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2016 Spring Home Improvement
LINCON DAILY
NEWS.comMay 2, 2016 Page 25
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Shade trees placed to the south and west side of the
house help cool in summer.
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You can create serenity spaces for dining or sitting.
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Do you want to provide food and habitat for birds or
other creatures of nature.
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How long do you have to complete your goals; is
this a short-term residence or a place you expect to
live for decades.
Mixing it up
If you like color, choose materials that peak at
different times in the season.
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One common tip is to group plants with a variety of
textures; you might mix broad leaves like hydrangea
with round leaved barberry, short-needled evergreens.
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Foliage color contrasts also create drama. Take
golden junipers or one of the new yellow sumacs set it
next to one of the deep purple Weigelia’s or Ninebark,
watch it pop.
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Plant thinking ahead for mature sizes so what will
be tallest is toward the back and sufficient spacing
between plants.
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And, don’t ignore planning for the winter garden.
After deciduous plants drop their leaves, trunks
and stems, even vines lend great texture and cast
interesting silhouettes on a winter day. With a few
architectural accents and hardscape, a winter garden
can provide intrigue and pleasure.
Some design options
Repetition, such as a line of shrubs or trees of the
same type and size can be a real an attention grabber,
especially at peak performance times. A line of
blooming red bud, crab, ornamental cherry or pear
trees are inspirational in the spring. In the fall
color the vibrant red of burning bush, sugar maples
and other late season show-offs make stunning
statements. Lines of evergreens such as pine, spruce,
fir, arborvitae, yews and others catch attention all year
round.
If you are like most people, your plantings will
most likely be staged over several years, maybe
even continue over a life-time. Set your goals by
image or mood. It will probably include quite a bit
of hardscape materials also such as benches, tables
and chairs, pathways, planters, maybe a fountain
or fish pond are in your future, or one of the many
attractive outdoor patio fireplaces, more specialized
garden and landscape lighting comes out every year.
Solar lights continue to provide more options and are
coming down in price. You may want bird feeding
stations and houses, which add lots of charm and
entertainment. Plan out for an entire space and set
some expectations to develop over time.
Consider the seasonal changes
Trees and shrubs change throughout the season. Some
will feature spectacular bloom, ornamental cherry and
pear trees en mass are spectacular. Many offer great
foliage textures and color - burning bush, barberry,
ninebark. Even branch structure or bark are valued,
such as the fine branching and bark of a birch or
weeping trees that the draping fine branches sway with
the wind.
Grasses
While they are neither shrub nor tree, ornamental
grasses have proven their place in any permanent
landscape. The papery shush of wind passing through
grasses is soothing, grass blades and seed heads add
grace and texture. Grasses make an excellent fill for
spaces between shrubs or below trees. Grasses also
lend attractive structural interest in winter.
The bigger picture
You don’t just throw a room together and expect it
to take care of itself and look the same or better for
years to come. Plan ahead for upkeep, changes or
expansion.
CONTIUNED ►