by Kimberley A. Willis

Created on: January 30, 2007   Last Updated: May 15, 2007

Making Wise Landscape Choices

It's spring and a gardeners thoughts naturally turn to planting. There's nothing like the smell of soil percolating in the sun to inspire a trip to the greenhouse or nursery. But before you jump in the car, take a few minutes to think about your own particular landscape and growing conditions.

Everyone has seen the house with the overgrown shrubs covering the windows and obstructing the sidewalk. Poor maintenance may be part of the problem, but poor planting choices years ago had a large part in the problem too. Maybe you've planted a vine that took over a whole side of the house or a tree by the deck that attracts birds and bees by the hundreds with it's abundant fruit which makes sitting on the deck an unpleasant experience Every gardener will make some kind of planting mistake sooner or later. And sometimes you inherit the mistakes of your home's previous owner. But a little bit of planning, and a lot of care in selecting landscape material, will help keep those mistakes to a minimum.

Knowing what plants to choose for your landscape takes a little research. Read catalog descriptions and pay attention to plant tag information. Consult a good reference book. They list plant choices for every situation. But one of the most important things to consider is the plants "adult" form and size. We rarely buy landscape plants at full or "finished " size. Instead we buy plants that tend to grow larger, sometimes with unwanted consequences. This is a particularly important point to remember when choosing trees and shrubs. Also important is the care the plant will need to flourish in your environment and the use of the area where the plant will be planted. Here are some quick tips on plant selection.

Keep foundation plantings from directly touching the house, even when they are full size. You do that by paying attention to the size the plant is supposed to achieve and actually measuring before planting. Plantings should not grow large enough to obstruct windows or crowd walks and drives. While some evergreens and broadleaved shrubs can be pruned to stay within boundaries, some do not look right when pruned.

Before planting trees and shrubs or making new flower beds, think about maneuvering around them. Will it be easy to mow around? Are you planting in an area that your kids regularly use as a shortcut or ball field? If a truck had to pump the septic tank or deliver fuel would the planting be in the way? Will wet branches bend over the walk and

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