How To Grow Walnuts In Home Garden

Walnut Tree

Walnut trees are deciduous slow growers that produce meaty nuts that play an important role in our nutrition. Being deciduous (having separate male and female plants), you must plant both walnut trees to obtain fruit. 

Most trees will start bearing fruit in 3-4 years after transplant. Walnuts have multiple species or varieties that are good to grow in home gardens, such as English walnut, Black walnut, etc. 

To grow walnut in the home garden, you should probably select a dwarf, disease-resistant, and hardy variety since many walnut trees can grow to fifty feet. 

Continue reading to discover how to plant a walnut tree in your home garden.

Varieties Of Walnut To Be Grown In Home Garden:

You can have various walnut varieties available in the market and the nursery; however, not all are suitable to be grown in home gardens, and the right selection is the most crucial decision that will decide the success or failure of the plant. 

Black walnut

  • Black walnuts have harder shells and more flavorful nutmeats than English walnuts. 
  • Black walnut cultivars like “Kwik Krop,” “Snyder,” and “Sparrow” are bred specifically to produce nuts.
  • Unfortunately, because of their scarcity, it could be challenging to buy these cultivars. 
  • Additionally, in many US regions, especially in Utah, many commercially grown cultivars (like “Thomas”) do not reliably produce ripe nuts year after year.

English walnut

  • There are several options in English walnut. 
  • Due to its greater winter hardiness (it can withstand temperatures between -10 and -20° F), English walnuts of the Carpathian kind are a superior option for most US regions, especially for Utah.
  • Only cultivate non-Carpathian varieties in warmer regions, such as the Moab and St. George regions.

How To Grow Walnut Trees in Home Garden?

You need some patience to grow walnut trees because they will take years to reach maturity and a stage where they begin producing nuts. 

Additionally, growing walnut trees can deplete other plants’ nutrients, so you should select an appropriate site for this tree in your home garden. To grow a walnut tree from seed, follow the steps below:

Growing Walnut Plants from Seed:

It can take months for walnut seeds to germinate, and the germination rate is very low. Therefore, planting a walnut tree with a seedling is a better option in terms of saving time and money. Moreover, it requires years of experience to learn how to grow a walnut tree from its seed and which kind of plant would have female organs and which one would grow into a male plant, so it may take a good deal of trial and error before you would end up with both a viable male and female plant. 

Growing Walnut Plant from Seedling:

Growing a walnut tree from a seedling is advantageous to home gardeners because it will be a grafted plant and begins producing fruits earlier than a plant grown from seed. 

  • Transplant a container-grown walnut tree in the dormant season (i.e., Jan to Early Feb) as long as the soil is not frozen or waterlogged.
  • Bare-rooted trees should be planted in the late fall or early spring.
  • You can find both bare-rooted and potted trees available at reasonable prices at local nurseries.
  • Walnuts grow best in deep, well-drained soil that retains moisture longer (in full sun or mild shade). 
  • Walnut trees thrive best in alkaline soil.
  • Avoid planting in regions with a chance of late frost, which can easily damage the fragile buds.
  • Make sure the visible soil line at the tree’s base is just above soil level when you plant
  • Prepare a hole that is compatible with the size of the seedling.
  • Mulching is the best practice to retain soil moisture and prevent weed growth from competing with the young tree.
  • During the first year or two, you shouldn’t allow the young walnut tree to dry out or get water-logged because both extremes can be detrimental to plant growth. 
  • Fertilizing with an all-purpose fertilizer (having N, P, AND K) in early spring is recommended.
  • Midwinter or midsummer are good times to prune.

Care and Maintenance of Home-Grown Walnut Trees:

  • In walnut orchards, squirrels are regular visitors. If left unchecked, they can devour an entire crop of walnuts.
  • Cut away branches of the walnut tree that are less than 6 feet (1.8 meters) from the ground (If you can do so without creating knots that reduce the value of the wood) 
  • Cover the trunks with plastic tree guard to prevent them from climbing them
  • Depending on your area and climatic conditions, other pests like flies, aphids, and caterpillars may not affect your tree if they are active toward the end of the growing season.
  • Keep livestock away from walnut trees of all sizes since the harm they do might even void the mature trees’ wood value.
  • For black walnuts, sufficient fertilization will reduce weed competition. 
  • Wait to fertilize the walnut plants until the trunk reaches at least “pole” size or 4.5 feet (1.4 meters) above the ground.
  • Another option is “late spring.” Fertilize each tree with nitrogen, phosphate, and murate of potash
  • If the results are good, fertilize a few additional trees to compare the impact and reapply every three to five years.
  • Many gardeners start by planting more plants than they can support, which is not a good practice. 
  • The walnut tree should be pruned early if it is being raised for lumber to ensure a straight trunk.
  • One “leader” branch should be left at the top of the tree to direct the tree’s growth throughout the following one to two growing seasons. 
  • Black walnut trees should be pruned after further growth since all types, including those planted for nuts, are eventually sold for lumber. 
  • Nut-producing saplings can be left alone until after thinning.
  • Finding a skilled pruner to help you identify leaders and significant branches are advised if you have never pruned trees before, especially saplings.
  • If the tree’s top is forked, straighten the best leader by bending it and taping it to other branches for support before trimming the tip.
  • Keep weeds and sod out of the vicinity of seedlings to prevent them from competing with their growth for nutrients. 
  • Remove weeds and sod from the area manually or with a fabric weed barrier. Using 2 to 3 inches of mulch over the root zones will help larger seedlings resist weed growth.
  • Never apply thick mulch over newly sprouted shoots, as it may prevent growth. Hold off until the seedling develops roots and becomes woody.

Harvesting Walnuts Grown in Your Home Garden

  • A long broom handle is useful for gently knocking the nuts from the tree. 
  • June and July are the months of harvesting walnut (when they are still “green” and before the shells have formed.
  • Otherwise, wait until the walnut husks begin to separate and fall. 
  • Gather the fallen walnuts and spread them out in a single layer in a warm, breezy area to dry.
  • The walnuts will be fully exposed when the green husks crack fully.

How to Grow Kiwi in a Home Garden?

Kiwi Fruit on the vine

Kiwi is considered one of the most delicious and nutritious fruits that can be grown in the home garden. Kiwi plants develop tons of kiwi fruit on vines. The only thing that will bother you in its growth and development is its long duration to reach maturity. 

Kiwi plants take 7-8 years to start bearing fruit, so you should consider this a long-term investment. Everything you choose for this plant, from site selection to fertilization, should be accurate and optimal to make the most of this long-term commitment. 

Quick Facts about the Kiwi plant:

  • Kiwi vines start bearing fruit after 6-7 years of growth.
  • It requires the most well-drained, sandy loam soil. 
  • Kiwi is a dioecious plant, having separate male and female plants 
  • One male plant is enough to fertilize up to 6 female vines.
  • It requires a sturdy support structure to grow its vines.
  • Kiwi plant does not grow true-to-type, which means that you will purchase and plant a grafted kiwi plant. 
  • It produces fruit on new growth; therefore needs to be pruned annually, in Jan or Feb.

How to Grow Kiwi Fruit in the Home Garden?

You will start by selecting the Kiwi plant variety, and then site selection, soil preparation, and planting will be done as the final step. Let’s start with the kiwi plant variety selection. 

Kiwi Fruit Variety Selection:

There are three types of kiwi fruit that can be grown in a home garden:

  1. Common Kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa) – This is one of the most delicious kiwi fruits that is consumed fresh. You will find it in grocery stores. It is a brown, thick-skinned fruit having green pulp. It thrives best in the USDA zones 7-9 and requires about a month of cool temperatures (between -1 to 7 degrees Celsius). 
  2. Golden Kiwi (Actinidia chinensis) – This Kiwi is also edible and sweeter than common Kiwi but less fuzzy and has yellow pulp. It thrives best in the regions where the temperature in winter goes as low as -12 to -1 degrees Celsius. 
  3. Kiwi Berry (Actinidia arguta) – This Kiwi is named for two different kinds of kiwi fruit; Hardy Kiwi (Actinidia arguta) and Super Hardy Kiwi (Actinidia kolomikta). It is much smaller in size and has thinner and smooth skin. 

How to plant Kiwi Fruit in a Home Garden?

It is planted in Jan or Feb when the fear of frost has passed. Being a vine plant, it needs plenty of space and severe pruning each year to get fruit from it.

You will need to plant at least one male and one female plant for them to bear fruit. You can plant more than one female depending on the space available, while one male plant will be enough to pollinate 5-6 females. Some self-fertile kiwi plants are available in the market, but they may be a bit costly. 

Site Selection

Although it can be grown in the open in sub-tropical or warmer regions, kiwi fruits demand a warm, sheltered, sunny spot, especially against a south or west-facing wall. 

  • In the spring, young shoots are particularly susceptible to frost damage and need protection.
  • Kiwi vines produce the best growth and fruit in sunny locations.
  • Place your plants in a safe section of the garden to prevent wind damage.
  • In colder climates, place the vines on the north side of the yard to reduce the possibility of freeze-thaw damage in the early spring, when plants are particularly vulnerable.
  • Kiwi plants need well-drained soil since too much moisture might cause their roots to rot.
  • Kiwi vines require strong support since they grow slowly. 
  • Build a tall, sturdy trellis structure that can support vines that can reach a width of 15 feet, a length of 20 feet, and a fruit production of up to 100 pounds.

Planting

  • Planting both male and female kiwi plants will ensure a strong crop. The females produce the fruit.
  • According to experts, one male plant should be present for every six female plants.
  • Vines should be spaced 10 to 15 feet apart.
  • If the roots are too lengthy upon planting, you might need to cut them.
  • Plant vines just deep enough for the soil to surround the roots.
  • At the time of planting, water thoroughly.

Care and Maintenance

  • In the height of summer or other dry times, give the plants additional watering unless it has been raining.
  • During the first year, avoid fertilizing. Afterward, fertilize in the spring with a well-balanced fertilizer or soybean meal.
  • If not in bloom, prune the lateral growth two or three times during the growing season.
  • Kiwis grow flowers and fruits on a 5-7-year-old plant
  • Regularly remove water sprouts (which are robust shoots) that grow from older wood, as well as shoots from the trunk.
  • When the plant is dormant, especially in the winter, it is the perfect time to prune female vines. On the other hand, the ideal time to prune male vines is when the plant has finished flowering or come out of the blossom period. 
  • Cold climates are unfavorable for kiwi plants, especially young ones; therefore, they need to be protected from frost.

Alternative Way To Grow Kiwi Plant In Home Garden

Other than seeding, Kiwi plants can also be grown by the “Propagation Method.” Softwood cutting will be better, and grafting and layering methods are preferable for propagating the kiwi fruit. However, if you are not an experienced gardener, you should buy prepared cuttings of male and female kiwi plants. 

Spring season is the best time to plant the kiwi plant cuttings because they need warm weather and soil to grow properly. 

In addition, spacing the male and female plants almost 3-4.5 meters will be the best to let the individual plant grow and spread sufficiently.

Harvesting Kiwi Fruit

The correct harvest time is very important for kiwi fruit. Hardy varieties have more chances of bearing fruit earlier; however, a long summer and autumn (September to October) also play important roles in fruit maturity. 

The best way of harvesting the kiwi fruit is to pick the fruit before the first frost and place them indoors to ripen properly.

You will know that your Kiwi are ready to eat when a gentle squeeze reveals it to be a bit soft. It may take several weeks for your fruit to reach this stage. 

How to Store Kiwi Fruit?

  • Fresh kiwi fruit can be refrigerated for 5-6 weeks to be consumed as raw
  • Freeze the whole kiwi fruit and store it in plastic bags

Pests and Diseases of Kiwi Plant

Being hardy, the kiwi plant is resistant to common fruit pests. However, there are certain environmental factors, such as nutritional imbalance and waterlogged conditions, that may lead to the attack of the following diseases such as: 

  • Root rot 
  • Phytophthora crown rot 

FAQs:

Can I use kiwi fruit in gelatin recipes?

