plant of the week

Durning the winter is such a great time to think about your landscaping. There are always new uses for old plants as well as better developed old favorites. I recently came across this one on a trip to a landscaping trade show. I was so surprised by the foliage that I had to stop and chat with the owner of the nursery that was growing it. The leaves were a dusty eggplant purple with a bit of green on them. I thought right then I needed this tree for my landscaping. I was shocked to learn it was a dogwood.

Since this is an evergreen, it does not shed all of its leaves at one time, but will drop some of them through out the year. This variety blooms a bit later than the native varieties we are used to. The flowers last for a few weeks and can fade to a mauvy pink color. When the blooms are done there will be a fruit that will appear. This is a berry like fruit that turns red and is edible but not delectable . The fruit does attract wild life, especially birds if you are looking for that. In the winter the leaves turn to a dusty eggplant color with some green. The winter color is beautiful and a welcome addition to the drab winter landscape.

This dogwood is an evergreen variety that has been growing for awhile now. There are a few wholesale nurseries that have started growing them and they are now large enough and have proved themselves for our area so they are now available for landscaping in North Carolina. Cheap Scapes will be offering them in our spring line up of exciting new plants for you to enjoy.

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A new year in the landscape

January is here and the cold weather wont be going away anytime soon. While the ground is frozen the thought of spring seems very far away. As we all organize and clean out the year past this is a good time to start to plan the new year in your landscape.

Now that things are dormant and you can see the bones of your yard, look closely at the areas that need improvement. The corner of the yard where no one goes or the side of the house that no one sees might be great places to start. After you have located the area that needs some improvement, think about something different. Think about a plant you have always wanted to try or a great bench you saw at the store but didn't buy. Now use that thought for your inspiration and build on that.

There are many plants available that you might not have thought about that would work great with things you already have. Take cuttings of some of your existing plants and start new ones to save on the cost. Mixing some old favorites with some great new plants will make the area seem like an extension of your existing landscape while adding some new excitement.

Use those forgotten corners and far off spaces to create smaller gardens within your yard. Those areas just might become your favorite places to go afterwards.

Fall on a budget

Fall is a great time of the year. We all look forward to the cooler weather after a long hot summer. During the hot summer months most of us have neglected our gardens and lawns. Now is the perfect time to perk them up and give them some new life without breaking the bank. There are many things that can be done inexpensively and can make a huge impact.

Color is the first thing that will make a tired yard look new again. Start by reseeding and aerating your lawn. The new green growth will make your landscape look new and refreshed. To save some money use quality products. If you use a good product you will actually use less of it and see faster longer lasting results. A good time released fertilizer will last longer and you only need to apply it every 3 months. Look for a seed that is pure without weed seed and fillers. Buying pure seed means you aren't waisting your money on filler and you will get more seed per pound.

Now that your grass is on its way to being thick and green, lets look to the beds. Add some new mulch or pine straw will not only make them look good, it will also help protect your plants from the upcoming cold weather. By topping off your beds twice a year in spring and fall, you will use less per application saving you money. Keeping a good base of mulch means less is need to to top them off each season. Don't make the mistake of letting your mulch get bare and thin, that will create more weeds and make a bigger and more expensive chore for you to do later.

Fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs. By planting in the fall the trees and shrubs have all winter to get acclimated to their new home and you have less of risk of loosing your new plants to stress. When you plant in the fall you will be assured of a wonder spring with lots of new growth and a healthy plant. When choosing a tree be sure to check your site and choose the right tree for the area. Choosing a tree that gets to large means taking it out at a later date. Many trees have cultivators that will grow smaller but retain the beauty of that species.

The last thing to think about is color for your beds. Add some great annuals to fill in the areas when the shrubs go dormant. There are lots of things to plant that add color when all the leaves drop. These cool weather annuals will keep going all winter to give your garden a welcoming burst of color. Don't forget your walkways, porches and entries. These areas are what you and your guest see as they enter your house. Make it a welcoming site to come home to.

By using any of these examples you will surely have a great looking landscape and keep your costs under control too. By keeping your cost down you'll have more money in your pocket or more money to spend on your landscape.

