How to Decide What Plants to Put in Landscaping

Decide what your goals are for your new landscaping. Are beautiful flowers a priority, or are you more interested in trees and hedges to provide privacy to your yard? Pinpointing what you are looking for is the first step in choosing plants that will help you achieve your dream yard.

Drive or walk around the neighborhood and look at your neighbors' landscaping for ideas. It is much easier to get a sense of what your landscaping will look like if you can visualize the plants when they are fully grown. While magazines can help, visiting gardens in person will give you a better sense of scale.

Research which plants are indigenous to your area. Choosing local plants is good for the ecosystem and will make it easier to care for your new landscaping, since these plants are already suited to thrive in your area.

Decide where you will be putting your new plants. Determine how much sun they will get and how direct it will be. Some plants need direct sunlight while others prefer the shade, so your choices may be directed by the location of your garden.

Think about how much time you will honestly be spending on the upkeep of your landscaping. Do you have a gardener or will you be maintaining the land by yourself? Choosing plants that require less care may be important if you do not have much time to garden.

Speak to a local gardening expert about your choices. Your local nursery or horticultural society may be willing to advise you. An expert can help you decide if the plants you are considering will meet your needs.

Sketch out your plans before you begin buying plants. Having a layout planned will help you purchase the right number of plants and remember where you wanted to plant them.