Proper selection of a plant for given site conditions is critical. It is more important than your ability to prune, harvest, or mulch. All too often a plant is chosen on its look or size in the nursery. Just because that Colorado Spruce looks great in the pot at the nursery doesn’t mean you should be planting 5 feet from the corner of the house . That spruce has the potential to grow to 60 feet in height and 20 feet wide, not the ideal tree for such a location.

I have often seen this mistake at the hand of the landscaper who’s only concern is to make money and not consider the future of the landscape. The initial cost of the landscape from a lowball bid contractor may seem appealing, but the eventual side effects of a poorly designed landscape will end up costing you more in the future. If you are hiring a contractor, get references, visit projects that they have designed and installed; in short do your homework.

Key to a successful landscape design is understanding the site to be landscaped. What type of soil is present? Is the soil constantly wet? What is the weather like? Does the site get sun? Is it full sun? How cold does it get in the winter? The list could go on. Take time to survey the site, if you have time to evaluate the site over time that is even better.

I did not do much to the landscape of my property for the first year after we moved into the house, but I did take time to observe how the landscape changed through the seasons. This observation has made it possible to design the landscape with an understanding of how it functions throughout the year. I was surprised to find that the north side of the property received more sun in the summer than I thought it would, encouraging me to plant an apple tree in the brightest summer sun location.

Knowledge of a  plant’s growth habit and requirements make it possible to select the right plant for the space being considered. Several factors go into proper plant selection.

• Plant Hardiness
• Plant Habit
• Water Requirements
• Soil Type
• Sun Exposure
• Design Effect – What are you trying to do? Trying to screen the view to your neighbors unsightly side yard? An evergreen will provide year round screen where a deciduous plant would not do as well for that purpose.

Understanding a plant’s limitations or its potentials will make a difference in the success of your landscape design and future maintenance. Over the next few weeks I’ll be writing about each of these factors in more detail. I’d love to hear some of the factors you consider when planting in your landscapes.

image: citta-vita

When it comes to comfort and efficiency, the beauty of trees is matched by their utility. Strategically planted trees around your home create a beautiful landscape while also providing energy savings all year round. Deciduous trees that shed leaves in the autumn can provide shade to cool a home in the summer, while allowing sunlight and its warmth into the interior of the home in the winter. Well placed conifers and other evergreen trees and shrubs can deflect or block winter’s harshest winds.

Cooling

Trees can shade a roof and walls from the hot summer sun. They will also create a cooler atmosphere around the home, cooling sidewalks and driveway that normally reflect heat. They are able to do this through a transpiration process that cools the air around them, acting as natures evaporative coolers. According to one study, cooling costs can be cut by 50 percent if half of the roof is shaded. Shading the air conditioner will also improve its efficiency by 10 percent.

When planting trees and shrubs around your home:

• Consider the seasonal sun angles when planting for sun shade. Buildings with large south or west exposures need shad mid to late afternoon.
• Medium to large trees provide excellent cooling because they shade both home and yard, helping to cool both the structure and the surrounding areas.
• Plant deciduous trees to the southeast and southwest of the home for shade. Choose and place trees to cast the maximum amount of summer shade and the minimum of winter shade. Make sure the trees are placed far enough away from the house as to not interfere with the structure as the tree matures.
• Shrubs and small trees can be planted to shade air conditioners and heat pumps. However, be careful not to plant too close to the unit as to block airflow. Keep units free of leaves and needles.

Heating

Properly placed trees and shrubs can help reduce heating costs by blocking winter winds. Deciduous trees planted to cool a home, will loose their leaves to allow the radiation of the sun to help heat the structure.

Conserve energy by planting a combination of evergreen trees and shrubs on the side of your home that blocks the coldest of winter winds. Choose plants whose branches will grow low to the ground.

Here are some helpful safety tips to keep in mind when working outdoors near power lines.

• Assume all overhead and buried lines are energized or carrying electricity.
• Never touch any line hanging from a power pole or laying on the ground, or anything it is touching. Keep others away and call the electric utility.
• Do not attempt to remove branches or trees that have fallen on the lines. Call the local electric utility.
• Look Up! Locate power lines before climbing a ladder, trimming limbs from a tree, or climbing on your roof.
• Do not use aluminum ladders or metal tree pruning equipment near power lines. Electric current can travel through your tools or ladder through you and to the ground.
• When plans call for digging a hole for planting a tree or dig a trench be sure to call and have your utilities located. Never assume that the utilities are buried deeper than you plan to dig.
• Remember ” the right tree in the right place.” To avoid future/power line conflicts, plant trees away from power lines or plant trees that will grow less than 25 feet at maturity.
• When planting trees or shrubs near ground mounted transformers be sure to maintain a 3-foot clearance to the sides and back of the transformer. Equipment inside the box generates heat and needs air circulation to keep cool and run efficiently. Overheating could cause an outage.

Butterflies, and hummingbirds are nectar feeders, and are attracted to different flowers. Butterflies feed on purple, lavender, white, yellow and orange and some red flowers. Flowers that provide a perch and fragrance are especially attractive to butterflies. Hummingbirds are attracted to red, red-orange, orange and pink blossoms located on the exterior of the plant allowing them to hover while feeding.

• The more nectar flowers you have the more butterflies and hummingbirds will show up.
• Use a variety of annuals, perennials, shrubs and vines. They will flower at different heights, times and locations ensuring there will be something attractive to the hummingbirds and butterflies.
• Consider mass plantings of flowers, larger blocks of color help attract.
• Native flowers generally have more nectar
• Container plants work well in limited space areas and allow you to bring the butterflies and hummingbirds in from the garden and closer to the house.
• Butterflies prefer flowers in the sun, with shelter from the wind.
• Hummingbirds mostly perch in trees and then venture out every 10-15minutes to feed, they also eat some small insects.
• In weather extremes, i.e. hot, cold, dry, or rainy flowers don’t produce as much nectar. Supplemental food can be provided with feeders and sugar water.

Flowers for Butterflies
• Alyssum
• Aster
• Chrysanthemum
• Dahlia
• Daylilly
• Dianthus
• Honeysuckle
• Impatients
• Lilac
• Lobelia
• Marigold
• Pansy
• Petunia
• Phlox
• Sunflower
• Candytuft
• Yarrow
• Zinnia

Flowers for Hummingbirds
• Begonia
• Columbine
• Coral Bells
• Delphinium
• Fuchsia
• Gladiolus
• Hollyhock
• Honeysuckle
• Impatiens
• Iris
• Lobelia
• Lupine
• Petunia
• Phlox
• Salvia
• Trumpet Vine
• Zinnia