Backyard Book Reviews

If you want to expand your understanding of your backyard world, and how you can make it a wonderful habitat for the winged creatures you love, we’ve got some books that will help you. From designing gardens that are welcoming to a variety of birds, to installing the right feeders and bird baths, these volumes offer a wealth of knowledge and practical information you can use to attract and enjoy all the birds found in your area.

1. Attracting Birds to Your Backyard: 536 Ways to Create a Haven for Your Favorite Birds (Rodale/Roth): If birds area going to make a regular visit to your backyard, they will have to find ample supplies of food, water, shelter and possible nesting sites. This comprehensive book covers all of these topics, and more, in great detail. In-depth information and step-by-step instructions make it easy to transform any backyard into a birding sanctuary.

2. Backyard Birds — Peterson Field Guides® for Young Naturalists: This is an outstanding book for bird lovers of any age, with special emphasis given to helping younger bird enthusiasts learn about birds, their likes and dislikes, and how they are best served in our backyard habitats. Very little prior knowledge is required to make good use of this very instructive book. It will help all budding bird watchers deepen their comprehension and enjoyment in discovering the birds in their areas.

3. The Backyard Bird Lover’s Field Guide: Secrets to Attracting, Identifying, and Enjoying Birds of Your Region: This is another book by Sally Roth, bird expert extraordinaire. She’ll walk you through the topics outlined in the title, with conversational descriptions that are easy to follow for the new bird lover and the veteran birding enthusiast alike. The wonderful, full-color pictures alone are worth the price of this stunning book! Give this book a read, keep it handy as a reference guide, and your pleasure in the hobby will be magnified abundantly.

4. The Backyard Bird Feeder’s Bible: The A-to-Z Guide To Feeders, Seed Mixes, Projects, And Treats (Rodale/Roth): Publisher and author team up again to offer the most comprehensive book on the market for novice and intermediate bird watchers. You’ll love the color photos, handy outlines of each species, and practical tips for watching them in nature. This is a great reference resource to keep by your window or to add to your backpack alongside your birding binoculars.

5. Backyard Bird Secrets for Every Season: Attract a Variety of Nesting, Feeding, and Singing Birds Year-Round (Sally Roth): The first lady of bird watching takes her readers through the basics here, teaching them the nuances of turning their backyards into a habitat their winged friends will gravitate to and decide to become a long-term part of. You’ll learn what to do in each season to have the best opportunity of attracting your favorites to the feeder, the nesting houses, or the bird bath. Learn about migration and ways to attract species that are just passing through, too.

Pick up one or two of these books today, and your love for all-things-birds will grow with the turn of each page. You’ll be educated, fascinated, and motivated to get out and discover for yourself why more than 1 in 5 people describe themselves as bird watching enthusiasts!

Best Flowers & Flowering Plants for the Middle Atlantic Region

The Middle Atlantic Region includes New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia, sometimes Virginia and West Virginia, and, of course, New Jersey, the state that calls itself “The Garden State.” So what are the best flowers and flowering plants for the Garden State and its neighbors? Let’s consider the climate first.

The Middle Atlantic, or simply Mid-Atlantic, region features a wide variety of growing zones, according to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. The northern reaches of the region include Northern New York state, where some of the terrain is designated zone 3! That’s one of the coldest zones represented in the U.S. The southern parts of the region, and those moderated by the ocean, are designated 6 or 7. All the areas of the Middle Atlantic region get very adequate rainfall – more rain than many of you would like! But it does make for some beautiful flower gardens! Let’s take a look at this unique region and we’ll help you decide which are the best flowers and flowering plants for your area.

If you live in the northern parts of this region, including upper New York and colder parts of Pennsylvania, then focus on plants that grow best in zones 3 and 4. We like to build a garden’s foundation with perennials, since they come back year after year, becoming old friends you rely can upon and always look forward to seeing. These do very well: Aster, Astilbe, Baby’s breath, Balloon flower, Basket of Gold, Bee Balm, Bleeding Heart, Blue Star, Cardinal Flower, Chamomile, Columbine, Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan, Day Lilies, Hellebore, Hosta, some Iris, Lupine, Meadowsweet, Phlox, Poppy, Primrose, Sage, Violet, Windflower, and Sunflower.
Much of the region, including lower New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia feature zones 5 and 6. Warm, humid days, and plenty of rain, are the norm. If this is your neck of the woods, start your garden choices with these flowers. They’ll love the weather: Alumroot, Aster, Astilbe, Barrenwort, Basket of Gold, Beardtongue, Bee Balm, Bell Flower, Bergenia, Black-Eyed Susan, Blanket Flower, Bleeding Heart, Boltonia, Bugbane, Bugleweed, Campion, Carnation, Chamomile, Chrysanthemum, Columbine, Coreopsis, Daylily, Flowering Onion, Gas Plant, Goatsbeard, Golden-ray Hosta, Hyssop, Iris, Lamb’s Ear, Lavender, Lily, Lupine, Meadow Rue, Phlox, Pincushion, Primrose, Sage, and Salvia, Sunflower, Violet and Yarrow.

