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Tucsongardener.com |
Landscape 101
I've got a bare spot and I want
to put something there. What should I plant? Garden
Center personnel hear the above question all the time. Then they probably give a little
shudder and ask themselves, Why me? Simple, they're in the business to sell
plants and related products. You expect them to have an answer just as you expect a
mechanic to be able to fix your car when you take it in for repair.
You can show that you're a seasoned gardener by supplying a bit more
information than just having a bare spot that needs filling. Start by figuring out some
general reasons for plants in the landscape. The most obvious would be something that's
pleasing to look at. In some instances to develop an attractive garden it will take
many plants and trees mixed in with other elements such as walks, rocks, pools, ponds,
etc. to give the desired effect
You don't need to be a design expert to help the garden center personnel choose a plant
for your bare spot. You need to know why you want to put a plant in that bare spot and
what you expect from it as it grows toward maturity. What follows is a basic list of plant
functions in the garden.
Shade: Very
important in the desert especially in the middle of June. Shade trees can also help cut
your utility bills by cooling the environment around your home or keeping the sun from
shining in windows which in turn makes your air conditioner work less. That saves on your
utility bill. A deciduous tree can shade in the summer and let the sun in when it loses
its leaves in the winter which might help in lowering your winter utility bills. An added
bonus: the fallen leaves can be added to your compost pile.
Screen: Do you have
something that needs to be hidden from view? A shrub or tree can hide your neighbors
unsightly garbage cans or give you a bit more privacy so you don't have to close the
curtains or window shades every time you want to slip into something more comfortable.
Maybe you want to hide your garden hose. A screen of trees can also act as a wind block
when those gusty July monsoon winds whip through your neighborhood ripping off roof
shingles.
Ground Cover: Low
growing plants that spread out covering the ground. Some of the most common you see while
you drive around Tucson are the yellow and purple trailing lantana, prostrate acacia, and
trailing indigo bush.
Accent: An
accent plant offers creativity in the garden. This is the unusual in color or shape. The
color can come from the foliage or from the flowers at different times of the years. They
stand out with their distinctive character. The native Saguaro would certainly be an
accent as would the yellow spines of a golden barrel cactus. Nandina with its winter red
berries and color changing foliage can be an accent, too.
Color: We think of the color in the garden coming from the annuals
like petunias, marigold, sweet alyssum, pansy, snap dragons, calendula, zinnias, cosmos,
portulaca, and periwinkle. Yet lemons, tangerines, grapefruit and oranges can also add
color when the fruit become ripe in the winter. Color can come from the blooms of red or
yellow bird of paradise or the spikes of red yucca. Don't forget the fall and winter
berries of Pyracantha.
Shade, screen, ground cover, accent, and color are the basics you'll need in your plant selection.
But you'll also need to know how much room you have for your plant so that what you select
at your garden center won't quickly outgrow the site you've chosen and make it necessary
to constantly prune.
Another consideration is plant hardiness. Maybe you live in one of the
cold spots of Tucson where the heavy cold air settles during the sub freezing nights we
have in the winter. Maybe the site is a hot spot in the garden where there's
protection offered by a wall, or the warmth of a swimming pool.
Finally, if you have one, don't forget to consider your overall landscape
plan. High water usage, moderate water usage or low water usage? Select plants that meet
your requirements and will work with your garden as a whole.
Gardening and landscaping ideas are visible throughout Tucson. Keep your
eyes open and if you see something you like, write it down or try to remember what the
plant looked like so you can spot it the next time you visit your garden center.
(1998) |