Richard Childress, owner of Childress Vineyards, Richard Childress Racing and the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil team, has done his fair share of home improvement projects over the years and knows what it takes to get the job done. There are a lot of decisions and key steps that are part of the planning process for any project. Whether installing a pool, putting on an addition or simply planting trees or bushes, Childress has a few tips to help make the process safe and easy.

Don’t get caught off guard
Before starting your project, make sure you have a structurally sound design, the right materials for the job and the proper funding. You never want to find yourself part way through a project and realize you’ve not taken the proper planning measures to get the job done. Any one of these elements can set you back and cause major problems that could affect the completion of your project.

“You don’t want to be caught off guard by anything,” says Childress. “When we were creating the business plan for Childress Vineyards, one of the key components was coming up with a comprehensive environmental impact plan as it related to the chemicals that would be used in the vineyards. We were able to draw upon a similar plan that had been revised and improved over the years at Richard Childress Racing. Those lessons learned over time at RCR paid big dividends from the very beginning at Childress Vineyards.”

Call 8-1-1 before you dig
Nothing is worse than hitting an underground facility and knocking out power or gas to your entire neighborhood. You are risking injury to yourself and those around you in addition to potentially causing harm to the environment. Call 8-1-1 before you do any digging. A quick and easy call to 8-1-1 will connect you with a local One Call Center operator who will take down information about your dig location and notify the underground facility operators to contact you so they can mark underground utilities such as natural gas and oil pipelines below your project. Once the lines are marked, you can begin to dig confident that you know what’s below.

“Calling 8-1-1 is like having a spotter when you’re digging,” says Childress. “The spotter for the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil team lets Kevin Harvick know whether or not it is clear before he makes a move on the track helping him to avoid a collision that would put everyone in jeopardy. 8-1-1 will help you make sure you’re clear to break ground and that you’re keeping your neighborhood safe.”

Take your time
Building projects are not a race and rushing can lead to both poor quality work and dangerous situations.

“Patience is important to the success and safety of your project,” says Childress. “When we broke ground at RCR many years ago, we knew it was going to be a long process, but we also knew that we wanted it done right and done well. That same focus and care can keep you, your love ones and neighbors safe while building a stable, beautiful structure for your home or business.”

These tips have helped Childress through numerous improvement projects and have lead to his success as a team owner in one of the top motorsports series in the world. So, next time you start a building or installation project or are looking to spruce up your landscape, be sure to plan ahead, call 8-1-1 before you dig, and take your time – and you will have a safe and successful project, too.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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PHOTO CREDIT: Stepables. Plants like Isotoma 'Blue Star Creeper' from Stepables can be used around mailboxes, trash can storage, pathways, and other areas where other plants tend to fail.

(ARA) – Even seasoned gardeners have at least one difficult area in the landscape where no plants survive. Whether it is around a trash can storage area or in a shallow space surrounding a tree, understanding the appropriate plant material for bare, problematic areas can bring new life to the lawn and garden.

“Education is key to understanding tough conditions and which plants are best suited,” says Fran Hopkins, founder of the Stepables brand of creeping perennials. “Plant choices for tricky areas are hard if you don’t know what works best, and where.” Plants will thrive and improve aesthetics when planted in the proper environments.

Plant brand experts such as Hopkins and Jim Berry, co-owner of J. Berry Nursery, a company that cultivates plant material trialed with exacting performance standards, work each year to produce solution plants and educate homeowners on how specific varieties can eliminate landscape woes. “Our nursery’s staff members understand the investments that go into making landscapes beautiful, including the especially difficult areas,” says Berry. “Therefore, we strive to offer superior plants that flourish and are hardy.”

According to Hopkins and Berry, understanding a landscape’s problematic conditions and knowing about robust plant varieties for each is crucial for a successful garden. These tips can grow a green thumb on most any homeowner.

How-to Tip: Downright Diverse

PHOTO CREDIT: J. Berry Nursery. This Hydrangea "Deja Bloom" grown by J. Berry Nursery was cultivated with characteristics to address common landscape challenges.

The first thing a homeowner should keep in mind when tackling a small outdoor space is that traditional design elements mimic one another. However, dramatic appeal can be heightened in a way that does not overwhelm small areas or cause maintenance.

