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
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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
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