No. the reason is that the kiwi fruit contains a protein-digesting enzyme known as “Actinidain” and cannot be used in recipes with gelatin products. The enzyme will start digesting the proteins in the dishes and will not let the liquid recipe solidify. 

Can I grow kiwi plants in pots?

Yes. Kiwi plant grows into long vines, which means that they require space and support to grow sufficiently. You can grow kiwis in pots or containers of larger sizes but always remember to stack them appropriately and space them sufficiently.

What is the best fertilizer for a young kiwi plant?

The best fertilizer is compost or other organic fertilizers such as vermicompost, leaf litter, etc. However, in the month of fruiting, the plants may need a quick nitrogen source which is provided in the form of ammonium nitrate or urea (10-10-10). 

How To Grow Mulberry In Your Home Garden

mulberries in the hand

Do you like minor fruits? Mulberry is the queen of minor fruits for its delicious, nutritious, and juicy palatability.

We will describe the best way to have an easy-to-care-for and successfully fruiting mulberry in your home garden.

Because of its difficult-to-harvest and massive fruit-producing habits, people usually hesitate to grow Mulberry in their home garden. Moreover, it grows too tall, making it problematic to trim the tree easily. However, Mulberries can be planted against walls if space is restricted since they can tolerate various soils.

Quick Facts about Mulberry

  • Common Name – Mulberry tree, Red Mulberry, White Mulberry, Black Mulberry
  • Botanical Name – Morus spp.
  • Plant Type – Deciduous tree
  • Mature Size – 30–60 ft. tall, 20–40 ft. wide
  • Sun Exposure – Full, partial
  • Soil Type – Rich, moist but well-drained
  • Soil pH – Mildly acidic to neutral
  • Bloom Time – Spring
  • Flower Color – Yellowish-green
  • Hardiness Zone – 4–8 (USDA)
  • Native Range – North America, China
  • Toxicity – Leaves and unripe fruit are mildly toxic to humans

Growing A Mulberry Tree in Your Home Garden

A mulberry tree is equally attractive for humans as well as birds (masses of messy guests!). Furthermore, it has the habit of becoming invasive, which is why it is typically not well suited for small confined spaces and will be happiest when grown in large rural landscapes versus tiny postage stamp-sized yards. 

Despite its spread and messy growth habits, the fruit of the Mulberry has many advantages. It can be grown for human consumption and used in freshly baked items, juices, jellies, and jams, and a wide variety of animals will take advantage of the bountiful fruit it produces. 

Mulberry Tree Variety Selection

Choosing the correct variety of mulberry plant for your yard will be of key importance when first starting out with mulberries. Selecting the appropriate variety and growth habit will make the rest of your experience that much more enjoyable.

White Mulberry (Morus alba tatarica)

White Mulberry was imported from China for silkworm production and is not native to America. Although the white Mulberry has adapted to grow on many soil types, including sandy soil, rich loamy soil, silt loam, and clay loam, it will require moist, well-drained organic-rich soil for optimal yield. 

People love to grow white Mulberry in home gardens because of its flexible soil-acceptance nature and high tolerance; it is flourishing in many places.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra)

Red mulberries are native to North America and hardier than black mulberries. They demand deep, organic matter-rich soils (found near streams and bottomlands). 

Red Mulberry can be grown from seed without stratification (a cold period) and planted in summer or fall. It can also be planted in the spring following 30 to 90 days of stratification in the refrigerator. 8 to 12 inches should separate the seeds before planting them. Trees will produce fruit in 4 to 10 years.

Black Mulberry (Morus nigra)

Black Mulberry bears the most flavorful berries compared to the above two types. It is native to western Asia and thrives best in USDA zones 6 and 7. 

It produces tart mulberries with a shorter shelf life; therefore, the fruit traders do not prefer to sell it, reserving the black Mulberry for leaf harvesting only. 

Dwarf Mulberry

While the above-mentioned Mulberry plants get quite large and can quickly overtake a small yard, there are dwarf varieties of the Mulberry that will top pout at maybe 15-20′ tall rather than the standard 50′ tall. Still, these are also hard to predict as some seem to stop at around six feet while others will grow to 20 feet.

Propagating Mulberry Tree in Home Garden

You can easily plant your mulberry tree by propagation. For that:

  1. It is propagated by soft-wood cutting. Take several branches almost 4-5 inches long and with a sharp pruner to avoid damaging the remaining branches. The bottom cut should be close to a bud so that the chances of the emergence of roots will be more rapid
  2. Be sure that each cutting should not have more than 2-3 leaves, and dip the bottom end in a liquid growth hormonal mixture for a few seconds 
  3. Make planting holes with a wood stick to avoid misplacing the applied hormone at the bottom end of the cutting and gently pat the soil around planted cutting to remove excess air bubbles
  4. You can plant more than one cutting in the same container until they have sufficient distance between them (the leaves of two cuttings should not touch each other)
  5. Cover the container with plastic for between humidity and temperature maintenance and protection from birds
  6. Do not place the container in direct sunlight; however, it should receive bright, sufficient sunlight for growth and development
  7. Mist the container regularly and be sure that the soil does not get dry
  8. When cuttings show 1-2 inches of growth, you can remove the plastic to let the cuttings acclimatize to the surrounding temperature 
  9. After 3-4 weeks, dig out the cutting to check the root development to transplant them into the soil

Growing Mulberries from Seed in Home Garden

Growing Mulberry from seeds is a cheaper way of planting it home garden. For that:

  1. You will collect almost 1 pound of mature, fully ripened mulberries at the end of the season
  2. Soak the berries in water for 24 hours, drain the water, and mash them to expose the seeds; collect the seeds and put them on a plastic sheet to dry. Place the seeds in the refrigerator for 60-100 days; it is known as stratification 
  3. At the end of the 60 to 100 days, prepare a tray with an equal blend of soil, peat, and perlite to sow the seeds.
  4. Sow the seeds as near the surface as possible because seeds sown too deep will not be able to come out and die there. 
  5. Make the soil moist before planting the seeds. Keep the seeds at 86 degrees Fahrenheit for eight hours during the day and 68 degrees Fahrenheit for sixteen hours at night.
  6. Provide the seeds with sunlight for at least eight hours each day. Every day, check the soil moisture and water as necessary.
  7. The live, viable seeds will germinate in the coming 14 days. Plant the seedlings in soil or containers soon after they have developed sufficient roots
  8. After 12-24 months of germination, the seedling will be strong enough to transplant to the permanent place

Mulberry tree Care Tips 

If you have selected the climate-compatible mulberry variety, you will not need to worry much about caring for and maintaining it because it will be resistant to many insect pests, diseases, temperature fluctuations, etc. 

Following are some of the most essential things to be kept in mind while planting and growing a mulberry tree in your home garden:

  • Although Mulberry is drought tolerant, regular watering will be better for a healthier and happier tree
  • It does not require heavy doses of fertilization, but a light dose of urea (10-10-10) will be best for a healthier plant and sufficient fruit bearing
  • Morus alba “Chapparal” is a seedless mulberry variety; best to grow in the home garden
  • It is a fast-growing plant that spreads its roots far away and keeps growing straight until controlled by cutting back the tree. Therefore, be aware to plant it far away from a structure such as garages, ponds, sewage lines, etc. 
  • Morus alba “Kingan” is a drought-tolerant mulberry variety; best to grow in dry regions where frequent watering is difficult. 

Growth Requirements Of A Mulberry Tree Grown In Home Garden:

Following are the necessary facts to consider while planting the mulberry tree and maintaining its health yearly.

  • Light – Both “full sun and partial shade” are favorable for mulberry trees, while some of the varieties of Mulberry yield more fruit when provided with sufficient and more light. 
  • Soil – Mulberry trees can tolerate clayey, loamy, and sandy soils as long as the soils have and maintain adequate drainage. The trees may survive in a variety of pH conditions (from neutral to slightly acidic).
  • Water – To aid in developing a robust root system, water your mulberry tree deeply and frequently after planting (two to three gallons per week for the first year is the best practice). Once they are established, mulberry trees can withstand short periods of drought, but extended dry spells can reduce fruit production or cause the unripe berries to fall off early.
  • Temperature and Humidity – Most mulberry trees can withstand temperatures as low as “-25 degrees Fahrenheit” during dormancy, depending on the species. Areas with climatic temperatures ranging between 68 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit will not be favorable for developing fruit.
  • Fertilization – Although Mulberry can survive without additional application of fertilizers, light doses of organic fertilizers before or after fruiting will help the tree to restore the nutrients it has given you in the form of mulberry fruits.  Note: Use a balanced 10-10-10 combination and 1 pound of fertilizer for every inch of the trunk’s diameter and once in late winter (end of Jan or start of Feb).

Conclusion

Overall, the Mulberry is an easy-to-grow and abundant fruiting plant that does best when it has a great deal of space to spread and grow. If you are limited on space, you will need to be vigilant with your pruning methods to keep this plant viable for your yard, and it would be advisable to start with a dwarf variety in this case.

Narrow Border Planting Plan

A narrow border in the landscape is an arrangement of closely spaced plants. In other words, the plants themselves form a natural barrier around an area of small proportions. The plants will typically grow together tightly packed, creating a visually attractive and practical barrier in your garden.

The plants in narrow border planting plans are usually filled with attractive foliage and simple yet colorful flowers. This guide will help you create a beautiful, low-maintenance landscape design, filling every border of your yard, no matter how thin.

Lavender (Lavandula)

A row of lavenders is ideal for a compact border; even the slimmest borders can provide enough space for tiny lavender varieties like ‘Wee One,’ ‘Little Lady,’ and ‘Compacta.’ The lavender’s pleasant fragrance is unparalleled, and whether you use this plant to line a walkway or border or to make a short barrier, you’ll smell the plant immediately as you pass by it.

To maintain the plants’ small size, orderly appearance, and thriving growth, you should trim lavender at least two times per year, in the fall and spring.

Red Hot Pokers (Kniphofia)

Red hot poker also referred to as the red hot poker lily, tritoma, or torch plant, is a hardy, stunning plant that survives in the blistering heat, bright sunlight, and arid land. It works nicely on narrow borders because it’s one of the showy blooming plants that will give your borders a pleasant look with its spikes’ bright colors of red, orange, and yellow.

You must space the red hot pokers appropriately, so they have enough space when they reach their maximum size. While poker plants aren’t picky about the soil in which they are grown, they do need moisture control and will not endure extreme wetness.

Fleabane (Erigeron)

Erigeron flowers are low-maintenance blooming plants that withstand deer munching. The best thing about them is they bloom profusely for several months, and you can utilize them as a ground cover or cushion landscape borders.

Fleabane grows well in small gaps and fissures; therefore, a thin border is ideal for this plant. Because it is an excellent self-seeder (a plant that reproduces independently), this would slowly but surely cover your slender border.

Honeysuckle (Lonicera)

Honeysuckle is among the best-smelling vines, climbing freely over trellises and inundating the surroundings with its enticing aroma. Suppose your thin border is along a walkway or another spot you pass by regularly. In that case, delightfully scented plants like honeysuckle would be ideal!

Honeysuckle is a wonderful ornamental plant you can choose for a narrow border, with its amazing smell and pretty flowers. You can find this plant in all climates, but it prefers a sunny location and well-drained soil. You will need to train it to a trellis if you want it to be upright and narrow.

Beardtongues (Penstemon)

Penstemon, or beardtongue, is a good pick for a striking and long-blooming plant with minimal water needs and impressive variety, with hundreds of species imaginable. They cover any small border with foxglove-looking blooms in almost every color—orange, pink, blue, red, white, purple, and yellow—in the summertime, shortly after your springtime bloomers have gone.

Penstemons love direct sunshine, so they need it to thrive. They also require highly well-drained soils and cannot grow in soggy soils, particularly in the wintertime.

