Landscaping Dos and Don’ts
• Do use plants that are native to your area. They will survive the best.
• Do get a professional landscape plan. Implement your design one phase at a time.
• Try to add a patio rather than a deck so you don’t feel like you are floating above your home and can sit amongst the plants in your garden
• Do get an irrigation system. Drip in the planted beds and spray for the lawn areas. This will protect your investment.
• Install low voltage landscape lighting. Lighting showcases your garden at night and improves safety and security. This is one thing all our clients are very happy they have in any season of the year.
• Don’t spread your budget over too many backyard projects. Invest your time and money in doing each of them properly.
• Don’t spend too much on an outdoor kitchen if you can only use it for one season. A very nice large grill can be moved about as well. The same goes for a firepit, it is wiser to invest in a large firebowl.
• Don’t plant too much. Restrict your planting to just a few areas and leave room for lawn and patio areas.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
How do you care for Wisteria? It has climed all around my arbor but it hasn’t had a single bloom Do you have any tips that would be helpful? Thank you Angela
Angela, Wisterias like full sun and require strong support as you probably know. Failure of a wisteria to bloom is usually and abundance of nitrogen which promotes foliage but not bloom. To avoid this problem amend the soil in the fall with half pound of bonemeal per square inch of trunk size. During the growing season prune all new growth back to three buds and immediately after blooming (when it will eventually) prune back severely to encourage the new season bloom and control rampant growth. Good luck Maureen
Stella Doro lillies are suppose to bloom all season. I have found mine going to seed prematurely. Am I fertilizing too much or what is the problem? They are in good soil in a sunny spot.
Patricia, everything is late blooming this season, because of lack of sun. Manure in the spring around the perennials is the only nourishment you need. Too much fertilizer or too much water is always too much. Be patient and I feel that your lilies will come back for you; they are a very hardy perennial. Good luck Maureen
I planted my Stella Doro plants last year and stopped blooming quickly. I was excited to see strong blooms this year, but they only lasted a week. I dispersed some bone meal earlier and fed them later on with fertilizer. There has been no need for me to water due to the amount of rain we’ve had here. What can I do to help them to bloom?
Linda, deadhead the old blooms and adopt a wait and see attitude. We need more sunshine for a rebloom on many perennials. Good luck Maureen
We have a mole problem with our gardens. How do you get rid of a mole? He seems to be eating all of my bulbs.
Dear Rebecca, check on the website for “what to use in the garden” for the organic product I recommend. The moles and all other predators large and small have been a real problem this season. Good luck Maureen
Why is it that my hydrengia’s only bloom every once in awhile?
Maura, on the website, in the search box, type in Hydrangeas and an article I wrote on the subject will come up and help you. In the meantime we did not have enough sun this season for the hydrangeas to bloom well. Good luck Maureen
When is the best time to split and transplant Hosta’s and Irisi’s? They are huge and spreading.
Norma, Split and transplant the Hostas and Irises now. Do not plant them any deeper than they are in the ground now and particularly with the Iris, just cover the root system with enough soil so that they do not topple over. Any deeper with the Iris and they will not flower well for you. Best Maureen
You advise to use aged manure and also to mulch. Does the mulch have to be scraped away to use the manure right or can I apply it around my plants right over on top of last year’s mulch? Our soil is rotten quality (sand, clay, you name it) but we don’t have the funds to do the entirety of all of our beds over. I think I can get some manure down right around my perennials. Is it still worth it? Thank you so much!
Lynn, any amount of manure is great, and yes apply it over the old mulch and moisture will allow it to seep into the soil to build so that even with your rotten quality of soil, it will make such a difference. Whenever budget allows, add more manure. Good luck Maureen