Feature plant of this month

Euonymus alata

Burning Bush

This is a shrub that is best left unpruned although it can be pruned if you have space issues. It is not fussy about soil requirements (except for excessive wet areas) and there are no significant pest problems. It also transplants very easily. It is truly a maintenance free shrub.  In some areas in North East Of US is Burning Bush considered invasive. In autumn the dark green leaves turn a brilliant purplish red to scarlet color before dropping to the ground. Hardy to Zone 4.

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Privacy in the Garden

I would like you to think of your garden as island of serenity.   Imagine it as a place where you can entertain guests, read book, or play with your kids after a hard day at work.   This serene place should offer privacy, which can include space and views.

While, there are many ways to provide privacy, the focus should be as much on aesthetics as on functionality.   Fences are the most common way to provide privacy.  Its instant results are almost unbeatable but fences can create a sense of being boxed in which will make us feel restricted rather than relaxed.   A combination of structures and plants could be a great solution for the privacy issue.  Trellises, hedges, tall grasses, shrub borders, perennial borders, raspberry patches, gazebos, pergolas, sheds, playhouses, arches, lattices, rock gardens and rock walls are some of the possibilities.   These components cleverly combined can give us maximum privacy without blocking pleasant views.  For example, a rock wall surrounding a stone patio with an evergreen hedge as a backdrop will provide a visual barrier as much as it does a sound barrier but will not eliminate a favorite view. Alternatively, an easily accessible shed that separates us from a neighbor’s yard might be a perfect solution.

Creativity has no limits. Think about a back yard as if it is an outdoor second living room. That second living room can be another place where you can relax in privacy.

Viktorie Hladik
Horticulturist
Landscape Designer

List of past newsletter issues:

..... groundcovers ......

..... landscape lights .....

..... designing your entrance .....

..... building a retaining wall .....

..... garden features .....

..... winter gardens .....

..... house plants .....

..... conifers .....

..... winter preparation .....

..... garden year-round.....

..... starting your landscape job .....

..... shade garden ......