Summer Color

It is hard to believe that summer is almost over. Now that fall is in site and we know cooler weather is in our future it is time to look to our dry and colorless landscapes and zero in on some late season color. There are lots of perennials that really come to life this time of year. These plants will continue to give you summer color for years to come if properly cared for.

One of my favorites this year has been the Cone flower or Echinacea purpurea. This plant gives large colorfull blooms that last for a few days. With heights ranging from 1' to almost 4', they are sure to find a home somewhere in your garden. They look wonderful tucked in between rocks in a rock garden or bed, or planted in mass to create lovely flower beds. With colors of purple, pinks yellow and even orange they will really spark the landscape.

My other favorite is great for the whimsical garden . Gaillardia Lindheimeri or Wand flower is a must. The wand flower has low growing foliage that stays manageable and sends wonderful dainty flowers up above wiry stems. As the wind blows these flowers dance in the breeze like butterflies. heights range from 1 1/2' to 2 1/2' and comes in rose, hot pink and white. This is a must have for any garden that children will visit.

Salvia is another great late summer flower. Salvia has many forms from compact to very loose , short to tall. With the different foliage and flowering options they can look very different. Colors ranger from blues, purples, pinks to red.

The last and most favorite is Veronica X. This is a powerhouse planting. With its low, compact form it doesn't get out of hand. Sunny border blue will last until frost. Sending up beautiful spires of tiny blue flowers, it blooms nonstop even without dead-heading. Border blue will take very cold temperatures before it vanishes for the winter. It is quick to come back as soon as temperatures warm up.

With so many wonderful plants out there to give you great color, there is something for you. With some thought and a little energy on a cool summer morning you can give your tired summer landscape some new life.

Getting the best out of your creative side

I am sitting here thinking why cant I come up with a creative and new solution to a problem that I see everyday. This should be easy for me after all I am a designer. I want to come up with something so creative and wonderful but I am getting nothing. Wondering how this can be happening to me, I stopped trying to push it and let it come naturally. By doing this I remembered something that I had learned long ago.

I can not come up with a positive solution while holding on to bunch of negative crap. The more I held on to the stuff that was bugging me, the harder it was to create. Sitting here with my self I realized that anyone can be creative and find unique solutions if they let go and open up to the possibilities. To create we must let go of our ideas and preconceived notions. How many times have we stumbled with a problem and a friend comes along with fresh eyes and like magic finds our solution. It's not that our friend is so smart, they just don't have any preconceived ideas about it. To them it is a blank canvas and it can become anything.

We all try so hard to force a solution and sometimes the answer is right under our noses. We were looking so hard that we couldn't find it. I challenge all of you to take that problem area of your yard, house or life and let go of it. See if the answer doesn't come to you when you least expect it. To be the most creative we have to let our minds open to new ideas and try them out. Stop being afraid and just do it. There is no right or wrong when you are creating. Everything is an expression of you and everyone has the ability to create something beautiful. Now lets all go make something fabulous!

Nation Water Gardening Month

July is national water gardening month. During this month there will be lots of activities to bring awareness to the wonderful hobby of water gardens. This hobby grows in popularity every year because of its relaxing qualities in today's hectic world.

Most people think of backyard ponds with a few goldfish and a water lily or two. While this is very common, water gardens have evolved into very high tec gardens of all types and sizes. With the advancement of pond filters maintenance is very easy and no longer requires the cleaning of pads. Pond pumps come in all shapes and sizes for both inside and outside of the pond and are more energy efficient and cost very little to run. With all the new technology a pond can be a very easy and affordable addition to any landscape.

Maybe a pond isn't what you had in mind, but you would love the sound of water. A pondless waterfall is just for you. The water falls into a basin that is covered with rock leaving no standing water. You get the best of both worlds, great sound and the enjoyment of watching the water without the worry of the open water. If you are short on space use a water basin with a decorative pot or stone on top for some added drama to your landscape.

During National Water Gardening month visit some events around your area and see what water gardening has to offer. Whatever you decide fits your lifestyle best, install one and let the sound of water drown out the world around you. It will be the best addition to your landscape yet.