Evergreens for Year Round Color

We all know at least one person whose yard looks like a barren wasteland in winter. Their perennials and annuals have died back, and their shrubs and bushes are bare sticks. Becoming the proprietor of such a dismal landscape, however, is quite easily avoided with just a bit of foresight. If you want year round color, it is essential that when selecting shrubs and hedges that you ensure what you are purchasing is an evergreen.

When you hear the word "evergreen", you may think of boring green shrubs with no personality. But planting an evergreen landscape does not have to mean a lifetime of ordinary green foliage. There are dozens of bright, colorful selections to choose from. And there is an evergreen option for any area, regardless of the location or purpose of the planting.

Flowering shrubs are probably the best example of how you can plant a yard full of evergreens and simultaneously have the prettiest, most inviting landscape in town. Plant an assortment of encore azaleas, rhododendron, and camellia and you'll have a yard bursting with blooms of every color. Best of all, as evergreens, they will still be lush and green even in the coldest months of the year.

If a flowery landscape isn't quite what you're going for, but you're still looking for a burst of color, choose an evergreen with some punchy fall color, like the Loropetalum or Nandina. These gorgeous shrubs turn all different shades of red and purple during the fall season.

And for those out there that would really prefer a simple landscape with some basic evergreens, then juniper, boxwood, and yew will always be classic selections.

Winter Blooming Shrubs And Perennials

While homeowners all across the country drop thousands of dollars on landscaping each year, few take into account just what their yard will look like in the cold winter months. Plants tend to die back and trees go dormant, creating a dismal landscape that one must contend with all winter long. This can be avoided however, if during your initial landscaping plans you choose to include and put emphasis on shrubs and perennials that will provide visual interest in the wintertime.

One of the most effective ways to go about this is to plant shrubs and hedges and perennials that bloom during the winter months. Unlike standard evergreens that few people pay attention to, these unique winter blooming specimens will delight your visitors and bring color and warmth to an otherwise cold and barren landscape.

Quite famous for its winter blossoms is the Lenten Rose, or Helleborus. This gorgeous perennial boasts large, almost tropical looking flowers that bloom in late winter. You can find Lenten Rose in a few different colors, making it easy to coordinate with your current landscape. Those in search of a beautiful winter bloomer typically find what they are looking for with Helleborus.

However, your winter interest selections go far beyond the Lenten Rose. According to Justin French, Project Manager of Bright Blooms Nursery, Camellia are just as good a selection, with plenty of colors from which to choose! "Camellias come in an immense array of colors. There is little to no chance that you will not find at least one Camellia you can't go without." French explains what make the Camellias such a good choice for homeowners seeking to add blooms to there landscape in the winter months. Camellia sasanqua is the fall-winter blooming variety of Camellia and will provide large richly colored blossoms to really draw attention to your landscape. However, if you happen to fall in love with a Camellia japonica variety, which is the spring variety of Camellia, these will work for you also. They have been known to bloom in late winter." French also recommends Loropetalum and Aster for their cold hardy blooms.

Shrubs and Hedges to Protect Against Cold Winter Winds

Due to the steady rise in heating and cooling costs over the past decade, homeowners are taking advantage of every money saving idea that comes there way. One of the most popular methods in recent years is landscaping for energy efficiency. Shade trees that block the sun and lower air conditioning bills and privacy screens that double as wind barriers for the cold winter months have become staples in the attempt to save energy and funds through landscape.

Another method that is utilized far less often, yet is every bit as effective, is foundation planting for insulation. Perennials planted alongside your home are beautiful in the summer, but planting dense shrubs will deflect cold winds from chilling your home and insulate your foundation. Not surprisingly, this simple act can lower your heating costs by as much as 20%.

Ideal for this purpose are thick, lush evergreen shrubs, such as American Boxwood. The density and form of this boxwood make it perfect for holding those winter winds away from your home, automatically stabilizing the temperatures inside through insulation. Other fantastic selections are Privet, Osmanthus, and Yew. However, if the idea of plain evergreen shrubs does not appeal to you, there are plenty of flowering bushes that will add some visual interest along with practicality. Camellia and Rhododendron are both fantastic evergreen shrubs that come in a wide variety of bloom colors.

When utilized properly, your "insulation shrubs" can pay for themselves in just one cold season. Pair the idea of foundation shrubs with a wind barrier in your yard, and you'll be saving up to 60% on your heating costs this year.

Winter Activities For A Jump On Spring

For passionate gardeners, this cold time of year cannot pass quickly enough. However, there are several things you can do all season long to prepare for the coming of spring that can actually improve your gardening endeavors far more than you may thing. Plus, they'll keep you busy and make the cold season fly right by!

The first thing you'll want to do is draft any new plans for your landscape. If you would like to make changes or repairs, begin the process now. Figure out exactly what you'd like to do, and you'll be able to jump right in when the weather breaks.

The next thing you'll definitely want to do during the winter is get any gardening equipment cleaned and serviced. The last thing you're going to want when spring arrives is to find that the lawn mower is broken. Any damages can be repaired and upgrades made long before you actually need to utilize your equipment.

You may want to have your soil tested before the actual planting season arrives, especially if you've had any growing difficulties in the past. This test will assess what, if anything, you need to add to your soil. Then if you need to amend the soil in any way, you'll have plenty of notice and time to do so.

Be sure to clean and prepare flower beds. You may also want to do this in any areas of your yard that you believe you will want to plant perennials, vines, or ground covers. Preparing the area beforehand will speed the planting process when spring rolls around. Prune any deciduous trees, shrubs and hedges You will also want to prune any fruit trees or bushes you may have. Also, give any ornamental grasses a gentle, annual trim.

Follow these steps and you'll have a great head start on your spring gardening and landscape plans.

With Fragrance, Charm, And Undeniable Romance - The Classic Rose Can't Get Any Better, Can It?

The rose is a stand alone in the gardening world, historically and today. Arguably the most popular flower in American history, it is rare to find an experienced gardener that has not tried their hand at the cultivation of a rose bush. With fragrance, visual charm, and undeniable romance... the classic rose is just a flower that cannot get any better, right?

Well, that may be a matter of debate. Since their debut in 2000, Knock Out Roses have taken the gardening world by storm. Particularly, the Double Knockout Rose. With up to twenty-five petals per single bloom, the Double Knockout is easily twice the size of your average rose. Apparently, it's now aimed at becoming twice as popular as well.

Size, however, is not the only thing the Double Knockout rose has going for it. The Double Knockout boasts an extended bloom period that can stretch into all four seasons. More compact than even the original Knockout rose, the Double has a home in even the most modest of planting spaces. Becoming increasingly known for pest and disease resistance, drought tolerance, and being the ultimate in low-maintenance, it's no wonder gardeners all over the country have fallen head over heels for this amazing cultivar.

Available in classic rose hues, you won't have to forgo that long cherished elegance with the Knockout roses. Looking for that romantic, cherry red? The Red Double Knockout rose will deliver all the time honored tradition with twice the size and glowing with color. If a softer, more feminine bloom appeals to you, you will find all that and more with the Pink Double Knockout rose.

With all the looks and attributes one could ask for in a rose, it's certainly not hard to see why the Knockout roses are becoming more popular by the day. And it looks like a sure bet that they will have a place in gardens and landscapes for generations to come.