Zone 7 growing characteristics can be found in parts of the Mid-Atlantic Region, where hot, sticky summer days, late afternoon thunder showers, and sultry nights are the norm. This is a perfect environment for growing fantastic flowers. All those mentioned above will work well here. In addition, you’ll get excellent results from these flowers and flowering plants: Angel’s Trumpet, Barrenwort, Bugloss, Calamint, Canna, Dianthus, Globeflower, Lady’s Mantle, Leopard’s Bane, Liriope, Pearly Everlasting, Sandwort, Valerian, Sea Lavender, and Solomon’s Seal.
A nice variety of flowering plants and shrubs also thrive in the Middle Atlantic Region. These make for lovely rows, or look great interspersed with evergreen shrubs like Arborvitae. The flowering plants and shrubs that do well here include Forsythia, Cinquefoil Bush, Chokeberry, Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Lilac, Rose, Summersweet, Viburnum, Winterberry, and Witch Hazel.
Take time to get to know the suggestions here, selecting the ones that please your eye. Add them to your garden, flower beds, and general landscape. In the Mid-Atlantic region you’ll be able to enjoy blooms 10 or 11 months out of the year in many places. These selections will keep your yard colorful the entire growing season when you choose early, middle and late flowering plants from this list.

Regional Flowers

vIf you have been gardening for any length of time you realize that the country in which you live will feature at least a few growing zones. These zones are designated by the lowest typical winter temperature, since it is cold that most threatens perennial flowers, shrubs, vines, and bulbs. For example, the United States contains 8 zones in all, out of the 11 found in North America. These extend from zone 3 in the extreme northern regions to zone 10 in deep southern regions. This is called the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Europe has a zone hardiness map as well. It goes without saying that each zone or region will offer a climate conducive to the growing health of some perennials and not to others. It is easy to find out which zone your specific state is located in. This link shows the U.S. map with further links to each state: http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html.

In this guide we’ll give you an overview of the regions of the country and what zones they include. When you shop for flowers online you may be able to shop by zone, which is a great help. If you buy flowers locally, only plants that grow in your hardiness zone will be available.

Remember that most flowers that will grow in zones with lower numbers will also grow in zones with higher numbers. In other words, flowers rated for zone 3 will also grow well in zones 4-8 roughly, while those rated for zones 4 or 5 will also thrive in zones up to 9 or 10. It is only where extreme heat or arid conditions are present that lower numbered zone flowers may not prosper.

In colder regions also realize that an especially cold spring may jeopardize plants that are spring bloomers, so an emphasis on late spring or summer bloomers might produce better results. Autumn frosts come earlier, too, so don’t expect your autumn blooms to last as deep into the year as in other regions.

New England: This northern region contains zones 3 and 4, so hardy flowers and shrubs will be in the mix for your landscape. Southern New England captures a bit of zone 5 weather, so gardeners there have a few more choices. Good regional flower choices include Day Lilies of many varieties, Clematis, Salvia, Tulips, some Roses, Chrysanthemum, Sedum, Daffodils, Geraniums, Monarda, Asters, Crocuses, and Heuchera.

The East: This is one of the most diverse regions in terms of hardiness zones, with zones 3 to 7 all being represented. Good regional flower choices include Geraniums, Tulips, Day Lilies, Echinacea, Cyclamen, Hellebores, Crocuses, Daffodils, Columbine, and Yarrow.

The Mid-Atlantic States: Another diverse region, the Mid-Atlantic states feature growing zones from 4 to 7. Good regional flower choices include Tulips, Columbine, Wild Ginger, Coneflower, Rhododendron, Bleeding Heart, Salvia, Baby’s Breath, Astilbe, Bee Balm, Angel Trumpet, and Roses.

