Driving through local neighborhoods gives you a chance to observe some beautiful landscaping. This might get you thinking about adding some landscaping to your yard. Before you start planting, you should give some thought to the elements that are commonly used in landscape beds and how you will incorporate them into your bed. Keep reading for a summary of the typical components of a landscape bed.
Small Trees or Shrubs
In planning a landscape bed, you should think first about the larger, more permanent elements of the bed. These give the bed a structure around which you can plan other elements. A small tree or shrub is often a good option. Just make sure you choose this element carefully because it is not as easy to change it out as other elements. Dogwoods, magnolias, and redbuds are flowering trees that can work in landscape beds, especially if you choose a miniature variety. If you’d rather stick with shrubs, boxwoods, barberries, hollies, and hydrangeas are just a few attractive alternatives.
Vines
Some vines do not belong in your flower bed (think poison ivy!), but other less irritating vines are a great way to add some height and color to an ordinary landscape. Clematis are a popular vine whose pretty large blooms will last for weeks or even months. Sweet peas and morning glories are two other colorful options. Any of these can be trained to a trellis within the bed. English ivy is a good choice to add more green color to your backdrop, especially if the bed backs up to a building or house.
Perennial Plants
The heart of any landscape bed is found in its perennial plants. These hardy plants come back year after year, often even multiplying to cover more space and produce more flowers. Shasta daisies, coneflowers, phlox, and black-eyed susans are just a few of the perennial plants that thrive in central Indiana. Once they are established, they will continue to grow and multiply in nearly any condition.
Bulbs
Similar to perennials, bulbs also come back year after year. However, they usually bloom for a relatively short period of time, adding a burst of color for a few weeks. Crocuses are some of the earliest bulbs to bloom and may even appear before the snow melts. For early spring color, tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths can’t be beat. Later in the summer, irises, allium, and lilies will add interest.
Annual Plants
As you plan your garden bed, be sure to leave some space for annuals. These plants are not hardy enough to survive the cold Indiana winters so they must be planted every year after the last frost of the year. You can buy small plants or even plant some varieties from seed. Some annuals commonly planted in local gardens are petunias, impatiens, marigolds, zinnias, and bachelor buttons.
Nonplant Elements
While plants will be the main component in a landscape bed, inanimate objects have a place too. Many landscapers like to accent with birdbaths, benches, or rocks. Some even choose to express their own personality with a piece of outdoor art. These objects will provide some year-round consistency as flowers bloom and fade with the seasons.
Creating a landscape bed is an exciting and rewarding project. When done right, it can bring you joy for many years and add value to your residential or commercial property. At Ping’s, we have the expertise and experience to create a landscape bed at your home or business that optimally combines the design elements and your own personal style. Call 317-298-8482 today to talk to our landscaping unit about how we can implement your landscaping project without the effort and stress of doing it yourself.
This post first appeared on https://pingstreeservice.com