The official start of spring is just a few weeks away and that means that many of you will be planning to overhaul your landscape design. If that is what you plan to do, keep in mind that solid landscape design principle should be followed. The primary key being that evergreens are the anchors of any solid design.
So as you make your plan, think about these evergreen plants in your design.
Evergreen Yews
These guys are extremely over-planted in my opinion but they still are good for any landscape. When I refer to them being over planted I mean that pretty much every landscape from Chicago to Atlanta is anchored with them. They have dark green foliage and the new growth is neon colored. They have very little issues with insects or disease and will live for 80 years if cared for properly. They can also take a heavy shearing year after year with no visible effects on health.
Arbs
Also called "cedars," arborvitae bushes are a more modern evergreen and can be shaped into many forms such as upright, globe or even grown together in mass into hedges for screening. The arborvitae also gives off a sweet smell when trimmed. They do get bagworms and spider mites, but those are easily knocked out with proper applications. The biggest problem I have found with Arbs is their weakness when snow gets piled on them during winter.
Boxwood
If you want an evergreen with a more standard "leafy" appearance, then boxwood is for you. The boxwood is a formal appearing evergreen with small leaves. They are very versatile and can take a pretty heavy shearing during the year if you want to keep them small. They care susceptible to wind burn if planted out in the open.
Holly Bushes
Holly is my favorite evergreen and is the foundation of my own home landscape. You can get varieties differing from light green to dark, and larger leaves to smaller. In addition, as long as you plant both male and female plants near one another, they will develop bright red berries in the fall, giving a nice color variation during the winter. Holly can dry out in winter winds and may need to be sprayed with an anti-desiccant before the cold weather hits.
You can head out to the local book store this weekend and read up on these evergreens and find out which varieties will work in your area of the country. Just remember, evergreens always make the foundation.
So as you make your plan, think about these evergreen plants in your design.
Evergreen Yews
These guys are extremely over-planted in my opinion but they still are good for any landscape. When I refer to them being over planted I mean that pretty much every landscape from Chicago to Atlanta is anchored with them. They have dark green foliage and the new growth is neon colored. They have very little issues with insects or disease and will live for 80 years if cared for properly. They can also take a heavy shearing year after year with no visible effects on health.
Arbs
Also called "cedars," arborvitae bushes are a more modern evergreen and can be shaped into many forms such as upright, globe or even grown together in mass into hedges for screening. The arborvitae also gives off a sweet smell when trimmed. They do get bagworms and spider mites, but those are easily knocked out with proper applications. The biggest problem I have found with Arbs is their weakness when snow gets piled on them during winter.
Boxwood
If you want an evergreen with a more standard "leafy" appearance, then boxwood is for you. The boxwood is a formal appearing evergreen with small leaves. They are very versatile and can take a pretty heavy shearing during the year if you want to keep them small. They care susceptible to wind burn if planted out in the open.
Holly Bushes
Holly is my favorite evergreen and is the foundation of my own home landscape. You can get varieties differing from light green to dark, and larger leaves to smaller. In addition, as long as you plant both male and female plants near one another, they will develop bright red berries in the fall, giving a nice color variation during the winter. Holly can dry out in winter winds and may need to be sprayed with an anti-desiccant before the cold weather hits.
You can head out to the local book store this weekend and read up on these evergreens and find out which varieties will work in your area of the country. Just remember, evergreens always make the foundation.
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