Ferns (Tracheophyta)

You’ll love ferns if you have a narrow border in a shady spot in the yard. They add a lush, green backdrop to any space in the landscape, but they also add some much-needed color and texture. For small borders, the petite painted fern may be the best answer.

These low-maintenance plants are ideal for shady, moist areas where a few plants thrive. Their delicate foliage complements several other shade-loving plants; for example, when combined with other perennials like hostas, ferns provide a textural variation.

You should keep an eye on the soil, so it does not become too dry for your fern. If this happens, add water by spraying it with a spray bottle or sprinkler.

Foxglove (Digitalis)

Foxglove is another excellent, easy-to-maintain plant for narrow-border planting. It is a majestic flower with long beautiful spikes of bell-shaped blooms that birds and bees like.

Foxglove grows in dappled shades and small spaces, and it brightens up any gloomy space since it produces lots of clusters of tubular flowers, which come in different colors, including white, purple, pink, yellow, and red.

Japanese anemones (Eriocapitella hupehensis)

Japanese anemones are admired for bringing the late-season appeal to narrow borders far into the fall. They yield saucer-like white or pink blooms on tall, thin, branching stalks. When established, these hardy perennials are simple to maintain and adaptable, flourishing in sun or moderate shade and growing quickly.

Overall, these are hardy perennials that aren’t too picky with their environment, although they are enormously prolific in shady and dry conditions.

Fortune’s spindle (Euonymus fortunei)

Planting the Fortune’s Spindle or Winter Creeper plant on a narrow border is a great way to add interesting foliage to your garden.

Euonymous fortunei climbs if supported when planted as ground cover for the spectacular leaves. This plant, like a woody vine, may generate new rootlets when its limbs come into touch with moisture. Furthermore, when this vine grows up trees, it develops aerial rootlets along its stems.

I would only suggest this plant for a wider border that you are able to trim and prune regularly or that is tightly bordered by hardscapes to keep this plant in check.

Bearded iris (Iris × germanica)

Bearded irises are widely used in classic and contemporary landscape designs. These gorgeous plants require a small amount of space and flourish in a border where the sun hits the most.

Bearded irises come in almost every color, so you can use them to complement various garden color combinations. You may raise these low-maintenance plants in your yard if you have well-drained soil and a brightly sunlit location.

Espalier training trees

Trees are extremely beneficial because they provide shade, sustain and protect animals, and serve to control water runoff. To set up a narrow border, we recommend espalier-trained trees. These are perfect for compact landscapes and tight locations where spreading trees or bushes don’t fit since these usually woody trees take up minimal space and still grow flowers, leaves, and fruit when placed against the wall. Plus, these trees are a great way to conceal bland-looking walls in the landscape!

The classic espalier foci are pear and apple trees since their spurs survive for years bearing fruit. Nevertheless, you can also consider apricots and peaches as trees that you can train in this manner.

Libertia

A Libertia plant is an excellent addition to any garden. They are known for their beautifully structured and textured green foliage, making them plants for narrow landscape borders.

Libertias are graceful perennials with leaves that resemble swords and light stems that carry white blooms. Libertia chilensis is a commonly used plant in landscaping since it prefers a sunny location and damp, well-drained soil, making it easy to care for. It’s perfect for narrow borders because of its clumping habit and eye-catching flowers and foliage. The same as the iris, it starts from rhizomes and grows gradually.

Conclusion

Almost any plant that holds its shape well can be squeezed into a narrow border, especially if you are an avid and regular pruner. The less that you like to prune and maintain, the smaller the full-grown plant should be.

REFERENCES

https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/resource-library/plant-week/redhot-poker-9-19-08.aspx

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/euonymus-fortunei/

Inexpensive Desert Landscaping Ideas for a Refreshing, Sunny Paradise

inexpensive desert landscaping ideas

Don’t let the desert’s harsh climate convince you that it is not a great place to unleash your creativity. Sure, it doesn’t rain much, and sure, it’s hot and dusty, but these can be good things when you want to grow an affordable and low-maintenance landscape designed for the desert.

There are infinite ways to design a landscape, but you must base your design on certain key concepts. Specifically, the particular terrain in which it will be constructed is of vital importance. Designing the wrong plants for the environment would undoubtedly result in failure. Since we are talking about inexpensive desert landscaping ideas, you can only do so much. However, by combining a few landscaping components, you can quickly improve your desert yard.

The following inexpensive desert landscape ideas will give you plenty of makeover possibilities that will be affordable. And, if you are reading this, you probably already have some of these things in your existing landscape. You certainly don’t need to start from scratch.

Far too often, landscape professionals advise clients to rip out the old landscape before installing a new one. This is often because the landscaper wants to increase to costs of the project and give themselves ultimate design freedom. As a cost-conscious homeowner, you can surely plan your landscape around what you already have and save yourself a ton of work and money. 

Affordable Desert Landscaping Ideas to Give Your Yard a Makeover

Palm trees in the desert
Palm trees in the desert

Start your weekend with these expert tips on inexpensive desert landscaping to give your yard a makeover. These include affordable ways to add variety and style to your dirt backyard by adding some of the following common design items:

  • sand
  • cacti
  • succulents
  • desert-thriving trees
  • rocks
  • drought-tolerant plants
  • drought-resistant ground cover
  • boulders
  • water features

Inexpensive Desert Landscaping Ideas 

We will keep all of these ideas budget-friendly, so you don’t need to break the bank to design a desert landscape and create an enjoyable spot to watch the sunset, drink something cool, and relax in your very own desert paradise.

A Simple Desert Landscape

Tall cactus at night
Tall cactus against the night sky

If you want to go the minimalistic route, first choose plants that are easy to care for. For example, succulents and cacti—don’t need much water or sunlight to thrive! Desert plants typically require more sunlight than plants from other climates and should be located in areas where they receive ample sunlight throughout the day.

Succulents and Cacti

small succulents and cacti
small succulents and cacti

As mentioned above, succulents and cacti can be some of the best low-cost desert landscape plants.

Succulents make an excellent addition to your space because they require little care and water, making them an ideal choice for areas where water is scarce or hard to access. Cacti are another excellent choice for desert landscapes because they are drought-tolerant and don’t require much maintenance, and Cacti are also easy to grow.

Drought Tolerant Grasses

dry grasses
Dry Grasses

Even if you live in an arid region, you can still have a lush green lawn. A whole business is devoted to developing lush lawns without water.

A few examples of grasses that would bring your desert landscape a little life would be Buffalo Grass, Big Bluestem, and Blue Oat Grass. Certainly, nice-looking, well-kept grass makes any desert garden feel like home.

Now you can’t expect any of these grasses to be like the bluegrass and rye of the more temperate regions, but if you like grass, you can get a grassy look even in the desert.

It is essential to realize that all desert landscape is not created equal. Take a look around your general area when looking for plant ideas. Using native plants that already exist in an area will result in the most economical and easy-to-care-for landscape design.

Cactus and Palm Trees in a Small Desert

palms and cactus
palms and cactus

One of the best ways to add some desert flair to your yard is by adding palms and different kinds of cacti.

Cacti are drought-tolerant and can survive in arid climates like those found in the southwestern United States because they store water in their stems during dry months. On the other hand, even a small palm tree can add that summer vibe to the desert landscape!

A Bed of Succulents

bed of succulents
bed of succulents

Succulents are some of the most popular desert landscaping ideas because they’re easy to grow, low-maintenance, and beautiful! If you want something more colorful, consider planting different varieties of succulents together, like:

You can also get small pieces of decor for your smaller succulents, like hanging baskets and pots.

Oasis in the Desert Garden

oasis in the desert
oasis in the desert

If you really want to add some life to your desert landscape, you could consider adding a small water feature. Even a tiny bubbling boulder or pondless waterfall would be a welcome oasis for any local animals looking for a drink. The water feature need not be large or wasteful. A small falls with a large basin for storing water can be an excellent yard addition. You can also direct all rainwater to this basin using piping from your downspouts to collect any natural moisture your yard takes on. 

By doing simple things like these, you can have a little slice of tranquility. You can add a fountain, a bench, and other interesting desert plants like ocotillo to add color and create visual interest.

Mirrored Luminescence

Other than providing water storage and refreshment for animals, a beautiful water feature in a desert landscape will always be a stylish but inexpensive design that adds to the aesthetic of your home. It catches the light quite nicely, adding sparkle to a dull space. Often, water features are easy to install and offer a natural touch that costs you nothing more than time and minimal spending.

Container Planting with Cinder Blocks

plants and cinder blocks
Cinder block planting

You can use cinder blocks as a functional element of your desert-themed design. Among the cheapest landscaping suggestions on our list are stacks of cinder blocks with Zebra Plants, Flaming Swords, or Snake Plants.

These simple but functional pots are made of recycled materials, making them easily movable if you change your mind.

Colorful and Vibrant Wildflowers

yellow flowers and blue sky
yellow flowers against a blue cloudy sky

Add plants with fun, vibrant flowers that you can mix and match, like:

  • Chuparosa (Justicia californica)
  • Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata)
  • Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa)
  • California Poppy (Eschscholtzia californica
  • Desert Lavender (Condea emoryi)

If you have room for it, consider adding flowering shrubs or trees that will stand out among the desert landscape and add some energy to it! The best choices are wildflowers due to their low maintenance and bringing a lot of color without seeming overgrown.

Aloe Plants

Aloe plant
Aloe plant

Aloe plants always add a beautiful touch to any landscape, and they’re an inexpensive way to make your yard look greener and fresher! They are quite small, have a sleek, condensed look, and require minimal upkeep. Plus, you can use them for your health and beauty needs!

These tough succulent plants thrive on neglect and can even be grown indoors with artificial light. They look nice in a pea gravel bed close to the pathway.

Desert Plants Surrounding a Tall Cactus

plants around tall cactus
Desert plants surrounding tall cactus

Cacti and succulents are both kinds of plants that thrive in dry, hot climates. But these aren’t the only drought-tolerant plants you can put in your desert landscape! Deserts are ideal growing environments for small shrubs, grasses, desert trees, and many blooming species. They add interest and complexity when you place them close together due to their varying heights.

Big Boulders

boulders
Boulders

Large boulders (actually rock and boulders of any size) are a simple way to add a unique touch to your desert landscaping. They can be used as a focal point for your yard or garden, or you can use them as part of a larger naturalistic landscape. Moreover, you can position them in a way that creates an attractive walkway. Get creative with how you arrange your boulders—add some plants around them and enjoy the look!

Desert Landscape with Prickly Pear 

Prickly pear cactus
Prickly Pear Cactus

The prickly pear is a popular and versatile landscape plant that can be grown in many climates. If you have the space and sunlight to accommodate it, this is one of the best affordable desert landscaping ideas for your yard.

The prickly pear has showy flowers that bloom from spring through fall. Although they’re not very showy compared to other flowers in your yard, they do have some pretty impressive characteristics:

  • It’s drought-tolerant.
  • It’s hardy in most areas.
  • It grows quickly.
  • It thrives in any soil type except sand or clay (though it will grow better with more nutrients).
  • You can eat its fruit.

Desert Garden Entertainment Spots

desert garden spot
Desert garden spot

A well-designed desert landscape in the backyard is a great way to bring people together. These are spots where people can go for picnics, barbecues, and other activities.

There are many ways to make people want to stay longer and take pictures in your desert garden. You’re pretty much set with a fire pit, fireplace, water feature, some furniture, succulents, and plant pots!

Texture and Structure

Potted plants on a table
Example of Texture and Structure

These are two of the most important elements to consider when making an inexpensive desert landscape. The texture is important because it helps to create depth, while structure provides a framework for plants and other materials to be placed in.

Texture can be achieved by using interesting cacti, such as the Golden Barrel Cactus, that gives a fuzzy look to the scene. And you can arrange multiple of the same plant in a uniform pattern. Meanwhile, the structure can be achieved through desert trees, saguaro cacti, gravel, and even rocks.