Using plants with varied heights, colors and textures will draw the eye throughout a petite garden just like larger landscapes. Yet the effect will be diversity that makes the space appear expanded. Consider the use of a low-growing groundcover such as Stepable’s Isotoma ‘Blue Star Creeper’ to maximize interest close to, and spreading across, the ground. Combine this with taller shrubs like J. Berry Nursery’s ‘Deja Bloom’ Hydrangea around the space’s edges to create a sense of place and depth in the center.

The use of creeping perennials also provides a low plane, allowing other, larger plants to be used in layers. “A bed or border with a mixture of plant shapes and sizes gives an appearance of multiplicity,” says Berry. “Try pairing broader or wider plants with ones that are known for being compact such as ‘Petite Rouge’ Photinia, the most compact photinia ideal for small spaces or mass plantings.” Ultimately, the goal is striking balance of color and form.

How-to Tip: Compare and Combine

Areas in the landscape overrun with trees and shrubs can cause homeowners frustrating maintenance issues. When areas are planted without regard to this, plants can quickly overwhelm a homeowner. Combining plants with comparable growing attributes can lead to less work later.

“Some plants and types of turf grow more quickly than others. Lawn mower use and weeding can be exhausting,” says Hopkins. “Creeping perennials like Sagina ‘Aurea’ Scotch Moss and Sedum ‘John Creech’ make a great pair and act as alternatives to traditional turf because they naturally inhibit weeds.” They can also be planted instead of turf.

Grouping plants that require similar conditions will make confined areas easier to maintain because plants will remain healthier. “For example, the ‘Déjà Bloom’ Hydrangea and ‘Crown Jewel’ Gardenia have similar sun requirements,” says J. Berry. Used together, they comprise a garden area where a lot of care is unnecessary.

Under trees, plants must compete for nutrients and moisture, sometimes causing them to perish. “When used as under-plantings, creeping perennials can provide a unique solution,” says Hopkins. One she recommends is Ajuga ‘Chocolate Chip’. It is a wise choice for under trees because roots are shallow, and the plant will thrive under such stress.

How-to Tip: Taking it in Stride

Certain areas of the landscape become bare of plantings due to the high-traffic these spots endure. Planted borders near sidewalks, mailboxes and trash cans receive daily beatings. Grassy areas around play sets and pet areas are often eyesores given pattering feet. With children and pets of her own, Hopkins swears by the Stepables plants because of their foot-traffic tolerance.

“Plants such as Lotus ‘Plenus’ provide these areas with a dense mat of yellow blooms that flower in spring and can tolerate foot traffic up to three times a day,” says Hopkins.

For more gardening tips and information about Stepables and J. Berry Nursery, visit www.stepables.com and www.jberrynursery.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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With a little ingenuity and Knock Out roses you can transform your landscape into a real stunner.

(ARA) – You only get one chance for your home to make a first impression. With a little help from Mother Nature, you can demand a second look from passersby with a show-stopping front yard.

“Every canvas needs to start fresh and clean,” says James A. Baggett, editor of Country Gardens Magazine. “So roll up your sleeves, stick your hands in the dirt and get ready to personalize your yard with color and style.”

With a little ingenuity you can transform a ho-hum landscape into a real stunner with these simple tips that add professional-looking curb appeal to your home:

* First things first
You can’t enhance anything until you have a clean slate. So mow the lawn, get rid of the weeds, rake up and dispose of any leaves, edge the sidewalks and remove the grass growing between concrete seams and brick pavers. Prune the trees — especially the ones near or touching the roof — and add a layer of dark, natural mulch to any flower beds or under trees.

* Cover up the bald spots
Now you need to take a good look at your yard. How can you enhance your best features and minimize your worst? Here’s a great trick: Print photos in black and white and you’ll easily see the problem areas. Determine what “flaws” you want to fix. To update your look, fill empty spaces and add interest to a drab corner or “hide” unsightly spots with colorful, ever-blooming plants like the very popular shrub roses in The Knock Out family (www.TheKnockOutFamily.com). Available in seven shades ranging from raspberry pink to soft yellow, there is a Knock Out rose to fit any homeowner’s taste and landscaping style while providing year-round curb appeal.

Add interest to a drab corner or "hide" unsightly spots with colorful, ever-blooming Knock Out shrub roses.

* Put out the welcome mat
The entry garden is the most visible garden space and sets the mood for your entire home. Whether formal or relaxed, it should draw your eye toward the front door. Plant a pair of carefully pruned boxwoods on either side of the front door to add symmetry. Add a light fixture that matches the home’s exterior and shows your personal taste.

