Central Ohio Landscaping Ideas

Annuals

• Using annual plants native to central Ohio will allow the landscape to be altered each year. Annual plants grow for a single year and then die, which requires replanting each spring; this creates variability in a landscaping design that keeps it beautiful and fresh each year. Annual plants that are native to Ohio include geraniums, impatiens and begonias. Mix sections of annual plants with perennials to create a changing backdrop of perennials and fresh annuals.

Perennials

• Perennial plants are plants that continue to grow year after year. These can be used to create a constant background for a landscaping design and help keep the soil structure strong when replanting annuals around the perennial plants. There are many perennial plants native to central Ohio. Some of these plants include purple coneflower, false indigo and blackeyed Susans, as well as hostas and rhododendrons. Perennial plants can be used as a constant focal point for the garden, especially with visually striking plants like blackeyed Susans.

Trees

• Incorporating trees into a landscaping design is a way to create a permanent element to the landscape that will last for many years. Decorative trees, which grow to a smaller height, can be used to add beauty to a garden without overwhelming the rest of the landscaping. Larger trees can be added to areas of the garden that need soil retention, as the roots will help hold soil in place. Some trees native to Ohio include buckeye trees, black oaks and red and silver maple trees.