Desert Paradise

large cactus and palms
Desert Paradise

For the most economical desert paradise design, you might want to start with small plants and slowly develop your landscape over time. However, if you have a few bucks to spend, you may want to consider purchasing or transplanting larger plants to give your yard a jump start.

Agave and Cactus Arrangement

Agave and mountain
Agave against a mountain backdrop

This is designed to exude desert vibes, with agaves and cacti arranged in a circle. It’s simple and inexpensive but also pretty. This arrangement is perfect for a smaller space. It has the same feel as a traditional desert décor, but it’s made up of only two elements. You can also add little accents like fabric flowers and cactus-shaped rocks around them to complete the look!

Rocky Garden Bed

Rocky garden bed
Rocky garden bed

A garden bed with rocks is a cost-effective desert landscape idea you can apply to your front yard or patio, and it lends itself well to the urban landscape. It can be as compact as you like, which allows it to fit in small corners or gaps of your yard, and its design does not need high maintenance or frequent cleaning.

Xeriscape Hideaway

xeriscape
xeriscape

The word “xeriscaping” describes the practice of landscaping using rocks and pebbles as its primary building blocks.

The traditional Wild West-meets-Mexican atmosphere can be achieved simply by spreading pebbles and stones in groups or organizing them in patterns in your yard. Apart from that, having a large, open area in the backyard is usually a wonderful idea for summertime entertainment.

Palm Trees and Cactus

cactus and palms
Assorted cactus and palms

If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to create a desert landscape, try planting palms and cacti. They look great together, but they also offer different benefits.

Palms add height and texture to any landscape. If your yard is sunny all day long, consider planting a smaller palm tree—or even just one with shorter leaves—to provide some shade in the afternoon or evening hours when it’s hottest outside (and perhaps even at night). You must plant these plants in an area where they’ll receive plenty of sunlight throughout the year so they’ll thrive.

Cactus plants are great because they require very little maintenance once established in their new home. You can leave them in place without worrying about them being eaten by rabbits or squirrels.

A Border of Flowers

Drought-tolerant, showy flowers in beds and borders are a great way to add color to your space without spending much money. An inexpensive way to create a beautiful, simple flower border in the desert landscape is to use a single type of flower, like a Desert Sunflower or Barrel Cactus.

Ground Cover and Flagstone

groundcover
Groundcover

Ground cover plants are a great way to provide lushness and life in your desert landscaping, and they also add a lot of color and texture to your garden.

Whether you choose to put ground cover plants or not, flagstone is an excellent choice for your desert scape. This stone provides a unique look that will tie everything together.

You can add flagstone pavers over pea gravel to stretch your path to the street. Sedum and Creeping Thyme are both drought-tolerant ground covers that you can use to fill in the spaces between the flagstones.

Drought Tolerant Trees

Palm tree
Palm tree

A Saguaro can act as the yard’s centerpiece in the sunshine-laden desert landscape. Here are a few trees that thrive in dry environments and sandy soil:

  • Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera)
  • Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia)
  • Sweet Acacia (Vachellia farnesiana
  • Forman’s Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus formanii)
  • Boojum (Fouquieria columnaris)

Conclusion

I realize that buying plant material for your desert garden may not be the most economical approach, but who says you need to buy all of this stuff? It is often possible to transplant a variety of plants into your yard from free sources, such as friends and family who may be in the same environment and may have already established beds that need some thinning. Also, if you get a bit creative, you can usually find some free spots to get rocks and plants.

REFERENCES

https://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/archive/buffalograss2013.html

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128000182000121

https://libguides.nybg.org/snakeplant

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763764/

https://extension.unr.edu/publication.aspx?PubID=2157

https://greenhouse.biology.indiana.edu/features/cacti-succulents/Agave-americana.html

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP473

https://www.bellarmine.edu/faculty/drobinson/Sedum.asp

https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/trees-and-shrubs/trees/sweet-acacia.html

Easy to Grow Border Plants for a Gorgeous, Trouble-Free Landscape

Many people try growing plants along the border in their gardens but find it too difficult because of the maintenance involved. The good news is there are tons of great border plants that are attractive and simple to grow. And now, you don’t have to be a green thumb to get the look you want for your garden borders, which means you’ll have more time to relax and enjoy your life!

So, whether you prefer to plant a flowering or non-flowering plant, it’s a good idea to check out the list below to find the perfect easy-to-grow border plants for your landscape. These specific plants can offer any garden border much-needed color, shape, and texture.

Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)

Alyssums are the plants to choose if you wish to add more timeless elegance to your flower gardens but don’t have time to baby your plants. These annuals don’t need much care as long as you place them in a nice sunny spot where they are happy.

While alyssum is low-maintenance, it does poorly in swampy areas and regions with insufficient rainfall. It has minimal insect issues, although it can suffer foliage and stem problems in excessive shade where the foliage and soil do not dry sufficiently.

This ground-covering plant prefers full sun; however, it will benefit from moderate shade in drier and hotter conditions. It grows best in USDA zones 5-9 and enjoys warmer climates, although severe temperatures can kill it. They will typically cease blooming in the heat of summer, but don’t worry. They will likely liven up your borders once more in the fall—alyssums like well-draining soil.

Spurges (Euphorbia)

Euphorbia is an erect, thick, clumping herbaceous perennial that is extremely showy, quick, and simple to grow and is ideal for brightening up any garden border. They add vibrant color and intrigue with beautiful springtime flowers in yellow, bright green, and orange. Some euphorbias have evergreen leaves, providing a distinctive structure throughout the year. So, they readily fall into the list of the best border plants.

Euphorbias grew successfully in a wide variety of environments, from highlands to deserts to tropical woods, making them very non-fussy plants. There are several species and varieties, providing a diverse range of options for people all over the country. There are sun-loving and shade-loving types, as well as those that prefer either dry or moisture-rich soils. 

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

The lavender plant is an easy-to-grow perennial and will provide you with a fragrant and colorful display of flowers throughout the summer. You can even grow Lavender in containers if you don’t like planting it directly in the soil.

Lavender is a favorite border pick because of its pastel shades and low, trail-bordering height of 1 foot. A profusion of Lavender provides a striking, flowery informal border and entices anyone who passes by with its pleasant smell, so you can’t go wrong with Lavender!

Fern (Tracheophyta)

Several ferns are incredibly simple-to-maintain border plants that thrive in damp soil and partial full shade in Zones 3-9. Ferns are among the best stress-free accent plants or backdrop plantings you can have in the landscape. And since ferns have such a wide variety of colors and textures, there’s almost something for everyone! However, if you want a more purposeful look, select low-growing varieties at the front of a planting bed. 

Stay cautious, though: certain ferns expand rapidly; if they seem to intrude on surrounding plants, you can split them, but be aware that some of the more aggressive growers, such as Ostrich ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) might quickly overtake the adjoining gardens and creep out into the lawn.

Boxwood (Buxus)

The Boxwood is hardy, resilient, and effortless to grow, and it adds interesting texture, strong shape, and lush color all year. With its maximum size reaching 3-5 feet tall and broad, it’s perfect as a hedge, edging, or border plant. You can also use Boxwood as accent plants in the middle of larger shrubs. It grows best in partial shade, in uniformly damp, well-drained soil.

 You can cultivate Boxwood as a tiny tree or big, dense shrub because you can quickly trim it. It has thick, evergreen, glossy leaves with a deep green shade above and yellow-green beneath, making it an attractive plant that has adorned garden borders for many, many years.

Tricolor Sage (Salvia officinalis ‘Tricolor’)

Sage is one herb we should not ignore. This lovely tiny herb is quite easygoing, and it thrives best in USDA zones 6-9, preferring lots of sunlight but accepting moderate shade in hotter climates. And it is drought resistant once fully established.

Tricolor sage gives a splash of color to your landscape and home with its unusual leaves that come in three colors: bordered in white or purple and with a green base.

As the flowering season approaches, tricolor sage will show off its beauty with its colorful leaves and violet blossoms even more. And these purple hues complement a wide range of shades and textures, so they’ll work nicely in most garden beds.

Additionally, ants hate tricolor sage. So, this plant is an excellent natural solution if you are experiencing an ant situation in one of your landscape areas.

Sutherland Hebe (Hebe ‘Sutherlandii’)

Sutherland hebe is a compact, thickly branching, small evergreen shrub with spikes of white blooms with blue anthers that contrast with the masses of pale, sage-green leaves. It’s one of the toughest plants you can place in the border, plus its small, spreading form is a nice feature for small spaces. You’ll especially love it if you live in sunny, coastal areas since it flourishes in that kind of environment. However, some Hebe varieties are cold-hardy

This shrub produces a sleek appearance. It appears to have been hand-clipped into a casual type of shrubbery but takes almost no maintenance. Hebe ‘Sutherlandii’ can be used in a variety of planting techniques, such as in groups as an informal hedge or to anchor the edge of a plantation area. It has short white blooms that bees love in the summertime.

Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)

These resilient bushes provide a great deal of elegance with little effort. Hydrangeas of the Annabelle kind have always been popular landscaping plants, and they shine in the shady garden due to their enormous white blossoms. Incorporate them with other shade-loving plants, such as ferns and hostas, but be aware that these hardy growers are likely to spread over time which can make them a challenge to keep.

Hydrangeas thrive in USDA zones 5–9, and they require full sunlight to bloom dependably in temperate zones but may tolerate some moderate shade in warmer ones.

Please remember: your hydrangeas will require a lot of water as they are growing. They will, however, endure the rare dry season after they have established themselves. It’s important to know you should hydrate these plants more often in warmer regions, but just don’t flood the soil.

Hosta (Hosta spp.)

Hostas are low-care landscaping plants that look nice even with little planning or care. This verdant delight is a herbaceous plant that grows well in a range of environments.

Hostas feature eye-catching leaves that capture the attention without overwhelming the entire garden. They produce attractive blooms in the summer months, which draw a significant number of pollinators. There are a plethora of hostas that come in a wide range of hues, such as the famous blue hostas. Whatever you choose, you’ll have a visually appealing border. As hostas mature, they will grow in size and may need to be separated to maintain an evenly sized border.

Hostas are low-maintenance plants that thrive in USDA zones 3-8. They don’t mind the temperature and may thrive in a variety of conditions. They flourish in partial shade but may flourish in complete shade in hotter regions.

One tip to reduce a splotchy appearance is to group many pieces of the same cultivar. By grouping them, you give them greater visual impact and prevent them from seeming like something done on a whim.

Daylillies (Hemerocallis ssp)

Daylillies are another wonderfully easy-to-grow border plant that comes in a wide variety of colors and sizes and can be effortlessly introduced to create a lively and colorful border. The daylily, like the hosta, will undoubtedly increase in size and can overtake a border bed without proper separation over the years.

Most daylilies love the sun, and they are hardy enough to survive most soil types and can take quite a bit of abuse.

Zinnia (Zinnia sp.)

Zinnias are flowering plants that won’t give you a hard time growing from seed. Zinnias are some of the simplest annuals to cultivate since they grow rapidly and produce a lot of blossoms. Furthermore, they will bloom until the first heavy frost of the season.

These pretty flowers come in a variety of shades and sizes. And certainly, you can have a vibrant border plant arrangement from smaller, dwarf kinds or seed mixtures like ‘Dreamland Mix,’ ‘Magellan Mix,’ or ‘Thumbelina.’ Zinnia flowers may provide a colorful accent to your landscape, so give them a shot.

Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum Nobile)

Roman chamomile, which is pretty neat if you like the look of Italian flower fields, is a brilliant, fuss-free plant suitable for a border. It grows in chilly, dry areas and doesn’t need much upkeep. When their roots are fully developed, these plants need relatively little care and should be planted in a bright, exposed location. And because Roman chamomile is a perennial, it will readily start growing again each year. 

With the Roman chamomile, you can make a statement with your border! However, there are several ways to incorporate these delicate gems into your landscape. You can even plant them in containers, given you elevate the pots to allow water to drain well.

Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides)

Fountain grass, which is a perennial in so many areas, is an appealing ornamental border plant with a thick, clustering habit. Fountain grass contributes form, movement, soft texture, and fall color. With so many advantages, keeping this decorative grass at the border is worthwhile.

This short grass grows well in most soils and prefers direct sunlight, but it may take partial shade. Even though it favors dry soils and is drought-resistant when set, it will thrive in damp, well-drained soils too.

Armenian Cranesbill (Geranium psilostemon)

With its hot pink blooms with a black center carried aloft on a massive plant, this Geranium is ideal for the background of a brightly sunlit border in hot climates. This resistant Geranium is dependable, simple to grow, and gives long-lasting brilliance for just about any landscape, bringing on a wonderful sight from late spring through late summer and you’ll like its excellent fall color too. This perennial grows upright in clumps and reaches a height of 3-4 feet.

Creeping Thyme (Thymus praecox)

Creeping thyme is a bushy, perennial thyme plant that makes a good border in sunny sections of the landscape. This newbie-gardener-friendly plant has fine-textured leaves that spread throughout the soil, bearing blooms in a wide range of colors (because there are many varieties). This ornamental groundcover plant can withstand considerable foot traffic and is commonly used as a border on garden beds and paths.

While less suitable for food output, creeping thyme is still safe to eat. The best part about creeping thyme is that it doesn’t require much maintenance once it is established in your garden or landscape.

Things to Keep in Mind when Growing Border Plants

Size underestimation of a potential landscaping feature is a common error when picking all sorts of plants, but it’s especially troublesome when it applies to border vegetation. If you plan to plant them near other plants or trees, choose ones that won’t crowd them out.

To stay on the safe side, choose drought-tolerant plants that will not get too tall. Taller plants can compete with other plants in your garden and possibly shade them out.

Also, consider how much sunlight your border plants need. Some need full sun, and others can handle partial shade. If you need help determining which type would work best for your garden, ask your local nursery first! Choose plants that will grow in a variety of soil types and conditions. You don’t want to plant a plant that requires acidic soil or prefers full sun if you live in an area with cloudy or cool weather.

One of the challenges with border plants is that borders can often be long and winding, so it may be challenging to find one variety of plant that will grow well in your given border as it winds its way across your property.

REFERENCES

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2019.00846/full

https://i.slcc.edu/facilities/docs/lavender.pdf

www.pnwplants.wsu.edu/PlantDisplay.aspx?PlantID=121

https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/hebe-landscape-evaluation

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP623

Best Plants for Zone 7

best plants for zone 7

Residing in USDA Planting Zone 7 is excellent since you can grow a wide variety of plants—you just have to know which ones are well adapted to your high and low temperatures.

You have to know each plant’s growing requirements. Some plants need full sun; some grow best in part shade. For some plants, well-draining soil is extremely important so they don’t suffer from wet soil that leads to root rot.

In zone 7, you may cultivate various shrubs, trees, flowers, fruits, vegetables, grasses, and other plants. Here are the best plants for zone 7.

Growing Plants in Zone 7

Plants for Zone 7

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7 is an area in North America where the annual minimum temperatures can go from 0 to 10 °F. Here are some places included in Zone 7:

  • Southern Oklahoma
  • a portion of Northern Texas
  • Southern New Mexico
  • Central Arizona
  • Southern Utah
  • Southern and Western areas of Nevada

It’s a great idea to choose appropriate plants that can survive gentle weather.

Abelia

Abelia

Abelia belongs to the Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle) family of plants. Abelia is an ornamental plant valued for its pleasant-smelling, attractive, bell-shaped, white (sometimes pink, yellow) flowers and stunning, color-changing foliage.

Abelia flowers are irresistible to pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds. Some Abelia cultivars are well-suited for gardeners who don’t like too much work—pruning requirements are modest. It may be used as a foundation plant, border plant, specimen plant, or container plant. It is simple to reproduce from cuttings and to establish in your landscape.

Abelia could withstand sunny and shady conditions very well. It prefers well-drained, damp soil.

Rhododendron

Rhododendron

Rhododendron is a blooming evergreen tree or shrub. It’s a favorite of gardeners because of its stunning flowers—perfect as a decorative plant for spring!

The big and lush flower clusters and the range of bloom colors such as red, pink, white, orange, purple, and yellow give this plant a charm that rivals that of others. The bonus is that it’s easy to grow. You’ll easily see rhododendron plants growing in big, dense patches, and they’ve become a topic of concern due to their ability to disrupt the nitrogen cycle.

All rhododendrons have a high level of cold tolerance and the benefit of being straightforward to cultivate even in cooler environments. Rhododendron enjoys acidic, well-drained soil.

Lenten Roses (Helleborus orientalis)

Lenten Rose

Lenten Roses have quite showy, eye-catching blooms that, although they aren’t true roses (they’re actually hellebore hybrids), resemble them. The flowers are bell- or cup-shaped and can come in different shades of white, pink, and pale purple. They are great for adding lots of color and life to your yard!

Some people call hellebores “Lenten roses” because they bloom during the season of Lent (early in the spring). Although the blooms look like roses, the multicolored petals that encircle the blossom are not part of the flower. Even after the central bloom has faded, the petals stay on the stalk for many months.

Indeed, Lenten Roses are among the most fuss-free plants to grow in zone 7. The plants will flourish if the soil is kept hydrated and mulched in winter. Still, they may endure drier circumstances once established—which will take a long time (but once they do, unlike many perennials, they seldom need to be divided).

Dianthus

Dianthus

Approximately 300 species of the genus Dianthus, which belongs to the dianthus family, are found worldwide. These flowers are called “pinks,” “carnations,” or “sweet william.” The smell is extremely appealing, and the (usually) pink flowers blossom in a delicate frilly form.

Dianthus plants are hardy annuals, biennials, and perennials. People love using them as border plants or flower beds due to their bright colors and big, showy blooms. Although, some varieties, such as Alpine pinks, are better suited as ground covers given their mat-forming growth pattern.

Seeds of both annual and perennial Dianthus species can be sown in regular damp garden soil in a sunny area in the spring.

Coral Bark Maple (Acer palmatum ‘Sango-Kaku)

Coral Bark Maple

The Coral Bark Maple (or Coral Bark Japanese Maple) is a beautiful shrub or small tree that can turn heads all year round due to its unique colors.

The fine, vivid deep pink/coral red bark of the coral bark maple is its most noticeable characteristic. The bark is genuinely stunning in the winter when the leaves are dropping and may give winter appeal to warmer landscapes.

It has pale green foliage that turns soft shades of yellow in autumn, and it looks divine in winter when all the leaves have fallen as its new growth glows coral red in the winter sunshine. 

The coral bark Japanese maple is a woody tree that grows slowly to moderately. Plant it in damp, well-drained soil in full sun to moderate shade.

Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca)

Blue Fescue

Blue Fescue is an ornamental grass that looks amazing in any yard due to its unique appearance. Firstly, its leaves are pale, finely textured, and bluish-grey. But it’s not just the color that makes it stand out from other plants; its form is also quite appealing, with its foliage densely growing like a pincushion.

Blue Fescue is a good accent for winter flower beds, as its pale color complements the bright hues of your flowers. Aside from its impressive density, it’s nice that it can be stepped on, too—that means you can place it to cover the ground. It can also act as a turfgrass with a unique appearance.

Lilyturf (Liriope muscari)

Lilyturf

Lilyturf is a plant that has been widely used for greening and landscaping since ancient times. You will recognize it by its elongated, grass-like leaves with long spikes of bluish-purple flowers.

Lilyturf is frequently confused with mondo or monkey grass (Ophiopogon japonicus). The fruit is the sole real distinction. The lilyturf fruit is bluish/black.

It’s listed as one of the ideal plants for zone 7 due to its strong cold and heat resistance. It’s highly adaptable to a wide range of environments—fully sunny to fully shady. Lastly, you’ll hardly see it get damaged by pests, and it’s not very picky with soil at all.

Canna Lily 

Canna Lily

Canna Lily is a bold, colorful flowering plant suited for zone 7. It’s considered a showy summer bulb that you’ll love having in your garden!

Cannas will certainly grab your attention from afar. These are ideal if you want to transform your yard with some eye-catching scenery.

Despite its common name, it’s not actually a lily; however, it looks just as spectacular. A group of these flowers planted in one spot in the garden can look breathtaking. The variety in shades alone is enough to blow your mind, for canna lilies can exist in light, gentle hues to vibrant, striking colors. The blooms can be a dazzling red, orange, or yellow—all warm colors that remind you of a tropical setting!

Aside from the main attraction, the flower and the massive, long, oval leaves of the Canna Lily are also appealing. They can be uniform or multicolored—they will always look lively either way due to their pointed growth pattern.

As for the soil, these plants develop without problems even in ordinary garden soil, but it is advisable to plant them in fertile, well-drained, soft, spacious, and deep soil if you want good growth for the flowers. It’s also important to give them adequate space to grow and spread out. Full sun is nice for these plants.

Crocus (Crocus spp.)

Crocus

Crocus is a low-growing plant native to the Mediterranean region. It blooms in spring along with tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths. 

The Crocus has unique-looking, thin, stiff leaves that look similar to pine needles. These leaves have silver/gray stripes along the ribs in the center.

But the real show-stopper? The flowers. Crocus flowers come in various colors, including white, yellow, and purple, and sometimes you’ll see double-colored ones too! The flowers bloom around March-May, and they herald the coming of spring in many parts of the world.

When planting Crocus in a container, use a shallow, broad pot and make sure they’re gathered in a bunch.

English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

English Lavender

In nature, English lavender can be found in the mountains of France, Italy, and Crimea.

English Lavender boasts lovely, pleasant-smelling, deep purple flowers, and small flowers are collected in inflorescences similar to spikelets. This plant is treasured worldwide for its excellent cold resistance, low maintenance, and stunning looks. If there’s one plant everyone should have in their home, it’s the English Lavender!

It works as a great stress-reliever due to its enthralling, relaxing scent. Also, it does a beautiful job of repelling insects.

English lavender blooms once a year for a month and a half, from mid-June to late July. You can enjoy the pleasant floral scent they give off during this time.

These plants do not like extremely high temperatures and humidity levels; they do thrive in zone 7, after all.

Yellow Alyssum (Aurinia saxatilis)

Yellow Alyssum

Yellow Alyssum creates a golden carpet of bright flowers with a pleasant aroma in the spring. This beautiful flowering plant harmonizes with tulips, caps, and phlox in the flower garden. 

It’s a lovely groundcover plant for zone 7 since it swiftly grows and reseeds, making a thick mat quickly.

Although it is cold-resistant, it has a weak heat resistance and cannot survive extreme summer in warm regions in the USA. Aside from high temperatures, it doesn’t like acidic soil and humidity.

Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)

Hollyhock

Hollyhocks are annuals or biennials of the Malvaceae family, and these are flowering plants that produce big, cup-shaped flowers on tall spikes. You’ll see hollyhocks in shades of pink, purple, blue, red, yellow, white, and black.

Although it’s a plant with strong drought and heat resistance, it’s vulnerable to heat, so place it somewhere unreachable by harsh sunlight.

Hollyhocks need plenty of water when the soil is dry in the summer. It hates excessive humidity, so be careful not to let the soil get too damp. If you are planting hollyhocks in the garden, simply water the soil to ensure it does not dry out.

Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens)

Candytuft

Candytuft has a lot of white or pink blossoms that are quite flashy and beautiful. It is an ornamental plant with evergreen leaves and brilliant flower blossoms that effectively attract pollinators.

Candytuft, both evergreen and perennial, can be used if you want an eye-catching flower accent or a showy, flowery hedge that outlines a border. It blooms from spring to summer.

Candytuft may thrive in moderate shade, but it prefers full sun. It’s best to plant your candytuft in a sunny location. It would help the soil with its drainage, which is vital since overly wet soil will hinder its development and distinctive flowers.