* Contain yourself
For those with minimal or no yard, or if you just want the elegance and ease of containers, pot up pretty annuals and perennials around your entrance, mailbox or along the front walk. To have striking color year after year, use perennials for fistfuls of continuous blooms that help stretch your dollars. Yellow and red are hot colors this year so plant the newest Sunny Knock Out rose paired with your favorite red annuals to be in step with the latest trends.

* Express yourself
Decorate a garden with a favorite antique, treasured collectible or statue. Look for objects such as driftwood, rocks or even empty mailboxes to punctuate certain areas. Use color to attract the eye. Paint your front door a bold, welcoming color or try a bright, punchy color on the shutters.

* Plan for sustainability
Look for plants that are easy to grow, save water and don’t require a lot of work. Pick plants that are native to your area for low-maintenance beauty. Eco-friendly shrub roses are a great choice, especially when paired with perennials for year-round color.

Baggett thinks shrub roses are perfect for first-time homeowners since they are extremely easy to grow and are low-maintenance. “Shrub roses give you a lot of bang for your buck,” he says. “They are really no work for the homeowner — and don’t require spraying, harsh chemicals, pruning, deadheading or lots of water. They bloom from May to the first hard frost in the late fall, offering season-long color and visual impact in the home landscape.”

The most popular shrub roses are The Knock Out Family of roses. They are available in seven shades ranging from hot raspberry pink to soft yellow, fitting any homeowner’s taste and landscape style while providing continuous year-round curb appeal.

Enjoy the days you get outside to renew your yard and garden. You’ll have folks taking a second look. For more information on The Knock Out Family of roses visit www.theknockoutrose.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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“Fire pits, outdoor kitchens, seat walls, stairs, columns, tables, even plantable walls that become a part of the landscape are possible for homeowners willing to invest a little creativity and sweat equity in their yard,” says Shannon McGregor of Patio Town, a Minnesota landscape supplies retailer. “With the right system, the only limit is your imagination.”

The Versa-Green plantable wall system will really grow on you. It features a hollow core in each wall unit for plantings and will accommodate an irrigation system.

So imagine yourself entertaining guests around a built-in grill in your back yard. Using a retaining wall system like Versa-Lok, you can create a freestanding kitchen island wrapped around a grill and refrigerator and topped with a granite slab. The solid concrete blocks can be modified and configured to accommodate appliances and utility connections.

One of the most popular backyard features for DIY landscapers is a fire pit surrounded by a patio and seat walls made from retaining wall units.

“A circular or square patio is built around a cast-iron fire ring, and matching seat walls ring the patio,” says McGregor. “It’s a terrific project for someone who wants an affordable, easy-to-install backyard makeover.”

Why cook indoors when you can create your own outdoor kitchen? Solid retaining wall units can be easily cut to fit a grill or refrigerator and topped with a nice stone slab.

Several courses of pavers may be used to encircle the fire ring. The seat walls are simply freestanding walls built at an appropriate sitting height. These may be capped with bullnose pavers for added comfort.

Freestanding columns constructed from split wall units stacked and glued in a four-square pattern make an attractive landscape feature that can be used to perform a variety of functions. Standing alone at the end of a driveway or on either end of a freestanding wall, columns can be finished with natural or cast stone caps. Install wrought iron between columns to create elegant fencing. Columns can be built around the posts of a pergola to add a touch of class to a garden space, spa or even front entry. Or make a table from a column topped with a natural or cast stone slab.

“The Versa-Lok system is especially design-friendly because it uses solid units that can be easily cut or split to fit any application,” explains Austin Keay, owner of AKeay Landscaping in North Branch, Minn. “Even stairs can be built with this system.”

With the most versatile retaining wall systems, you can also build stairs, freestanding walls and columns using the same product.

Retaining wall units are stacked in tiers to make the stair’s base pedestal. Stair treads are made from wall cap units, pavers or precast treads. The stairs can be fully inset into a wall or exposed on one or both sides.

“These are kind of like the building blocks of landscaping. You can do almost anything with them,” says Keay. “Hot tub enclosures, raised paver or natural stone patios, mail box stands — we’ve done it all.”

Some homeowners prefer the look of greenery to hardscaping but still need a high-performance retaining wall. The new Versa-Green plantable wall system by Versa-Lok gives them the best of both worlds.