The South: This warm region is the place where flowers rated for zones 8-10 will thrive. Remember, some flowers with lower zone ratings will do well here, but others may not be able to stand the worst of the heat. Good regional flower choices include Rhododendron, Columbine, Fox Glove, Roses, Peony, Balloon Flower, Bee Balm, Baby’s Breath, Campion, Bleeding Heart, Cranesbill, and Coral Bells.

The Great Lakes and Great Plains: This region generally contains zones 3-5, but parts of Michigan’s coasts, where a Great Lake moderates temperatures, are designated zone 6. Good regional flower choices include Geranium, Poppy, Columbine, Phlox, Tulips, Cardinal flower, Bleeding Heart, Gladiolus, Day Lily, Morning Glory, Daffodils, Sedum, Chrysanthemum, Roses, and Crocuses.

The Rocky Mountain Region: Being in the north, with high elevation in many places, it’s no wonder zones 3-5 predominate here, though zones 6 and 7 creep into the southern reaches of the region. This is also an arid region, so take that into account when selecting plants. Good regional flower choices include Astilbe, Rhododendron, Hydrangea, Tulips, Roses, Lavender, Begonia, Pansies, Peony, Salvia, Dusty Miller, Hosta, Gladiolus, and Iris.

The Pacific Northwest: Plenty of rain with cool or moderate temperatures from autumn through spring, with warm summers, make a region where zones 5-8 are all represented. Flowers that like, or can at least tolerate, plenty of rain will thrive west of the mountains. Good regional flower choices include Roses, Bleeding Heart, Salvia, Sunflower, Hellebores, Baby’s Breath, Astilbe, Bee Balm, Angel Trumpet, Violet, Verbena, and Iris.

The Southwest: Hot, arid conditions are the norm here, even at higher altitudes, so the zone rating is only part of the issue for gardeners. Zones as cool as 6 are found at higher elevations, but 7-10 are most common. When selecting plants here it is important to take their need for moisture into account. Good regional flower choices include Cactus, Bee Balm, Daisies, Iris, Orchids, Elephant’s Ear, Coral Bells, Sunflower, Violet, Sea Holly, Thrift, Poppy, Pincushion, and Lilies.

California: This state features a long ocean coastline which keeps things warm, but not terribly hot most of the year. Zones 8-10 are all represented here, with arid conditions influencing your planting decisions in some of the desert areas. Good regional flower choices include Cactus, Coral Bells, Bee Balm, Daisies, Iris, Orchids, Elephant’s Ear, Sea Holly, Sunflower, Violet, Desert Rose, Hydrangea, Orchids, Pansies, Begonia, Bleeding Heart, and Geraniums.

Seasonal Flowers

When you are designing your garden you will want to select flowers that bloom in each season in your climate zone, whether that includes 3 seasons or 4. Wise planters will stagger seasonal flowers throughout their beds and garden so that no section is without blooms during the year, unless by design. Here is a list of seasonal flowers, based on when they flower, to get you started on developing a garden that will never lack in vibrant color.

Let’s start with winter, since if you do get winter blooms in your region they will probably come just before spring, rather than early. So, you’re winter blossoms will be the first to look for after the New Year, and there is nothing that says warm weather is on the way like the first hardy flowers of the year. Here’s a good starter list for each season of the year.

For Winter: Daffodils, Cyclamen, Snow Drops, Crocuses, Heath, Hellebores, Christmas Rose, Iberis,

Spring blooms can come fast and furious once they begin, or they may make their appearance gradually throughout the season, depending on the temperatures. Either way, if you live in a region that doesn’t allow for winter blooms, a joyful sight they will be. A visitor to your house one week might see a garden with one or two things in flower, and come again the next week and be dazzled by a dozen gorgeous bloomers. There are dozens of wonderful choices for Spring flowers. Always make sure you select plants suitable to your zone.

For Spring: Basket of Gold, Clematis – many varieties, Crocus, Daffodils, Bleeding Heart, Primrose, and Sweet Violet.

