As another new year unfolds, have you made any resolutions? Maybe it’s more exercise or a healthier diet, but what about your garden?
Montour County, Pa., master gardener and webinar host Carol Burke feeds monarch butterflies, one of the pollinators she is attempting to attract through appropriate landscaping.
Now it’s time to start thinking about projects that will bring joy to your landscape this year. That’s the message of a webinar presented by Carol Burke, a Penn State master gardener from Montour County, with a knack for landscaping and lots of related helpful tips.
If you’ve already made up your mind to update your home’s landscaping design, your first action step is to decide where to begin. Burke’s Approach: “Plan your work, then craft your plan.” She said that landscaping is the art of developing a plan to ensure that the space available in your yard is used to its fullest in an attractive way.
Step 1: Determine the goal of your landscape update. Are you renovating an existing garden or planning newly created areas such as adding a patio or water feature? Do you want to attract new species of birds and pollinators, or is the focus on repelling game? With that established, set your schedule. Will you be implementing your new landscaping ideas in spring or is this a plan that will take several seasons to complete?
Step 2: Look at the big picture. Are there invasive plants or unwanted trees that need to be removed? Are you considering wet or dry areas that require special attention? Want to add upgrades like a patio, fence, pergola, or pond? What is the area to be used for? Adding an entertainment area requires different considerations than installing a teenage play area. Want to screen off an area for more privacy, hide garbage cans, or dress up a woodpile? Are overgrown shrubs hiding your home’s best features?
Step 3: Do a soil test. It helps determine which plants should be planted and where. Measuring soil pH, humic matter and exchangeable acidity is essential. Burke said you can purchase a soil test kit at any Penn State Extension office.
Step 4: Consider plants that are seasonally interesting. Imagine a mix of plantings that will be interesting at any time of the year – bulbs that bloom in spring, evergreens that do well under a blanket of snow, or annuals that you can vary from year to year. Research plants that attract birds and pollinators to add an extra dimension of interest.
Step 5: Only plant what you can take care of. Think about how much time you want to dedicate to maintaining your landscape and decide whether you need to maintain it yourself or hire someone. These decisions also affect the necessary tools and equipment required for good maintenance.
Step 6: Don’t leave tree selection to chance. Deciduous trees do best near the south side of a home because they provide shade in the summer and allow for some sunlight during the cold-weather months after losing their leaves, Burke said. Plant evergreens on the west side where they will block cold winds and harsh sunshine.
Planted too close to home, this shrub is an example of what happens when landscapers don’t plan ahead and keep pruning. This huge shrub has taken over a side yard, creating an unsightly appearance, blocking window views and most likely endangering the home’s foundation with roots.
Step 7: Think ahead. How tall and how wide will mature plants grow? Trees and shrubs that are tiny today will have both branches and roots that will spread. Be sure to leave enough space to avoid overcrowding or possible damage from stray roots. Burke advised placing trees outside of the corners of your home, where they accent your home and add curb appeal while being less likely to block views or restrict airflow.
Careful planning of this brick patio and the walkway leading to it has created an oasis in this family’s garden. The plantings around it accentuate it and add interest.
Step 8: Landscaping goes beyond vegetation. The addition of permanent, non-living traits (known as hardscaping), such as A feature such as a fence, pergola, arbor, wall, walkway or patio can add both accent and functionality to your garden. Consider a walkway between flower beds to provide easy access to weeds, dead heads, etc. and to create a pleasant place to stroll. Bricks, stone slabs or pavers are attractive alternatives to concrete. A pergola provides a shaded area perfect for entertaining or a comfortable place to sit and enjoy your lawn. Water features such as small ponds or fountains can be both attractive and relaxing. Fences and walls don’t have to be long to be eye-catching.
Step 9: Put your plans on paper. You don’t have to be a landscape architect to design your lawn or garden layout, but drawing—even in a rough form—will help you better align with the realities of your property. Burke emphasized these basic principles of design: scale, balance, unity, rhythm, accent, and repetition.
Step 10: Set a budget. Keep things real by estimating the cost of your project. Research planting and hardscaping prices, and don’t forget to factor in the cost of any equipment you may need to buy or rent. This will help you determine if you need to scale back your plans or maybe split them into affordable phases.
Japanese barberry and two other invasive species have been added to the list of plants illegal to propagate or sell in Pennsylvania.
Step 11: Stomp out invasive species. Some plants that look beautiful are not. Barberries are a prime example, as is oriental bittersweet. They can add color accents, but they easily spread over a wide area through bird droppings and can gradually overtake a forest. Bradford pears are an invasive tree that is spreading quickly. All three come from Asia and are therefore not adapted to our native flora and fauna. For more information on how to identify and remove these and numerous other harmful plants, Burke recommended going to conservect.org.
Step 12: Use native plants whenever possible. Native plants are already well adapted to your climate and ecosystem, so they are healthier and require less maintenance than more exotic alternatives. They typically require less irrigation and fertilization, and they attract and support wildlife, native birds, and pollinators. They come in all sizes and colors, so finding the ones that match the style of your garden is not a difficult task. To find native plants that meet your needs, Burke recommends using the native plant finder nwf.org, which provides plant information based on your zip code.
Carol Burke’s final advice was: pick a few plants you love and decide where they fit best. Then ask yourself, “What does my garden need to provide for me?” And have fun fulfilling those wishes.
Carol Burke’s full presentation, entitled New Year’s Resolutions for Your Lawn, is available on demand until January 24, 2023 by registering here. There is a $5 registration fee.
