How
to Create a Garden Year-round,
It is easy to come up with new ideas
for planting gardens in the springtime when everything is
starting to grow and looks appealing. However, considering
all the seasons is the key to a balanced design that will
bring continuous joy.
An easy way to guarantee early flowers
is to plant bulbs in various parts of the garden. They can
be planted in sunny areas that will be overgrown with perennials
later in the season. This way we avoid areas in the garden
with unsightly looking leaves later in the spring.
Most perennials, shrubs and trees
flower in late spring and early summer so there is a wide
selection to choose from. On the other hand, late summer is
the time of the year when lots off plants need to be cut back
and the garden starts to look overgrown and tired. Plants
that I would like you to notice that bring interest at that
time of the year are Echinacea purpurea (Purple Cone Flower),
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, and Rudbeckia hirta (Black
Eye Susan), Also, I would like to mention Hydrangeas that
come in a wide variety and have outstanding flowers. Let’s
not forget about ornamental grasses that are more and more
popular, and come in a variety of colors, textures and sizes.
In the fall, trees
and shrubs change colors, and plants that capture attention
to this colorful change are Aronia, Viburnums, Euonymus alatus
(Burning Bush), Cotoneaster, and a wide variety of trees like
Fraxinus americana ‘Autumn Purple’ (White Ash),
Larix decidua (Larch), Gingko biloba ‘Autumn Gold’.
For the winter and all year, choosing
evergreens or conifers shrubs and trees will bring the desired
effect; also, a good balance of plants and hardscaping will
help. Landscaping with pathways, steps, benches, ponds and
creeks and structures like gazebos and pergolas trellises
or accessories such as statues, birdbaths, ceramic pots and
fountains should bring more life and harmony into the garden.
Hardscaping features can help to show the maximum beauty of
the plants. Creating a path that is made out of interesting
material and is shaped well complements the whole landscape
and could be a feature as well as an access. A well-placed
retaining wall can also help define the edge of a lawn or
create a background for a perennial border.
Thinking ahead and planing is crucial
since a garden is always changing and its beauty depends on
our vision. A garden that has something to show in every season
is a garden to be proud of.
Viktorie Hladik
Horticulturist
Landscape Designer
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