Summer flowering perennials will enrich the warm months with cool blues, hot pinks, rich reds, spicy oranges, lemony yellows, and all shades of the spectrum. Properly designed, your garden will continue to grow in color intensity until it reaches a crescendo in late summer. Remember to plant summer bloomers in every sector of the garden, and combine then with colors they will blend well with or vividly contrast with. Be careful not to mix colors in a small area that will clash. Some gardeners like to create a section featuring pastel blossoms, another with primary color blooms and their derivatives. Try different things since you can always move flowers around when they are done blooming. Take notes on which ones worked well together in terms of color, but also height and width, and which ones might best be used in another part of the garden neighborhood.

For summer: Daylilies, Clematis, Rose, Purple Coneflower, Monarda, Garden Phlox, Geraniums, Verbena, Tradescantia, Veronica, Salvia. Try cutting back some of the earliest summer bloomers when they are finished, like Yarrow, and you might get a second round of blooms from them. Flowering summer vines include Cardinal Vine, Morning Glory, Black-eyed Susan, Hyacinth Bean, and Moonflower, which blooms at night for a special treat. Don’t forget bulbs like Gladiolus, Dahlias, Cannas, and Tuberose.

Autumn bloomers extend our enjoyment of the garden to the first hard frost, and sometimes beyond. When summer blooms are in full glory, these autumn friends are out of mind. But when the hot weather blooms begin to fade, the Sedum and others start showing color, and our gardens are not finished yet!

For Autumn: Michaelmas Daisy, Sedum, Coneflower, Perennial Sunflower, Chrysanthemum, Blue Mist Shrub, Aster, Baby’s Breath, Anemone, Freesia, Panama Rose, Foxtail Orchid, Juniper, Lavender, Narcissus, and Goldenrod.

Annuals have their place in most gardens. They can be purchased until mid to late summer, and are good for filling in bare spots where flowers didn’t last as long as we expected. Other gardeners like to select a few annuals to grow from seed each year, to lend variety to their beds amidst their perennial favorites. These are usually started in pots and transplanted to the garden when ready.

Mixing Flowers – Colorful Flower Garden Design

When you plan your garden for this season you will want to include a mix of annual and perennial blooms that will provide a wonderful array of dazzling colors that will last from the first blossoms in the spring until you say goodbye to your flower beds in autumn. By knowing when your perennials bloom, and selecting appropriate annual flowers to complement them, the color parade can continue unabated. You won’t have a 2-3 week stretch where everything seems to be yellow or red. There won’t be a section of your garden that sports mostly blue. By mixing flowers you’ll craft a colorful garden design that will keep you interested and thrilled.

This will sound odd perhaps, but the first item you’ll need for planning a richly colorful garden is a color wheel. Available online or at the paint store, perhaps, these color wheels show what colors go well together and which ones clash. You’ll learn, for instance, that red and purple can provide a stunning contrast, red and orange don’t mix aesthetically when planted side by side, and blue-green combinations can be very soothing together. Most importantly, you’ll be able to easily identify the color combinations you most enjoy, and that really is the most important factor.

The second thing to do is to make a list of your favorite flowers, or those you’d like to try. Include both perennials and annuals. Using a flower encyclopedia helps here, and it can be a lot of fun to look through all the different varieties that come in the rainbow of colors found in the world of flowers. Be sure the guide you do your research in also lists the climate zones the flowers grow in, so you can be sure that they will thrive in your area. Remember to make selections from the entire color wheel, choosing 8-16 different colors, depending on how much detail the color chart gives.

Thirdly, it is also important, when selecting perennial flowers, to know when the blooms will appear and blossom. Make notes next to your selections such as early, early-middle, middle, middle-late, and late season. By doing this, you won’t expect a beautiful batch of golden mums in June or hope your sky-blue hydrangeas will last into September.

Finally, you have the basic information required to design a colorful flower garden with a breathtaking, pleasing mix of blooms.

1. You’ll have a list of the flowers you want to use.

2. You’ll know which flower colors to plant side by side and in the same region of the garden.

3. You’ll have a good idea of when they will make their appearance, if they are perennials.

Now, lay out your garden on paper. It is a good idea to plan sectors of the garden, broken up by stones, statuary, ground cover, or other décor, rather than trying to make one large area blend together. In each sector select plants that will bloom at the right time, and give the right color, to provide complimentary or contrasting colors that meet your preferences, and avoiding those that will clash or produce a section with too much of one color.

The nice thing about annual flowers is that you can always find them in the right color for your needs, to fill in color gaps in your garden. They are usually hardy and will continue to produce blooms until the frost catches up to them. Using these principles you should be able to mix flowers and produce a colorful flower garden design that will provide beauty and satisfaction all season.

