Entries Tagged 'Soft Elements: Plants' ↓

Annuals - Everybody knows of these garden favorites, prized for their showy display of flowers. They live for one year, and die in winter, sometimes re-seeding themselves to grow again the next year. They definitely require more attention and maintenance than other plant types, but there is no denying the value of their showy flowers throughout the spring, summer and fall. These bring an enormous array of colors to the garden palette, and are the material of choice for avid gardeners.

Perennials - Like shrubs, these plants live for a number of years, often 10 or more. They are differentiated by the fact that they die back to the ground every winter, re-growing each spring, and thus do not typically have woody (hardened) stems. They are typically smaller than many shrubs (less than 3 feet tall), and can have more prominent flowering characteristics, although some are still chosen for foliage, texture or function. These plants are the backbone of low-maintenance flower gardens.

Vines - Vines are basically shrubs that prefer to grow on or up another structure, such as a fence, pergola or even a tree. They can climb, ramble, and sprawl over man-made constructions, thus softening them by adding a touch of life. They also enhance the vertical dimension, raising your garden into the air, to places where plants would otherwise not be able to grow. Many vines have been selected for their flowering characteristics, such as clematis, wisteria or climbing roses.

Plants can be generally classified into the following groups:

Trees - Trees are considered to be the most vital element in landscaping design because they function as the backbone of a landscape. They take years to grow and almost impossible to move or transfer upon full growth. Most often, they in fact outlived their owners. Trees therefore require the most planning and foresight. They almost always have a single trunk, although they can some in clumps, as with birch, or with two or more trunks; trees with multiple trunks will usually grow wider than the same species with single trunks.

Red-Yellow Azaleas Shrubs

Shrubs - Shrubs are more relevant to the human scale, forming accents, screens, and the foundation for mixed gardens. They are an invaluable landscaping tool for smaller yards and properties, and bring a sense of scale to larger properties. Many are favored for their flowering habits however other characteristics such as texture and form can have a more lasting impact on a landscape. Shrubs typically have multiple stems, often originating at ground level, although some can be trained into tree form with proper pruning.