Daffodils (Narcissus)

Daffodils

Daffodils are one of the least demanding flowering plants you can grow in zone 7a, and they are ideal for beginners and less patient gardeners. Hardly any spring flower is as popular as the daffodil.

Daffodils grow near water. The scientific name, Narcissus, refers to an exceptionally handsome Greek man that fell in love with his own reflection in the water and eventually died. The flower that grew there was named after him. This famous story gave rise to the word narcissist, meaning excessive self-love.

It would help if you planted daffodils in the fall before the first frost. This is owing to the fact that the bulbs require a low temperature in the winter to enhance root development and prepare for blossoming in the spring. The soil in which daffodils grow should not be too dry for long periods—also preferably well-drained and slightly acidic.

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

Black-eyed Susan

With its eye-catching, bright yellow flowers with a dark center, the Black-eyed Susan is one of the most popular annual ornamental plants for zone 7 gardens, balconies, and terraces. It can work as a pretty decorative plant in hanging baskets for indoor use!

The Black-eyed Susan will flower for a long time and grow up to three feet tall. Even if you don’t deadhead them, these plants enjoy a considerable bloom time, making them more interesting to homeowners.

Bees and butterflies, among other insects, will love getting nectar from the blooms. Upon consuming the nectar, these pollinators spread pollen to other plants. The black-eyed Susan is a successional plant that thrives on clay, loam, and sandy soils. This forb is a fan of full sunlight, slightly damp to moderately dry soil, and it likes to be in acidic soils with a pH of less than 6.8.

Coneflowers (Echinacea)

Coneflower

Echinacea is a plant of the genus Rudbeckia native to North America. It’s a well-known medicinal plant; some Echinacea species’ flowers, leaves, and roots are used to make drugs.

Coneflowers come in different colors. Some varieties have purple-pink flowers, some come in more striking shades such as brilliant red (as with Echinacea’ Firebird’), and some pink, yellow, and orange ones exist as well. There are too many to list them all here! You can mix and match colors to make your landscape a captivating one.

It’s a great thing coneflowers are native to North America and hardy in zones 4-9, so you don’t have to worry about them acclimating to the environment.

Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)

Lily of the Valley

Lily of the Valley is a herbaceous perennial plant that grows in temperate regions. They can be found in forests, hills, and plains regions of northern Asia, Europe, and North America.

From afar, the lovely Lily of the Valley appears to be elegant and charming, and you can see why: this plant has pleasant-smelling, bell-shaped, white flowers (that face downward) in clusters surrounding its stems.

Lily of the Valley needs rich, cool soil, so it’s among the best plants to grow in Zone 7. If your plant likes it where it is, you’ll notice that it will multiply and form a beautiful flowery carpet after a few years.

But it would be best if you were careful around this plant. Lily of the Valley produces cardiac glycosides; that’s why it’s considered poisonous.

Hosta

Hosta

Hosta is a perennial plant cultivated in temperate regions of the world. Wild species are a specialty of East Asia. They are commonly found throughout Japan, where most species are distributed. 

There are approximately 2500 varieties of Hostas! There are numerous differences, including leaf color and size, variegation, bloom color, flower size, etc. It has a massive foothold as an attractive plant in a shady garden.

Hosta is popular as an ornamental plant because of its foliage’s beautiful shape and color. Its leaves are flat, usually oval, and feature veins with vertical lines running through them.

Hostas prefer partially shady conditions. If you have a big tree, that’s where your hostas would like to be.

Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum)

Japanese Painted Fern

Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum or Athyrium japonicum) thrives in damp, shady places. You’ll likely find it in the understory of forests and on the roadside.

The Japanese Painted Fern is popular in shade gardens in Europe and the United States. 

It is a perennial, however, when the rhizome dies, the plant dies as well, and if the underground component survives the winter, the plant will grow the following year. It grows with spores instead of seeds—a characteristic common to all ferns.

There’s a reason why this plant prefers a moisture-rich environment; it makes it easier for the sperm to travel to the egg.

An egg producer creates eggs and a sperm maker that generates sperms in the front lobe, and when the eggs get fertilized by the sperms, they turn into zygotes that form new petioles and leaves. When the petioles and leaves grow sufficiently big, they turn into ferns. And you can say that the plant successfully multiplied. 

Salvia

Salvia

Salvia blooms from summer to fall. Many species of this mint family are real eye candy, especially with their blue to violet or red flower colors! The intense blue panicles of flowers and the round structure of the plant make it look attractive in the landscape. 

Salvia, its scientific name, means “to be healthy,” “to save,” or “salvation.” Sage is sometimes referred to be the plant of immortality, home virtue, good health, and enlightenment. The Romans used sage as a sacred ritual plant. It’s not all myth, though, since Salvia has been the subject of interest in so many health-related scientific studies.

Salvia plants have long been known for their antioxidant properties and potential to increase ‘head and brain’ function, memory, sharpen the senses, and slow age-related cognitive decline.

Full sunlight and well-drained soil are ideal for all salvias. These plants will need to be pruned once in the spring and again in July.

REFERENCES

scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=4646

https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/

https://www.ehow.com/info_8166518_states-zone-710.html

https://www.caes.uga.edu/research/impact/impact-brief/10119/new-abelia-for-the-landscape.html

https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/plants-that-tolerate-drought/\

https://phys.org/news/2014-10-undergraduate-rhododendrons-invade-conquer-disturbing.html

https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=46604

https://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/hellebore.html

https://bangladeshbiosafety.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Biology_of_Carnation_Au-1.pdf

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/5696/dianthus-alpinus/details

https://www.britannica.com/plant/pink-plant

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/acer-palmatum-sango-kaku/

https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:20008857-1

https://www.bellarmine.edu/faculty/drobinson/Lilyturf.asp

https://extension.umass.edu/plant-identification/canna-lily

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6925501/

https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/iberis-sempervirens

https://ipm.missouri.edu/MEG/2009/9/Daffodils-Harbingers-of-Spring/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Narcissus-Greek-mythology

https://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/chiwonlee/plsc211/student%20papers/articles00/rkraft/daffodil.htm

https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_ruhi2.pdf

https://forages.oregonstate.edu/ssis/plants/plant-types/forbs

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ruhi2

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002581.htm

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/lily-of-the-valley

https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/garden-scoop/2020-08-01-hostas

https://www.bellarmine.edu/faculty/drobinson/Hosta.asp

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/sage-salvia-officinalis/

https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357991772808

Best Plants for Swimming Pool Landscaping

best plants for swimming pool landscaping

If you’re stumped on what to do with your pool landscape, perhaps freshening up the surrounding landscape with some new plantings will be the answer. Any time that plants are considered for around the pool, we must not only consider the beauty of the plant and how it fits with the surrounding landscape, we also need to consider the debris that it will drop considering its proximity to the pool.

Swimming pools have a very delicate water balance, and any debris that falls into the pool will result in the balance being thrown off and tend to clog filters and soil the pool bottom.

Learn about the best plants for swimming pool landscaping so you can make your pool area look more enticing and attractive without giving you a hard time with upkeep.

Plants for Swimming Pool Landscaping

Plants for swimming pool landscapes

There are a wide variety of poolside plants to choose from. You can grow many varieties of plants around a pool; you just need to consider the poolside environment.

While sitting poolside is always enjoyable, gazing at a well-planned pool landscape will make it even better.

Characteristics of plants well suited to live poolside:

Plants that do not make a mess. Dropping debris, leaves, nuts, or berries is not desirable.

Plants that are fairly hardy and resistant to chemical burns make good choices. Poolside plants will undoubtedly be exposed to some chlorinated water from time to time; whether it be from a brisk wind or a soaked pair of swim trunks, it is sure to happen.

Plants that can tolerate extreme sunlight and heat. Pools are often surrounded by hardscapes and in full sun, so the plants living there need to be a bit drought-tolerant and sun-loving.

Plants Near the Poolside: What You Need to Know

Plants near the poolside

Here are some of the most common questions asked when considering planting around the pool.

QUESTION #1: Is chlorinated pool water bad for poolside plants?

The fact is that chlorinated water getting in contact with the plants is a cause for worry, but the good news is that all but the most sensitive plants will do just fine with a bit of chlorinated water overspray. However, keep in mind that any chemical spills near even the hardiest plants can result in death, so use caution when handling chemicals near your plants.

Many plants are not very picky about the kind of water you provide them and will actually be fine with being exposed to very low levels of chlorine in your pool water.

QUESTION #2: What about plant matter from poolside plants getting into the pool? 

Debris is the second issue to consider. You would like the plants you chose to provide aesthetic appeal to the setting, not to clutter the pool with undesirable foliage and debris.

Plant them six to eight feet from the pool’s border if the plants grow close to the ground. 

You should avoid placing deciduous trees, spiny plants, or cone-bearing plants near the pool if you don’t want to frequently clean up your pool area.

QUESTION #3: What type of plants would be best to put near the swimming pool?

Lastly, think about the plant’s requirements. The area surrounding a pool creates a microclimate, and indeed, the plants you choose must survive in it. If you want to ensure that they’ll be healthy and look as nice as possible, pick the xeric sun lovers.

QUESTION #4: What should I keep in mind when planting around pools?

The area surrounding your pool will likely be covered in concrete, stones, or tiles, but either way, these surfaces will get quite hot. This hot surface will make it harder on your surrounding plants and will cause the plants to require more watering.

If planting in containers, use rolling plant stands, plates, or saucers to lift container plants off the heated surface and keep them from getting too hot. When planting, make sure there’s sufficient space in the container for airflow.

Keep the plants back a few inches to keep the foliage off of the pool deck when planting in bordering beds.

Plants that Grow Well in Poolside Landscaping 

Plants that grow well in the poolside

Surrounding your pool with plants is a creative way to frame the area. But it’s not as easy as picking a random plant and putting it on the poolside. 

Consider that larger leaved plants or evergreen plants that hold their needles might be better suited for the poolside than plants with small light leaves that will blow into the pool in the fall. Succulents, little palm trees, holly, juniper, and dwarf spruce make for good choices to minimize the amount of leaf litter in the area. 

Here are several plants that we recommend for pool landscaping.

Pool plants
  • Mediterranean Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis) and Banana Tree (Musa) will undoubtedly contribute to the “tropical paradise” vibe you want for your pool.
  • Fern (Tracheophyta) is a classic swimming pool plant. It thrives in the pool’s microclimate and will foster a serene, calming environment that reminds you of camping in the woods.
  • Agave is a low-maintenance succulent that adds to the attractiveness of the pool without causing any mess. 
  • Echeveria (Crassulaceae) is native to the desert, so you don’t need to water it frequently. Its symmetrical rosettes will always be lovely to see.
  • Red Gum Tree’s (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) lovely, white/cream-colored bark provides much-needed color contrast with the rest of the plants near the pool. 
  • Ironwood is an extremely hardy, picturesque tree that would look amazing close to the pool. What makes it desirable is its drought tolerance and infrequent leaf drop.
  • Zebra grass (Miscanthus Sinensis ‘Zebrinus’) and Feather reed grass (Calamagrostis) are ornamental grasses that add interesting texture to the poolside landscape.
  • Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum Jasminoides), Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia), Martha Washington Geranium (Regal pelargonium), and Dalea are stunning flowering plants that will add color to the pool’s vicinity.
  • Turpentine Bush (Ericameria laricifolia) looks and smells fantastic. You’d be excited to get a whiff of it every time you dip into the water.
  • Evergreen Viburnum (Viburnum obovatum) produces gorgeous white blooms and is a classy addition to the pool space. It can act as an excellent hedge or a decorative accent plant.
  • Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia) is a pretty groundcover that forms a thick mat, filling up the boring, unoccupied spaces in the poolside. It can also work as a trailing plant, proving its versatility in the landscape.