Choosing the Right Mix of Annuals and Perennials

Perennial flowers in our gardens are like old friends. We eagerly wait for them to wake up in the spring from their long winter nap and begin to produce growth, foliage, buds, and finally the gorgeous blooms we’ve grown to love and rely upon. But just like in social circles where meeting new friends is a pleasure, too, many gardeners will enjoy adding annuals to their garden each spring or summer, to enhance the beauty of the garden. Some flower enthusiasts leave space among the perennials so that they can select annuals each year to fill in the gaps and create variety in their gardens.

Choosing the right mix of annuals and perennials is largely a matter of choice, though a few guidelines will produce results you’ll enjoy throughout the season.

First, start with perennials, since they will provide the permanent residents of your garden. See other guides on this site that address choosing the right perennials for your garden. In short, choose perennials that will bloom sequentially throughout the growing season so no section of the garden is ever bereft of blooms. Select perennial blooms in colors that complement and blend without clashing. If miscalculations do occur and you are faced with a bloom-free section of the garden, add instant color by picking up some complementary annuals at your local garden center.

Once you have a well-established perennial garden, you’ll know where annuals are needed. The great thing about annuals is that you can choose different varieties each year. Annuals come in so many different colors that you’ll always have a good selection to choose from, even if certain annuals are in short supply in a given year, which seems to happen due to climate issues where annuals are grown.

Add annuals that go well with your established perennials, both in color and shape. Time honored annuals like begonias and impatiens bloom for months, to provide a colorful transition from early blooming annuals to later bloomers. Marigolds and zinnias are found in enough color options to mix with any perennial garden, and provide hardy, enduring blooms well into autumn. Petunias, geraniums, nasturtium, and lobelia also offer rich tones to complement their perennial neighbors. These new friends will enhance the overall look of your flower beds and enrich the enjoyment you take from them.

Let’s conclude with a few words of advice. When selecting annuals from the nursery or garden center, make sure you are choosing healthy plants. Examine them carefully for signs of disease, pest infestation, or rot. The last thing you want to do is to bring home problems to introduce into your garden. Choose plants with leaves that are lush and firm, not showing discoloration or wilting. One option for annuals is to start them from seed indoors during the winter, then setting them out once your perennials begin to show new growth. However you choose to proceed, nurturing perennials and annuals together can produce a more vibrant, more colorful, more enjoyable garden from the first blooms of spring until you say good-bye to your garden in autumn.

How to Prune Flowers for Bigger, Bolder Blooms!

All plants respond to expert cultivation, including pruning. When done, pruning allows the plant to direct more of its energy toward making bright, beautiful blossoms, with less energy spent simply extending its stem structure. Here are time-proven tips for cultivating a more abundant production of blooms throughout the growing season through the use of suitable pruning.

First, know the goal. Pruning should be done to restrict unneeded plant growth, to allow the plant to use nutrients for flower or fruit production, and to shape the plant the way you’d like it to look. The same techniques will accomplish all of these goals.

Secondly, start the pruning process with all weak or dead material. Dead stems are easy to identify. Prune them first, and then consider stems or branches that do not appear to be robust and healthy. If disease is present, prune them immediately. When pruning, cut back to the point of a strong lateral branch, or in extreme cases, all the way back to the main stalk.

Thirdly, if you desire a certain shape from the plant, prune the lateral branches all over it to produce the shape you want. This is a great technique for shrubs, but all perennials respond well to being shaped.

The fourth tip is to prune plants just prior to growth beginning. For most plants, late winter is the best time to do the pruning. Then, the plant will be ready to exert its best energies towards maximum fruitfulness in the spring once the sap begins to flow and the growth starts in earnest. In the first few weeks of growth, all of the stored nutrients and energy in the roots is pushed up into the plant and used to produce the most significant growth of the season. Pruning tools should be kept well out of reach during these times, so the temptation to continue shaping or pruning will not be indulged! Also, do not prune in late summer because the cut stems and branches need time to seal and heal before freezing weather comes. When pruning is done too close to the first hard frosts damage to fresh pruning points may occur.

