buy more for faster cover. Think about using plants in 3-inch pots or trays of plugs if you’re planting large amounts of grasses.
4. Ignore plant tags. Well, maybe not totally, but don’t let the plant tag at the nursery be your only, or even primary, way to judge how the plant will do in your garden. You have to know your soil, drainage and light; you also need to know the plant’s requirements. Do those requirements and your site’s conditions line up? Plant tags can’t tell you that.
Whip out the cellphone, tablet or desktop computer and research online – get information from other growers, wholesalers, nurseries, botanical gardens and regular folks like you. How is the plant performing for others, especially others who live in a similar climate, or better yet, nearby or in your eco-region? Pay special attention to those who’ve grown the plant for many years – often, the newest thing for sale at nurseries hasn’t been thoroughly tested or tested in a diversity of regions.
This is exactly why native plants are so wonderful, especially if grown from locally sourced seed. They’re already adapted to your climate, and all you have to do is match them to your site conditions.
So when thinking about how your home will look when a potential buyer drives up. A full wholesome appearance will do wonders for your curb appeal. If you are interested in finding out exactly what the value of your home is. We will provide you a free Comparable Market Analysis. To get your homes value click here