Plant selection should always be governed by research into the qualities of the specific specimens under consideration, and sometimes you will need to make a compromise. But never is such research more critical than when it comes to selecting trees for your landscape. Here are all the different plant types to consider when planning your landscaping. There is another reason to exercise wise plant selection when choosing a tree. Many trees are slow growers, meaning you will have to wait years to reap the benefits of planting them. When that waiting period is over, you do not want to be saddled with features for which you did not bargain. Be sure to know what to expect before you install a tree. Trees can be categorized in a number of ways. Some examples include:
Flowering treesFall-foliage treesFast-growing shade treesEvergreen treesDwarf trees
Flowering shrubsShrubs for fall colorFast-growing shrubsEvergreen shrubs
Shrubs can also be organized according to how they are used. Plant selections for areas adjacent to the house should be made carefully as with trees. Certain shrubs are good choices for foundation plantings because they stay compact, thereby minimizing maintenance. Appealing to the eye and the nose alike, roses are so popular that they virtually form a subcategory of shrubs all to themselves. Impressed by their versatility and vigor, some gardeners are huge fans of vines. But you do have to be careful with your plant selection. Many vines are invasive plants. And even in some cases where a vine is not technically considered invasive in a particular region, it may grow so vigorously as to become a yard-maintenance nightmare. That is the case, for example, with Virginia creeper in eastern North America, where it is native. Just remember that while perennials may, in general, be low-maintenance, they are not maintenance-free. Expect to perform tasks such as dividing perennials in some cases to keep your perennial patch robust. As with other entries above, perennials can be categorized in a number of ways including:
Tall perennials (such as hardy hibiscus)Short perennialsLong-blooming perennials
Many of the traditional cottage-garden plants are perennials. But as always, plant selections must be made based on sun and shade preferences.
An example of a sun annual is red salvia. An example of a shade annual is impatiens.
Sometimes, you are lucky and get a two-for-one deal on such specialty plants. For example, the lamb’s ear is both deer-resistant and drought-resistant.