“Versa-Green is a natural option in situations where significant soil retention is required in a wall but visibility of the wall isn’t wanted,” says McGregor. “Plantings in each individual wall unit grow up to conceal the courses above or hang down to cover the wall below. Eventually, the wall appears to grow right into the landscape, much like a vertical garden. The result is a functional wall that becomes a living part of your landscape.”

Working with segmental retaining wall systems doesn’t require a lot of expensive tools. Those that may be needed — concrete saw or block splitter, for example — can be rented on a daily basis or your supplier may have them available.

Many retailers like Patio Town offer DIY seminars on retaining wall and paver installation as well.

“Investing in landscaping is a sure way to add value to your home,” McGregor concludes. “That, coupled with an increasing trend toward entertaining at home, make segmental retaining wall systems an appealing solution for the do-it-yourselfer with a bit of imagination.”

For further information about Versa-Lok Retaining Wall Systems, visit www.versa-lok.com or call (800) 770-4525.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Routine maintenance of these structures – often made from Western red cedar – can ensure they weather the winter well and are ready for you to enjoy come spring. Plus, beautiful, well-kept outdoor structures enhance curb appeal and your home’s resale value.

“Western red cedar is a popular material for outdoor structures because of its natural durability and beauty,” says Paul Mackie, or “Mr. Cedar” as he’s known in the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association (WRCLA). “Preparing your outdoor living structure for winter is an important step to help maintain that beauty.”

Mackie and the wood experts of the WRCLA offer the following tips for winterizing your wooden outdoor structures:

* Clean leaves, dirt and pine needles from between the boards of your deck. This will increase airflow around the boards and reduce the opportunity for mold and mildew to grow. Even though Western red cedar contains natural chemicals that resist insects and decay, excessive dirt, debris and moisture can still harm the wood.

* Remove planters and flower pots – even those that are just ornamental – from the deck. Moisture can collect under planters or pots and leave stains on your deck. If it’s not possible to remove a planter from the deck, or you just have nowhere else to store flower pots, be sure to elevate them off the wood. Built-in planter boxes can be an attractive, permanent alternative than portable planters or pots.

* Clean wooden structures with a broom, a garden sprayer, a little bleach and a water hose. Kill any existing mold or mildew with a solution of three parts water and one part oxygen bleach applied with your garden sprayer. While the bleach in the solution is very dilute, be sure to avoid excessive spraying of the solution and keep it away from children, animals and plants. Rinse the treated areas with clean water once the mold and mildew are gone.

* Don’t pressure wash Western red cedar. “You can make it look like your grandfather’s corduroy pants,” Mackie says. Pressure washing can also disrupt the wood’s natural moisture resistance by forcing water into the wood. If you absolutely must pressure wash, keep the washer set below 800 pounds per square inch.

* Water, pollen and mold tend to collect and sit on horizontal surfaces throughout the summer. Left over the winter, they become a harmful cocktail that can speed deterioration of otherwise healthy lumber.

Winterizing outdoor structures is simple and quick – and ensures your outdoor living space will be in great shape, and ready for you to enjoy, once warm weather returns.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Compost bins and tumblers are a hassle-free way to create good-for-your-garden compost.

Leaves turn brilliant colors, evenings cool and the kids go back to school. So long summer, hello fall garden cleanup.

You may already know that composting is a better way to deal with bags of leaves and backyard waste. But if you’ve avoided composting because it seems like too much work and mess — or you just weren’t sure how to start — fall is a great time to try your hand at turning this year’s yard debris into next year’s natural fertilizer.

Composting delivers many benefits. Modern gardeners face strict waste removal ordinances in many communities. Plus, growing environmental consciousness inspires gardeners to minimize their eco footprint while cleaning up the back yard. Composting is a cost-effective, eco-friendly way to convert your yard debris into “black gold” – a nutrient rich, all-natural, safe fertilizer for next spring’s planting season.

Fall, by nature, is an exceptional time to begin composting. Dry leaves, grass clippings and woody materials represent a large percentage of total yard waste. Each offers either the carbon or nitrogen components necessary for the decomposition process that takes place during composting. Add air and water, and you’re well on your way to rich, loamy compost.

The trick to successful composting is to maintain a working balance between carbon and nitrogen. A simple rule of thumb is to use one-third green and two-thirds brown materials. This allows oxygen to penetrate and nourish the organisms that reside within the material.