Potted Plants for the Poolside

Potted plants for the poolside

The poolside is a great place to decorate with plants in big containers or plant pots. Doing that is an excellent way to add intriguing elements that go well with the swimming pool area. You can experiment with different colors, shapes, sizes, and textures that will add to the poolside landscape’s variation.

The soil in smaller containers dries out quicker than soil in larger ones due to how much potting soil there is. And because containers lose water faster than surface planting beds, plants for poolside pots demand more hydration.

Good potted plants for the poolside include:

  • Beardtongues (Penstemon) will exhibit vigorous flowering that looks spectacular in containers. Penstemon can survive even with a limited water supply. The blooms come in plenty of colors so that you can plant multiple varieties of the same Penstemon plant.
  • Blue Euphorbia is a plant that does well in pots. Euphorbia’s pale color will be an interesting quality if you currently have vibrant plants.
  • Lantana (Lantana Camara) is a brightly colored flowering shrub that will always dress up the poolside. Even just one pot of this would already dazzle anyone who’d look at the pool.
  • Violets (Viola) always look great in containers. You could get creative by laying a terracotta pot to its side and making it look like the violets are pouring out.
  • Hibiscus (Hibiscus) is a nice flowering plant close to the pool. You can pick one of its big, showy flowers and put it on your ear to serve as a fun accessory.
  • Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) is one way to make your pool look as beautiful as this plant’s name. Its uniquely shaped orange blooms will amplify the already sunny, welcoming, and warm feel of the place.
  • Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta) is a small palm that looks cute in a plant pot beside the pool. You will like the feathery texture of its palm leaves and its slow growth.

REFERENCES

https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/water_disinfection.html

https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/beauty/ferns/structure.shtml

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.00324

https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/echeveria.html

https://www.anbg.gov.au/cpbr/WfHC/Eucalyptus-camaldulensis/index.html

www.pnwplants.wsu.edu/PlantDisplay.aspx?PlantID=632

https://extension.umass.edu/plant-identification/feather-reed-grass

https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/dalpur/all.html

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP604

https://www.csuchico.edu/biol/collections/garden/penstemon-heterophyllus.shtml

https://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/2007/081107.html

https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-416002-6.00030-4

https://www.britannica.com/plant/Viola-plant-genus

https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:798194-1

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/cycas-revoluta

Best Plants for Yards with Dogs

best plants for yards with dogs

Before adding new bushes and trees to your yard, you have many things to consider. Don’t even think about going to the plant nursery if you haven’t thought about your USDA Zone, how much shade or sun your area is getting, soil acidity or alkalinity, and if animals frequent the place.

Also, you should keep in mind that if you have a dog living with you, you must ensure their safety. You’ll never know if your pet might ingest a plant toxic to dogs. Unfortunately, many everyday plants are toxic to dogs. Some plants swallowed by pets can pose serious harm, triggering convulsions, involuntary movements, and even death.

If you have canine pets and want a stunning landscape, you’ll appreciate this article about the best plants for yards with dogs.

14 Dog-Safe Plants for Your Yard

Look at these non-toxic plants that are OK for our furry companions. We highly recommend introducing plants to your yard to beautify it, simultaneously ensuring the safety of the domestic mammals of the family Canidae.

1. Magnolia Bushes

Magnolia Bush

Do not think that all magnolias are enormous, imposing trees. If you like magnolia but like them short, you can still find various multi-trunked, shrubby magnolias available from nurseries and small retailers.

Magnolias have beautiful, fragrant blooms and produce lots of leaf clutter. Thus, before growing these lovely bushes, ensure you’re ready to do regular upkeep. But you’ll see that it’s worth it because they’re resilient, stunning, and non-toxic to dogs. You’ll frequently see magnolia bushes in backyards with pet dogs.

2. Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia)

Crepe Myrtle

Crepe myrtles are an excellent pick for pet-friendly landscapes. It doesn’t matter how you trim them or even how massive you allow them to grow. They are more like trees than shrubs, but you can make them more manageable with frequent trimming.

Crepe myrtles are tough, beautiful plants that are totally OK for your pup.

3. Fuchsias

Fuchsia

Flower shops will have these delicate, purple, and pink blooms in suspended containers. Fuchsia is a gorgeous, dog-friendly flowering plant that blooms from springtime to fall.

In fact, Fuchsia’s fruit and flowers are safe to eat.

4. Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Basil

Basil is an excellent choice for dog owners since it is a beautiful yet safe plant. You will be happy to hear about basil’s non-toxicity to dogs if you think having a fresh supply of basil for your recipes is beneficial. The plant is sensitive to frost and thrives in warm environments.

5. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Thyme

Thyme is a valuable herb that will never impact your dogs’ health. It’s a perennial that doesn’t require much care and makes an excellent ground cover.

Being a Mediterranean native, Thyme thrives even with only a little water and sun. Grilled meat, veggies, and sauces will taste good with this plant.

6. Banana (Musa)

Banana

Banana plants will not cause harm to your puppy. They’re also durable enough to endure your dog running around them a lot, making them even more desirable as a yard plant.

You could even use multiple banana plants to act as a border for your pets’ playground.

7. Golden Bells (Forsythia)

Forsythia

Forsythia plants are eye-catching shrubs that attract attention right away. Many gardeners use them as ornamentals to provide bold color to a primarily green environment, and some use them to create borders.

Although, keep in mind that Forsythia is a deciduous plant, which means it loses plenty of foliage in the wintertime. This information might impact whether or not you decide to utilize them as a hedging strategy.

However, regardless of how you cluster Golden Bells on your property, they will never be bad for your furry friends.

8. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Sunflower

Sunflowers aren’t toxic, so they won’t have a negative effect on your dog’s health. Sunflowers are not harmful to dogs, which is excellent news for pet owners. If your animal buddy consumes any part of the sunflower plant, he will not be harmed. Therefore, they’re a perfect ornamental plant for a landscape with dogs.

9. Bottlebrush (Callistemon)

Bottlebrush

The bottlebrush is a shrub/tree with lush evergreen foliage. This lovely foliage is pet-friendly and a favorite landscaping feature. It’s also attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds, further adding color to the yard!

10. Hibiscus

Hibiscus

Hibiscus are large plants that may grow to the size of trees, so make sure you have enough room for them. 

Hibiscus plants don’t pose a severe hazard to your dog, and many species’ blossoms are even eaten.

11. Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

Rosemary

All rosemary varieties are edible and dog-friendly. Consider a spreading type if you want a durable plant to cover empty spots in the yard with a ground-hugging, soft pillow of greenery.

Rosemary is a particularly attractive groundcover, especially if your dogs like to run around. This plant causes a pleasant fragrance to be released whenever it gets stepped on. It’s also a tasty spice used in many Mediterranean recipes.

12. Nasturtium

Nasturtium

The blossoms of Nasturtium, an annual, are tasty and have a peppery taste. Nasturtiums thrive in low-quality soil and don’t require fertilizer, so you may grow them in obscure places throughout your yard.

Nasturtiums drape multicolored sophistication over flower containers and stone walls, and their aroma is exquisite. Plus, they won’t harm your dog!

13. Dog-Safe Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)

Polka Dot Plant

The Polka Dot Plant is an attention-grabbing tiny plant with brightly colored, speckled leaves —a pattern that is certainly fun and remarkable. Usually, you’ll see Hypoestes plants have pink-tinged foliage with green dots. The Polka Dot Plant is non-toxic to dogs.

14. Oregano (Origanum vulgare)

Oregano

Oregano is a delicious, aromatic herb you can usually see in pizza and Italian sauces. It’s convenient to have in your yard if you like being creative with your recipes. The best part is you don’t have to worry about your dogs being poisoned by the plant; it’s beneficial to their health due to being antioxidant-rich.

Avoid These Plants When You Have Dogs

Avoid these plants if you have dogs

These are some common yard plants you should not have if you have dogs living with you:

  • Chrysanthemum
  • Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)
  • Castor bean (Ricinus communis)
  • Aloe vera
  • Amaryllis
  • Daisy (Bellis perennis)
  • Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)
  • Foxglove (Digitalis)
  • Wisteria
  • Azaleas (Rhododendron)
  • Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum)
  • Philodendron
  • Rhododendron
  • Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta)
  • Daffodil (Narcissus)
  • Monkshood (Aconitum)
  • Lantana
  • Yew (Taxus baccata)
  • Boxwood (Buxus)
  • Peony (Paeonia)
  • Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)

Know that if we were to list all the plants poisonous to dogs, this article would be exceedingly long and arduous. So, please check the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) website for a complete, reliable, updated list. You can also use the Pet Poison Helpline search bar to look for information about the toxicity of plants to dogs.

Pup-Friendly Landscaping Tip

Pup Friendly Landscape tip

When designing a landscape with dogs in mind, the best thing to do is to have tough, resistant plants. 

We all know that dogs like to be active when they’re outdoors. Thus, you’ll need plants that really can survive zoomies! Imagine if a few leaves, stems, or blossoms are damaged—you want the plant to recover quickly, so they’ll be stronger than before.

What You Must Do Immediately If Your Dog Eats a Poisonous Plant

What to do if your dog gets poisoned

According to T. Wismer (veterinarian at ASPCA), ingesting any plant can cause dogs stomach discomfort, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Call your veterinarian or Animal Poison Control right away since your dog may require a stomach syringe or activated charcoal to adsorb the poisonous chemicals present in the plant.

REFERENCES

https://www.britannica.com/animal/dog

https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C944&title=Crape%20Myrtle%20Culture

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780408707190500279

https://www.britannica.com/plant/basil

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What to Plant on a Sloped Yard

what to plant on a sloped yard

Slopes are often not given much thought during landscaping because they are more challenging to deal with than the rest of the yard. However, this is a mistake because these uneven areas can create a beautiful landscape with some effort and creativity.

A combination of plants on a sloping area is a great way to add beauty and character to your home. However, the slope can be a hassle for plant selection. If you choose plants wisely, you will gain the advantage of a beautifully planted slope that is protected from erosion. Plus, you won’t need to worry about mowing the slope.

In this article, we will discuss what to plant in a sloped yard.

How to Select Plants That Thrive on Banks and Slopes

How to select plants that thrive on banks and slopes

Many factors should be taken into account when selecting plants for sloped sites in the landscape.

First, you need to think about how much sunlight exposure there is at different times of day and year.

While light from the sun is a critical component in the growth of plants (since without it, plants cannot produce their food), it is not the only factor to take into account when choosing plants for sloped yards.

You also need to consider the slope of your yard and what type of soil it has. If your property has a steep slope and rocky soil, you might want to choose plants that can grow with less water and in poorer quality soil.

Consider the type of soil found on the slope and how much water it can hold. Soil is important for plants because it holds the water and nutrients that plants need; thus, it influences the plants’ growth. The type of soil found on the slope will affect how much water it can hold, and Denser soil will hold more water than soil with sand or gravel.

Furthermore, you need to consider the steepness of the slopeIf the soil slopes steeply and water infiltration is slow, water runoff will be more rapid.

Additionally, your choice of plant species should be aesthetically pleasing to you, at the same time, serve a purpose.

For instance, stunning groundcover plants conceal unpleasant spots while being low-maintenance.

Trees bring life to the landscape and protection from the sun to avoid excessive soil drying. Meanwhile, shrubs, trees, ground covers, and grasses with deep roots aid with soil stabilization.

Lastly, when you’re planting a sloped yard, think about how you will arrange your plants. You don’t want them all tumbling down the hill, so you’ll need to think about how they’ll be anchored. You also want to consider what plants will do well in those conditions—something that can tolerate a bit of extra sun or shade, depending on the angle of the slope.

With a little planning, you can build a visually appealing and unique sloped terrain that will make your yard the envy of the neighborhood.

Plants Suitable for Slopes and Banks

Natural sloping land

The most suitable plants for slopes are those with drought tolerance and those that require just minimal attention. But even if you have plants that seem tough, they may still need to be watered while they are getting established because the soil can be very dry on a slope or bank due to its extreme drainage. 