Next, use the proper tools for pruning. Never tear off branches or unwanted stems. This will produce a scar that may inhibit fresh growth. Rather, use very sharp pruning shears and keep them in excellent condition. Dry them off after use so rust does not develop that will dull the edge. In addition, if tools are used to remove diseased material, be sure to disinfect the tools using bleach or alcohol before they are used on other plants. Before storing the tools for any length of time, oil them to prevent corrosion.

Finally, feed the pruned plants lots of fresh, nutrient-rich compost to fuel the healing of the cut areas and the development of new, vibrant growth that will produce heartier blossoms and fruits. In the middle of the growing season, you will want to dead-head all spent flowers and may also choose to prune back the supporting stems one to two inches, to facilitate a new round of growth and perhaps be rewarded with a new blossom before the season ends. This is more likely where warmer climates produce a longer growing season.

How to select garden plants

While there is more to a beautiful garden than just the plants, they are certainly the main attraction! Stones, trellises, barriers, statuary, and other items may dot your patch of paradise, but without plants you really cherish, chances are your garden won’t bring you as much pleasure as it should. Let’s take a look at how to select garden plants that will be just right for you.

First of all, do some research in plant encyclopedias or online to discover the kinds of plants you think you’ll like the most. Plants have distinct personalities, and they are always somewhat different in person than when you learn about them from a book or website. But doing some homework will be enjoyable and will get you started in a direction that will yield the best results. Make a list of plants you want, and make sure that they are suited to your region’s temperature zone and precipitation levels. You should be able to find that information in the books or on the sites you use for research.

Secondly, choose plants of various sizes and widths to create a pleasant variety in your garden. Having all short, bushy plants or all reed-thin tall ones will get a little boring! Choose a selection of ground cover plants for borders or for areas you’re not ready to develop further yet. They hold moisture in the ground and look much better than bare dirt! Pick out some short, full plants to form an inviting first row of the garden from a visual angle. Select taller plants of various widths as you consider what you will plant toward the middle of round gardens, or the back of gardens you view from only one or two sides. In considering your selections, take into account the plant’s need for sun, what time of the season it blooms, and how large/wide it should be expected to grow. We cover these topics in more depth in other guides on this site.

Thirdly, keep these important factors in mind:
• Choose plants that need similar watering requirements for each segment of the garden.
• Select only plants that look healthy and vigorous, free of pests and damage.
• Pick a blend of colors that you find attractive.
• Avoid plants that look root bound in their containers, with roots protruding from the soil.
• Plant more than just bloomers – a few varieties of Hostas or Dusty Miller complement flowers nicely.
• Don’t crowd plants too closely. Give them room to spread out and flourish!
• Wait until autumn to choose some of your bulbs. Plant them in garden spots that need filling in.
• Select herbs for the garden, and make sure to enjoy their production in the kitchen, as well!

Don’t fret about making your garden perfect – enjoy the adventure of working on it throughout the season and year by year, to tailor it to become just what you want. Keep learning, keep using a “trial and error” method to discover the plants you really connect with – that refresh your soul. The process of developing a great garden is not something to be rushed, but to be savored!

Related Books on How to select garden plants

The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers (American Horticultural Society Practical Guides)

American Horticultural Society Garden Plants and Flowers

50 High-Impact, Low-Care Garden Plants

The Visual Encyclopedia of Garden Plants: A practical guide to choosing the best plants for all types of garden, with 3000 entries and 950 photographs

California Native Plants for the Garden

Tough Plants for Southern Gardens

Garden Plants of Japan

Durable Plants for the Garden

Tough Plants for Southern Gardens

The Rock Garden Plant Primer: Easy, Small Plants for Containers, Patios, and the Open Garden

Western Garden Book: More than 8,000 Plants – The Right Plants for Your Climate – Tips from Western Garden Experts (Sunset Western Garden Book)

Black Plants: 75 Striking Choices for the Garden

Encyclopedia of Northwest Native Plants for Gardens and Landscapes

Designing California Native Gardens: The Plant Community Approach to Artful, Ecological Gardens

Landscaping with Tropical Plants: Design Ideas, Creative Garden Plans, Cold-Climate Solutions

Cool Plants for Hot Gardens: 200 Water-Smart Choices for the Southwest

The Essential Guide to Creating a Chinese-Style Garden: Design a Landscape for the Soul in Your Own Backyard

Plants for Pathways

Homes, apartment buildings, and schools have walkways surrounding the buildings, and these concrete paths need some beautifying! Even attractive paver stone pathways will look better when bordered by attractive blooms that complement their colors. But a major concern about plants for pathways is that they must be hardy, resilient, and tough. Think about it! These plants will get stepped on, rolled over by bicycles and perhaps wheel chairs, scooted through by dogs in pursuit of cats, and will generally take a beating. So not just any prima donna flower can survive and thrive in the tough world of pathway flower beds.