You don’t have to live with an unsightly, foul-smelling compost heap to do your part for the environment. Compost bins and tumblers are a hassle-free way to create good-for-your-garden compost. Bins are basic, but tumblers add an element of motion, something that can enhance the quality of your compost.

Tumblers add an element of motion to enhance the quality of your compost.

The Tumbleweed Compost Tumbler by Clear Air Gardening is a good example of how tumblers work to produce great compost. The Tumbleweed holds 58 gallons worth of kitchen scraps and yard waste. When full and finished breaking down, each batch contains enough compost for a medium sized garden or flowerbed, or a 10 feet by 10 feet area of lawn.

Unlike typical tumblers, the Tumbleweed features a stainless steel rod running through the middle of the bin that helps break down materials even more quickly than tumblers without a rod. The twist-lock, animal resistant lids on each end make filling and emptying the compost tumbler simple. Built-in vents allow rainwater to drain easily, keeping your compost moist, aerated and odorless. The end result is organic, nutrient rich compost in as few as 21 days. All that’s required is a daily spin of the tumbler.

Compost materials can be added to bins and tumblers year round. Although the process will naturally slow or cease in the winter when temperatures decline, the process will resume again in the spring and summer as temperatures slowly begin to rise.

First time composters may be surprised to find that finished compost smells earthy, fresh and natural. They may be even more surprised to learn that compost can suppress plant diseases and pests, reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers and increase water retention in the soil — all great benefits that ultimately save consumers money while safeguarding the environment.

Convenience and environmental stewardship aside, compost is essential to vibrant lawns and healthy gardens. The rich macro and micro nutrients in the well-aerated compost replenish the soil that grasses, shrubs, trees and flowers need to grow and fend off disease.

Compost started in fall can be used for planting fall bulbs, trees, transplants and as mulch to protect vegetation from winter’s cold. Fall leftovers can be used to prepare the soil in spring for vegetable gardens, flowerbeds and around trees and shrubs. As mulch, compost will retain moisture in the summer.

For more information on creating your own “black gold” by composting, visit www.cleanairgardening.com.

Courtesy of ARAnet

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Looking for instant color to dress up your deck or patio for that summer garden party or backyard barbeque? Or maybe you need a dash of color to brighten your landscape with long-lasting visual drama. Whatever your garden quandary, consider a low-maintenance shrub rose for nonstop color from spring until fall.

Shrub roses are easy to grow and cover any landscape with gorgeous color and flowers. They look beautiful spilling over the sides of a container, either alone or mixed with your favorite perennials or annuals. User-friendly and low-maintenance, they need little to no care for year-round color and nonstop blooms. Shrub roses are one of the hottest trends in gardening today, says Doug Jimerson of Better Homes & Gardens.

“Think of shrub roses as a flowering plant — not a rose,” Jimerson says. “The great thing about shrub roses is you don’t have to have a green thumb to make them grow. They are so easy — just plant in a sunny spot, water them and watch them grow. They’re the perfect plant for today’s busy homeowners.”

Jimerson recommends these four steps for a rosy garden:

1. Get Rich: Use healthy soil in a big hole for roses. Experts say to dig a hole twice the size of the container the rose is in. And be sure to provide ample space for the plants roots to assure healthy and beautiful roses.

2. Sun Kissed: For the most prolific blooms, plant Drift Roses in a location with plenty of sun. Hardy to zone 5, these ground hugging, ever-blooming shrubs are perfect as a border or bedding plant. Growing only about a foot around, they make a stunning low hedge or edge on a border.

3. Feed Me: Drift Roses aren’t fussy eaters. Give them a good dose of slow-release or timed fertilizer, which releases nutrients to the plant when the plant needs it most, and you’re set for the season.

4. Cover Up: And remember to mulch your roses. Mulching helps to buffer the cycle from wet to dry, keeps the feeder roots from drying out, and helps to establish the roots quicker. And less watering is required.

New Groundcover Roses Perfect for Your Landscape

This year try planting Star Roses’ new Drift Roses for a dramatic groundcover effect in your garden. They combine wonderfully with perennials intermixed with other upright shrubs like coreopsis, veronicas or lambs ear and even hostas.

Choose from four cultivars that bloom from spring to early frost. Ranging from scarlet red to bright soft peach, they provide the gardener with a complete range of color solutions for landscape use or in containers.