Some plants, such as sedge and thyme, need almost no maintenance—perfect for slopes. Other plants might need more care but will still be worth it because they are so beautiful or interesting to look at.

For easier reading, here’s a list of a few plants that thrive on slopes:

Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)

Snowberry

The snowberry is perfect for sloping yards because it requires very little maintenance and looks fantastic. This plant thrives in full sun to moderate shade on dry or damp, warm slopes. You can also find it along the river and in forests.

Rose (Rosa)

Rose

If you have a sloping yard and want it to scream romance, the best thing to do is plant roses. Ensure they have sufficient room to grow (about three feet apart) if you want to plant multiple roses. 

Roses thrive in sunny spots that are protected from severe winds. Plant them apart from trees. A fertile loam soil with good drainage is ideal for roses if you want to grow them in a sloping area.

California Lilac (Ceanothus)

California Lilac

Many homeowners are planting California Lilac in their sloped yards. It is a shrub that grows well in the sun and can be trained up a wall or into a tree form. Its foliage is dense and glossy, giving it the appearance of being a thicket of green leaves. But the star of the show is its pretty clusters of blue flowers.

You can even use Ceanothus in your flower bed or an evergreen hedge. Indeed, it is a versatile ornamental plant for the yard, sloped or not.

False Indigo (Baptisia australis)

False Indigo

Another decorative plant that can thrive on slopes is false indigo. This small, colorful ground cover has a carpet-like habit and will quickly fill in patches of bare ground with gorgeous pea-shaped, indigo-blue flower spikes among pale green foliage. And as a member of the legume family, it also helps improve soil quality by fixing nitrogen from the air into its deep taproot.

The false indigo plant can often be used to edge along sidewalks or other garden paths to keep grasses or weeds from creeping in.

Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)

Burning Bush

Burning Bushes are perfect for sloped yards, and they can handle challenging conditions such as dry soil, hot sun, and poor light. The most outstanding thing about the Burning Bush is its strikingly bright, “burning” red fall color. Its foliage remains stunning for the rest of the year, having a lush green pigmentation.

They grow surprisingly well in the shade too! And their water and fertilizer needs are minimal.

Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster is a shade-loving shrub that can do well on a sloped yard. It’s also suitable for hot, dry slopes taken over by other plants or broken up by erosion. 

Cotoneasters bloom in the spring with little white or pink flowers. They also have red or black fruits that look like berries.

Honeysuckle (Lonicera)

Honeysuckle

Why is honeysuckle excellent for sloped yards? Many people are drawn to plants with vibrant colors and gorgeous, honey-smelling blossoms. When you’re looking for that type of plant that can thrive in an area with slopes, honeysuckle will be a wise pick.

Honeysuckle plants can prevent erosion on sloping land. These plants grow well in sunny spots and are highly adaptable, making them perfect for slopes, hillsides, walls, or any other space in your garden that receives at least six hours of sunlight per day.

Deutzia

Deutzia

Deutzia belongs to the hydrangea family, and it is perfect for sloped yards. In the late fall, your yard will be covered with long-lasting clusters of white Deutzia flowers. The blooms attract butterflies and hummingbirds to the yard, where they can feed on nectar while they rest their wings. 

The species even make excellent cut flowers because of their high tolerance for heat and humidity. They have a delicate fragrance and will last up to seven days in a vase.

Groundcover Plants for Sloping Zones—Sunny and Shady Areas

Groundcovers suitable for slopes and hillsides in sunny spots are:

English Ivy (Hedera helix)

English Ivy

English Ivy will form a beautiful, low-growing carpet on sloped areas in the yard. The Ivy’s leaves are designed for maximum surface coverage, and its roots work best in dry soil to prevent erosion on slopes. 

This evergreen wants nothing more than moist soil and partial shade. English Ivy has a medium poison severity to humans. It does have a fragrance that can be irritating or unpleasant to some people.

Rockrose (Cistus

Rockrose

Rockrose is another answer if you’re searching for beautiful plants for sloped yards. This Mediterranean native plant provides excellent contrast on slopes and does not require much care since it is drought tolerant. 

Rockrose is an excellent plant for sloped yards because of its extensive, scented flowers that exhibit abundant blooming in the spring and summer.

Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)

Creeping Juniper

Creeping Juniper is a tough, weed-suppressing plant that will thrive in a sloped environment, making it perfect for sloped yards! It does best in well-drained soil (to be fair, it is not very picky when it comes to soil) and tolerates drought conditions. Creeping junipers also need very little maintenance (no pruning!) and proliferate on their own.

Prostrate Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’)

Prostrate Rosemary

An attractive, tough plant, prostrate rosemary or creeping rosemary, has many great qualities. Its lengthy, twisting, curling branches are an intriguing addition to the soft elements of the landscape. And its pretty blue flowers bloom practically endlessly.

Furthermore, it is an excellent plant to grow on sloped yards because it can handle the incline with absolutely no problem when established. 

Rosemary is drought tolerant and does not require regular watering to thrive. The leaves attract beneficial insects that feed on aphids and other pests, thus cutting down on the need for pesticides.

Groundcovers appropriate for shaded areas in sloped yards are:

Kinnikinnik (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

Kinnikinnik

Kinnikinnik or bearberry is one of the greatest plants for sloped yards due to its ability to control erosion. It provides excellent drought tolerance and the same color benefits as other shade-loving groundcovers.

Plant kinnikinnick in areas where full sun is not present. With their lush, dark green leaves and red fruits, kinnikinnick provides impressive color to bare spots in your landscape’s sloped areas.

Carpet bugle (Ajuga reptans)

Carpet Bugle

If you are looking for an attractive and low-maintenance plant to put in your sloped space, carpet bugle is an excellent choice. With its delicate, deep bluish-violet flower stalks that can grow up to five inches high, carpets bugles have many different leaf colors, shapes, and sizes.

The carpet bugle is also hardy, which means it can grow in many different climates. The only place it will not be able to grow is where the temperatures get too cold or hot.

Vinca Vine (Vinca)

The Vinca Vine is well-suited to sloping areas in the yard. It is a flowering groundcover and will grow in full sun to partial shade. 

One especially good-looking variety is the variegated version of Vinca major, which is aptly named Vinca major Variegata. Its foliage is not the usual single-colored leaves you see every day—instead, you’re looking at a pretty shade of green with a creamy white outline.

Vinca vine has an excellent drought tolerance but will grow faster with water, making it perfect for sloped yards. Vinca Vine produces blue flowers from spring until the first frost.

Wild ginger (Asarum canadense)

Wild Ginger

Another plant known for its ability to grow on hillsides is wild ginger. This wild ginger grows as a ground cover, not to be confused with ginger, as in the spicy root. 

It is an excellent plant to put on a sloped yard’s shady areas because it will fill in any bald spots and give you more of an even ground cover that can resist erosion and wet soil. The leaves are smooth and glossy, and they will take over your space nicely.

Hermann’s Pride Deadnettle (Lamium galeobdolong’ Hermann’s Pride’)

Dead Nettle

A few benefits to this plant for your sloped backyard are that it provides sharp contrasts of green and gold, can handle partial shade and is low maintenance. You’ll enjoy the lovely silver shade that looks striking against the green veins on its foliage.

There are several varieties to choose from—all have beautiful colors in their flower heads. 

Ornamental Grasses for Sloped Areas

Creative people view ornamental grasses as significant features in sloped areas. Why? Because grassy ornamental plants that would do well on slopes and banks are impactful when it comes to adding interesting texture and captivating color to the landscape. A few examples are:

Beard Grass or Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

Little Bluestem

One of the best ground covers for slopes on your yard is Little Bluestem. This colorful plant will grow well in many locations, even in harsh conditions and poor soil. Although it may not be an excellent choice for wetter climates, it can handle dry areas beautifully!

But what else can you expect from this resilient plant? For one thing, Little Bluestem’s form makes it a superb choice for those looking to maintain their privacy without sacrificing space.

Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)

Pink Muhly Grass

Pink Muhly Grass is a versatile, hazy-looking plant that can grow in a well-sunlit, well-draining sloped yard. It will also tolerate hot weather, drought, humidity, salty and poor soil.

There are a few other advantages of the grass: it has a beautiful and unusual color (which is why it’s the only grass that’s pink), and if you need to trim the plants; there will be another one showing up after it in just a couple of weeks.

Fountain Grass (Pennisetum)

Pennisetum

If you’re looking for a low-maintenance option for your sloped yard with lush green grass, you’ll love Fountain Grass. Pennisetum’s leaves are delicately textured, and the silhouette is attractive. The motion of the foliage and flower spikes in the wind introduces a dynamic appeal to the landscape.

This perennial native grass is easy to grow in any sloped land area and provides a natural beauty without much work.

Sedge (Cyperaceae family)

Sedge

Plant sedge on a steeply sloped yard if you want something adaptable and can grow in very poor soil conditions. 

It also has a fairly small growth habit, so it does not take up too much space while being an attractive ground cover. Sedge will grow well mixed with other plants such as hosta or astilbe, which add color to the landscape without being overpowering.

Flowers for Sloped Land

The stunning view of a flower-filled sloped yard is always welcoming. Fill the yard with wildflowers or pick several attractive perennials suitable for your location, including: 

Coreopsis’ Candy Stripes’ 

Coreopsis

We all know that all Coreopsis varieties can live well on slopes, but Coreopsis’ Candy Stripes’ is an amusing plant for your yard. This vibrantly colored plant has a long blooming time and will do well in areas with poor soil and low light conditions. 

Coreopsis requires very little maintenance and will easily tolerate periods of drought. This variety has a very dark purple-burgundy color on each petal that contrasts nicely with the bright white on the border and the yellow disk center.

Daffodils (Narcissus)

Daffodils

Daffodils appear lovely when planted on a slope. These flowering plants are popular because they grow well in sloped yards and make the planting spot look nice with vibrant flowers for a long time (spring to fall).

Hellebores (Helleborus)

Hellebores

If you have a sloped yard, don’t worry. You can still nicely decorate it with hellebores! 

Hellebores are a flower that is easy to grow as long as you place them in well-drained, rich soil and don’t expose it to too much sunlight. The lovely, deep green foliage and the interesting, spotted blooms will add color to any sloped area.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Purple Coneflower

Coneflowers are ideal for slopes, especially steep ones. The showy purple coneflower blooms in the summer, filling the sloped area in the yard with vibrant purple color. This plant is hardy in zones 5-8 and is excellent for sunny locations.

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Butterfly Weed

Butterfly weed has quite a tall form and elegant shape, beautiful, brilliant orange color, and it’s very easy to grow. 

Butterfly weeds are helpful for landscaping on sloped yards with lots of sun exposure. They add beauty to any sloping area, maintain soil moisture levels in dry spots in the yard, and attract butterflies.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officin)

Dandelion

Native flowering plants are almost typically a good pick for planting on slopes. A space filled with stunning dandelions adds year-round appeal to a hillside while requiring little to no upkeep. It helps that the taproot of the dandelion plant is quite deep, meaning it’s good for the soil.

Mexican Sage (Salvia leucantha)

Salvia leucantha

Mexican Sage is a plant that can help prevent erosion in the sloped garden or yard and is commonly used in southern California. When you see it in your sloped yard, you will always be impressed by the smooth-textured, violet spikes of flowers that contribute significantly to its attractiveness.

Its soft, flowy growth pattern and pale green leaves also look amazing and complement the flower colors so well. But most of all, you will love its drought tolerance and resistance to pests.

Aster

Aster

When planting for sloped yards, we recommend Aster, as it’s one of the select plants well-suited for growing on slopes. Aster is a plant commendable for slope planting due to its excellent erosion control qualities.

These blooms resemble daisies, and they appear from late summer through early autumn—they will add life to your sloped yard with their richly colored, starry (hence the name) flowers. However, one thing they need is an open area to avoid too much exposure to damp conditions, which cause powdery mildew.

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