The Dirt on Gardening

Tom Yoder
THE GOSHEN NEWS

June 19, 2009 09:57 am

— Landscaping is a key element when building a home.
If done properly, and maintained, it will enhance your home’s value for years. Just ask a professional landscape designer how often they get feedback about a recently planted job sight — people recognize the value and beauty of contoured lawns and properly placed trees and shrubs.
Knowing what specimens to plant and the correct placement of each can go a long way in increasing property values. Much too often we see an attempt by a homeowner trying to get by with minimal landscaping, or just the opposite, going overboard with shrubs only to end up with a hodgepodge of this and that all growing together with no place to breathe. And to top it off, the shrubs don’t get trimmed properly or often enough.
It amounts to much more than a guess when determining spacing of newly planted shrubs and trees. Usually they are tagged with specific instructions on spacing, light requirements, as well as their growing habits and zone specific information. Quite often a homeowner plants to his satisfaction and the immediate visual gratification of his job only to be overwhelmed several years down the road with shrubs too closely planted together or much too close to the home resulting in a tight fit that is hard, if not impossible, to trim and maintain.
It might seem that your shrubs and trees, when first planted, appear puny or sparsely planted but you must remember that they grow quite rapidly and will fill out in no time. Plant annual or perennial flowers to take up the space until your shrubs start to mature. Remember too, to keep them trimmed reasonably tight to encourage branching and new growth so as they mature you’ll be rewarded with handsome full specimens that beautify and please the eye.

PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPERS HAVE THE EXPERTISE to design a plan to fit your home’s style and structure and carve your landscaping to give the best “curb appeal.”A well planned drawing and installation that is designed for “your home” and not just the usual or ordinary plan, sets it apart. After all, you don’t want your home to be like all the rest, you want it to be unique and something different.

IF UNDERTAKING A PROJECT ON YOUR OWN, try to maintain a continuous flow of curves, keeping in mind the maintenance of mowing etc,.and avoid, as much as possible, square areas that require difficult maneuvers — especially with a riding mower.
Another unfortunate situation is the misplacement of trees which eventually realize their full potential and if not properly located can be very bothersome.
Determine where you want the shade and the size of the mature tree and space accordingly.
Likewise, a common fault is placing a tree in front of a picture window which, when initially planted, doesn’t pose a problem but eventually blocks your view.

SO MY ADVICE IS — first seek the opinion of a professional when contemplating your landscaping — then determine if you’re up to the task to take it on yourself. Landscaping is a big job, but just maybe you’re like me and will like the challenge.

Have a gardening question? Contact Master Gardener Tom Yoder at gardening@goshennews.com.