Two favorites in the collection are the Peach Drift Rose and the Pink Drift Rose. The most floriferous of the series, Peach Drift’s small bright apricot-salmon blooms have dark green, semi-glossy foliage and grow up to 2 feet in height. Pink Drift’s low growing mound of semi-double deep pink blooms, reaches 1-1/2 feet in height with a 3-foot spread.

Make no mistake that these are not finicky miniature roses. These hardy groundcover roses are true low spreading, dwarf shrub roses that grow only about a foot high by 1-1/2 feet wide and are covered with blooms that open to 1-1/2 inches. Drift Roses are perfect in small gardens, splashing your landscapes with visual delight.

Appealing to today’s busy gardener, these low-maintenance roses are highly disease resistant. They require no spraying except in the most humid regions of the Deep South. Bred to be “chemical-free,” Drift Roses resist rust, mildew, Japanese beetles and black spot while blooming for months on end.

Whether planting for a shock of ever-blooming color in a spectacular landscape or seeking easy, carefree ways to solve a gardening challenge, think easy-care Star Roses for long lasting, maintenance-free color.

To find out more about these and other Star Roses, or to find a garden center near you, visit www.starroses.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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This need for privacy has created a growing market for privacy fencing and other products that separate backyard oasis from the busy world outside.  Unfortunately, privacy fences are not always the most attractive thing in the world to grace a yard.  Thankfully, though; there are things that you can do to create both the privacy and elegance for your space.

Using Foliage:

Of course, one of the most basic things that you can do is to use foliage as either a privacy wall in itself or to cover up a privacy fence.  Dense privacy shrubs can provide a living screen for a yard and can be purchased in varieties that need very limited care.

If you need a fence, for things such as keeping your pets in the yard, but don’t want to see it, simply cover it up with large bushes, evergreen tress and shrubbery or climbing plants.  There is a lot that you can do to cover up a privacy fence and you can incorporate it all into the overall theme of your landscaping.

Elegant Blind-spots:

Although  most privacy fencing is done to the complete yard, there really isn’t a  need to do so.  You can create privacy areas for entertaining or relaxing by using decorative screens.  Mount them in flower beds and you will have elegant partitions that also serve as a focal point to your landscaping.

Screens:

Lastly, use backyard screens.  These can be simple from a trellis to extravagant, such as a decorative wooden room divider.  You can add a touch of rustic with built in wooden planters or make it whimsical with thin metal framing.

Screening can also be done by using large flower beds with tall perennials or with trees.

There are many ways to combine practical and ornate when it comes to privacy fencing and it is simply a matter of finding what works best for you and your space.

Sirena Van Schaik

Photo Credit 

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Hidden treasures are really what brings a landscaping design together. Sure you can make a pretty spectacular landscape with large bold statements that can be seen by all but it lacks a special something that personalizes the whole space. There are many ways to add hidden treasures in your landscaping ideas and these can be:

• Vases or urns: Hide them in plain sight or in places where no one will even think to look. I came across one home that had urns filled with brightly colored flowers tucked beneath some vibrant green foliage. A quick glance didn’t really show the layers of textures and colors but when you sat down in the space, you picked out the subtler details and the effect was beautiful.
• Secret Gardens: Mini gardens or little oasis in your landscaping plans are excellent ideas too. This can be extravagant to something as simple as a small bird feeder or bird bath nestled into a shady spot under a cove of small trees. A person jogging down the walkway may not notice this little oasis but if he was meandering, he might be surprised by this little secret world that you created in amongst your greenery.
• Add some exotics: Having a few rare blooms or greenery can also be a nice touch. Not everyone will get the rarity but for those who do, you will enjoy surprised exclamations when they notice the little treat.
• Personalize: A few personal touches, things that you love can be a great way to add a hidden treasure to your garden. This could be with stepping stones, wind chimes, candles or anything else that would be a treasure to you. I know when I was about 10, my dad and I went on a hunting trip in British Columbia where I grew up. We were passing this huge field that sloped down the side of a mountain when I had this urge to go for a hike. My dad grumbled about it but climbed out thinking that maybe I saw a deer and didn’t tell him (I did that a lot on hunting trips). We didn’t find any deer but what we did find was this breathtaking boulder that had split completely in the middle. I had him lug this 40 pound rock back up the side of the mountain and when we got home it found a cherished space in one of our flower beds. It became a hidden treasure with a personal story and even when we sold the house, we took that rock with us.

