ASK THE EXPERTS - Landscape Design Tips

Q: How do I design my landscape? Where do I start and how do I begin selecting plants, etc…?

Before you can design or buy your first plant you need to ask yourself some key questions:

- What is the exposure of the area? Is the location in sun, shade or mixed?
- Is the area generally dry or wet?  Are you committed to watering it regularly?
- How is your soil?
- What is the  pH?
- What type of soil do you have? Is it clay, sand, loam or...?
If you are not sure, dig up a few test spots and take it to your local garden center or extension agent. They can help you identify your soil type and run a test to determine soil pH.  They should also be able to recommend how you can adjust the pH up or down and if soil amendments are needed to make it healthier and more fit to grow plants.
- Do you want to hide anything such as a neighbor’s garage or back alley?
- Do you like to spend a lot of time in the garden doing things like deadheading plants or pruning? Or do you prefer your landscape be as low maintenance as possible?
- Measure your planting area. Create a rough sketch and indicate buildings, direction (which way is north) and/or take a photo of the area.  It is amazing how hard it is to picture the space you have to work with when you are selecting plants and more importantly to relay that information to someone who can offer plant advice.

Once you’ve answered these questions, you are ready to consider which plants fit your criteria.  You can research this online and/or visit your local garden center to view plants and get some plant selection advice from a staffer who has horticultural experience.

Keep in mind that your garden or landscape is a reflection of you and your taste.  There really is no right or wrong as long as the outcome makes you happy.  Decorating the outside of your home is no different than the inside and parallel to choosing what type of clothes you like to wear.  Pick what you love and what speaks to you and you will, over time, develop your own garden style.  

There have been countless books and entire libraries written to answer this question. Ask ten gardeners how to design a new landscape and you will get ten different answers.

A few tips to success:
Read plant labels! If the plant grows to be three feet wide, give it room to grow. Don’t try and plant something that will reach 6-8’ wide in a space that is only 4’ in width.
Don’t plant a tree or shrub up against the house or driveway. Give them room to grow without hitting the house or comprising the foundation of the house or drive.
Ask your nursery expert for advice.
Remember, unless it is a tree or large shrub, you can easily move it next year.
Plants die. Even the best gardeners lose a plant or two so don’t sweat it; learn and move on.
Most importantly, have fun!

Q: What are cool season crops?

Cool season crops are edibles that do best when grown during the cooler months of the year, such as early spring and fall. Cool season crops are broken into two categories: hardy and semi-hardy.  
Hardy vegetables tolerate hard frosts (usually 20 to 28 degrees F). Hardy vegetables include cabbage, carrots, mustard greens, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi and kale to name a few.  Semi-hardy vegetables are those which can survive repeated light frosts in the 30-32 degree range. These include beets, cauliflower, celery, collards, endive, green onions, potatoes, spinach and Swiss chard.
When temperatures rise and it gets too warm, cool season plants may bolt and start to go to seed early and can take on a bitter taste thus why early planting is best.  To create an extended cooler growing season, some gardeners use cold frames or simple plastic tents to create an early spring climate in their winter garden. Since cool season crops do best in lower temperature, the frames and tents do not need to raise the air and soil temperature dramatically to be effective.
Additionally, cool season can also refer to plants which thrive in cooler temperatures but whose performance wanes once the dog days of summer start.  Pansies and violas are cool season friendly and do well in containers. They’ll provide early color which can then be updated with annuals once you’re past the frost free date.