Mike Isbell has been putting off redoing the landscaping at his house for a long time now. This may be the year he finally breaks down and does it." /> Mike Isbell has been putting off redoing the landscaping at his house for a long time now. This may be the year he finally breaks down and does it." />

CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 02/16/04

Starting a home landscape over from scratch

Volume XXIX
Number 1
Page 20

By Mike Isbell
University of Georgia

I've been putting off redoing the landscaping at my house for a long time now. This may be the year I finally break down and redo it.

When we first moved into our house, I tried using the existing plant material around the foundation in a landscape plan. In some places I added plants. In others I removed some.

But I just couldn't figure out a way to develop a new landscape plan using the existing plants and make it look right.

So I'm going to start over from scratch -- well, at least I think I am.

If I do, I'll have several things to consider besides the design of my landscape plan.

House overhang. I won't plant shrubs underneath the eave of my house, because I'm not willing to water the shrubs any more than I have to. I'll let the rain do most of my watering.

Drainage. There's only one area in my yard that has poor drainage and where the soil is usually wet. I won't plant anything there that won't thrive in wet soil. I definitely won't plant azaleas there.

Light requirements. Most plants do well in either sun or light shade, while others require more shade. I've got sunny areas and shady areas, so I'll need to know the light requirements for the plants I choose.

Tree competition. Planting shrubs directly underneath shallow-rooted trees, such as elm and maple, will result in water shortage to the shrubs during a great deal of the growing season unless they're watered. And, as I said, I don't want to have to water.

Winter protection. I like cold-hardy plants. Period. I don't want to worry about the plants in my yard being injured in below-freezing temperatures. I'm going to select plants adapted to the plant-hardiness zone where I live.

Mature size. Shrubs come in all shapes and sizes. It's important to know the mature size of plants before they're planted. I don't want to find out several years from now that I planted them too close together. And I don't want to discover a plant has turned into a big, green glob, covering up the window.

Disease- and insect-resistant. To heck with having to spray something to keep diseases and insects at bay. I want a plant that nothing wants to grow on and nothing wants to eat.

I know there are many beautiful plants I won't even consider planting just because they don't meet my requirements. But that's just me.

Now, if I can just get started.

(Mike Isbell is the Heard County Extension Coordinator with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)

Mike Isbell is the Heard County extension coordinator with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Experts/Sources:
Mike Isbell
After a hearty climb, Connect Abroad Italy students pose in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. (Photo by Angel Bhardwaj) CAES News
UGA ranks as leading doctoral institution for study abroad 12/20/24 Angel Bhardwaj
The University of Georgia remains among the top 10 U.S. universities for study abroad participation, according to the 2024 Open Doors Report released by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of State. UGA boasts the highest study abroad participation to enrollment ratio of the top 7 ranked doctoral institutions, earning the No. 7 spot in overall participation and No. 3 in short-term study abroad programs.
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.
From left, CAES Associate Professor Abigail Borron and Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars Mihai Suteu, Daniyar Memedemin, Alina Zaharia, Andreea Ona and Daniel Chiciudean stand in front of an image of the Romanian flag projected onto a barn at UGArden. CAES News
Fulbright Scholars unite with UGA Extension to envision ag outreach model in Romania 12/18/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Arriving on the Athens campus of the University of Georgia in August 2023, five Romanian scholars experienced the same anticipation, excitement and apprehension as many first-year students.  Chosen as Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars, each serves on the faculty at one of three Romanian universities, specializing in fields from economics and engineering to plant breeding and biotechnology. The five scholars comprised the first cohort of the Romanian Extension Education Development Program, an ambitious three-year pilot effort to facilitate planning and implementation of extension services in Romania. 
Janiver in sunflower field AI web CAES News
A larger-than-life legacy: CAES student’s contagious enthusiasm inspired others 12/17/24 Jordan Powers
When Miriam Edelkind-Vealey applied for a summer role at a University of Georgia pollinator biodiversity lab in 2020, the junior undergrad didn’t quite know what to expect. After being told she got the position, Edelkind-Vealy didn’t hear anything for a few weeks. It was only then that she learned a collaborator on the project, second-year master’s degree student Amy Joy Janvier, had passed away.
In developing markets where making staple foods is a daily task and warmer climates where food spoilage is common, foods that have more longevity and are easily preserved can enhance economic opportunities by reducing food preparation tasks and lower environmental impact. CAES News
CAES researchers look to reduce food waste by extending shelf life 12/16/24 Lillian Sosbee
“Use by,” “Sell by” and “Best by” dates on food packaging can be helpful indicators of how long a consumer can store a food item before eating, but often these dates lead to high quantities of wasted food. About one-fifth of food produced for human consumption is discarded before it can be eaten, equating to 1 billion meals a day and contributing to global food insecurity.
Recognizing the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UGA graduates CAES News
UGA celebrates 15 years of Bulldog 100 12/13/24 Rachael Andrews
The University of Georgia Alumni Association released the 2025 Bulldog 100, a list of the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UGA graduates. The program, organized by the Division of Development & Alumni Relations, celebrates 15 years of honoring alumni and their entrepreneurial endeavors. Among this year’s class, businesses are headquartered in a total of eight states, with 87 of the businesses located in Georgia. In total, 142 alumni representing over two dozen industries are being recognized as a part of this year’s list.