And there are a few ways to add hidden treasures to your landscaping ideas.

Sirena Van Schaik

Photo Credit 

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Homeowners have always enjoyed looking out over their own well-manicured garden or landscape. Yet, creating such a pleasant atmosphere on one’s property can often become a difficult experience, whether updating a landscape’s design or starting from scratch with a new installation project.

“Today’s new crop of low-maintenance perennials, annuals and shrubs is making a big impact in the garden and on homeowners themselves,” says Linda Guy, new product development director of Novalis Plants that Work. “Bred to withstand heat and humidity, and thrive in challenging locales and conditions, these plants — like the ‘Pink Double Knock Out’ Rose — give homeowners confidence to experiment with design and installation creativity.” Easy-care plants also give people inspiration to take a more active role in the care and maintenance of outdoor spaces.

When undertaking a challenging garden or landscape task, completing the project successfully can be accomplished with simple solutions to three of the most common landscape issues facing homeowners. Hardworking plant breeders and growers like Novalis Plants that Work are turning out innovative new plant genetics and an ever-growing, wide array of plant offerings that solve these common landscape challenges.

Problem: Areas of the garden overwhelmed with sun, heat and humidity.

Solution: Plants bred for heat and/or humidity.
Due to varying sun exposure across a property, pockets of the landscape can become scorched by sun, heat and humidity, no matter in which region of the country or USDA Zone one lives. A southerner all her life, Guy understands the demanding environmental conditions for plants grown in sun, heat and humidity. Guy believes that the Novalis Plants that Work — Bring on the Heat program is a favorite because it addresses specific plant needs related to hot and humid conditions while delivering a robust group of plants that tolerate this type of challenging environment. The program, which can be found in independent garden centers across the country, was designed to provide gardeners with a wide variety of top-notch, heat- and humidity-tolerant plants with dark and variegated foliage, and lush bright flowers that are hardy in even the hottest, brightest zones of the country. As the names states, these plants are fitted for specific landscape needs and help to improve gardeners’ confidence in choosing, buying, and planting new as well as favorite varieties.

Problem: What to do with unique, small-scale areas of the garden.

Solution: Plantings for small spaces and special places
Whether rooftop gardens, pathways, walkways, patios, rock gardens, water gardens, terraces, cracks, or crevices, accent plantings embellish the garden area and add life, color, texture, detail, and harmony as well as a natural appearance to the landscape. Incorporating these kinds of plants into a creative garden design for areas that are small or unique in shape serves as garnish, the final decorative touch to the space. “Some cities are giving tax incentives to people willing to install rooftop gardens because it cuts down on the need for air conditioning and heating,” says Guy. “So, Novalis is growing plant material such as drought-tolerant groundcovers, little Hens and Chicks, and sedums from Mexico that gardeners seem to love having planted in these tiny places and distinctive applications.” Home gardeners can choose from a diverse palette of varying color and foliage with the Plants that Work in Nooks & Crannies line when creating their own artistic garden accents.

Problem: Short-lived, feeble annuals that will not last.

Solution: Finer, genetically superior, color bedding plantings.
When used in containers, garden beds and borders, annual color varieties are a bright, rich and vibrant outdoor design component. Yet, numerous annual plant selections cannot survive the first chilly night or burst of extended warmth that many regions of the country are experiencing from frequent spells of environmental instability. Guy says her Plants that Work by Color varieties are cultivated to address the need for more robust plant material. “They accentuate outdoor living, provide solutions for garden beds and borders, and address high-demand for new collections of unparalleled quality in every region of the country.” Ensuring plant selections for the lawn and garden stem from professional growers who trial each new variety provides superior-performing, garden-worthy, annual color plants with heat and cold tolerance.

Guy recommends seeking premium genetic plants in a rainbow of color and form at local independent garden centers to achieve year-round color and diversity for the lawn and garden. “With more than 150 delightful varieties in our program alone, such as Osteospermum Doris Daisy, finding plants for spectacular beds, borders and containers can be an easy and fun weekend pastime for homeowners and their kids.”

“We believe the Plants that Work name serves as a clear tell-tale for gardeners,” says Guy. “The name directly addresses homeowners’ primary fear — that plants won’t grow or perform well in their gardens — and assures them that the plants they purchase will work beautifully in their individual locales.”

To learn more about plants and gardening tips, log onto www.plantsthatwork.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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