Long pathways look best lined by shorter flowers such as petunias and begonias. Trailing petunias are exceptional, in that they spread quickly and are especially durable. They are also available in a wide variety of colors, so you can match colors to fencing, pavers, or building. Annual flowers also offer a good choice for longer pathways. Marigolds are very strong and are available in several tones of yellow, gold, orange, and red. They also grow in a range of heights so you have the opportunity to use creativity to line your pathways. Other fantastic annual flowers that will serve you well along your pathways include Alyssum, Nicotiana and Snap dragon.

Ground cover plants offer another good choice for lining pathways, sidewalks, and heavily trafficked areas. Stonecrop, miniature rush, creeping wire, and blue star creeper are favorites of professional landscapers given the task of keeping something growing and flowering where bikes, feet, bouncing balls, animals, and other dangers lurk. Dianthus comes in several colors, including the award-winning Corona Cherry Magic Mix. These will endure what comes their way, and keep bouncing back to look beautiful yet another day. Blanket flowers are not quite as durable, but come in a rainbow of stunning colors and will provide special visual interest along sidewalks, pathways, and even driveways. Long-lasting and drought tolerant, they will look great with a minimal amount of care.

Resiliency and durability are not the only characteristics for great pathway plants. If you can find hardy plants that are offer a fragrant experience to the many that pass by them, it will certainly be appreciated. Lavender is an excellent example. Its gorgeous leaves and blooms, in robust plants reaching up to 2 feet high, form a wonderful outline to any path. Lavender, white, pink and purple blooms are available, and will deliver the goods all summer long.

Your pathway gardens will require extra attention and care, but choosing the right plants will keep them blooming and thriving when other plants would have given up the fight. Make sure that they have the moisture they need, plenty of compost in the soil for optimum health, and even some mulch which will protect their roots and stems.

How to Mulch

If you enjoy gardening it is likely you feel a responsibility toward your garden that makes you take steps to keep it free of weeds, disease, and pests. You love your plants and want them to be healthy and prosperous, so you make sure they have quality soil full of nutrients and the proper amount of moisture, and are positioned to receive the amount of sunlight that is right for them. Another asset in long-term plant and garden health is mulch. Let’s take a look at how to mulch your garden for the best results.

The first step in mulching your garden is to understand the value of mulch. It is organic material such as wood, hay, straw, leaves, compost, or a mixture of these, that is used to surround plants for various reasons. A thick layer of mulch surrounding your perennials, shrubs, and young trees yields a number of important benefits. First, mulch ultimately feeds your plants. As mulch breaks down into pure compost, it releases valuable minerals and nutrients into the soil where they are absorbed by plants. Secondly, a thick layer of mulch slows the evaporation of water. In the heat of summer, or in dry climates, mulch will hold moisture in the soil protecting root structures from drying out. The mulch will also allow for deeper penetration of moisture, to enable deeper root growth and development. That will produce a healthier, more stable plant. Thirdly, mulch will keep down the weeds, since it smothers growth and blocks out sunlight. Next, quality mulch will keep diseases and pests from attacking your plants’ root structures. Finally, quality mulch may actually look very nice around your plants.

The next step is to choose the type of mulch you will use. Completely organic mulch that you create in your own yard is best, but not always possible. Such mulch would include wood chips, leaves and compost, and perhaps hay or straw. Manufactured mulches employ hardwood chips, compost, manure, and possibly hay, and work very well to produce the results we’ve mentioned. It can be found at garden centers and nurseries, either in 40-50lb bags, or it can be delivered by the truck full.

Thirdly, apply mulch to your garden after all the planting is done. A three to four inch layer will produce the healthiest environment for plants. The layer of mulch should extend as far from the plant as the roots extend. For perennials, 3-4 inches is enough. For shrubs, extend the mulch 7-10 inches from the plant base, more for trees and large bushes.

Don’t overlook the need to mulch your garden. Mulch is inexpensive, especially if you make your own, and will as an asset to a healthy, gorgeous garden from the first signs of growth in the spring until you rest your garden for the winter.

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