Tag Archives: plants

Tropical Plants for Your Landscaped Backyard

April 02, 2025   Matt

Tropical Plants for Your Landscaped Backyard

A tropical landscaping job for your backyard may take some effort to achieve. This is especially true in areas where a tropical setting for a back yard may not always be possible. But it does not necessarily mean that it can’t be accomplished. Trying to emulate a tropical setting can be doable in landscape design by learning about some helpful tips.

Trying to create a wonderful tropical landscape can take some time to plan. Then comes the time to choose the plants that you wish to add up in your planned tropical landscape design. There are actually a number of tropical plants that you can use to create that appropriate setting that you wish to display in your backyard.

When you say “tropical” when it comes to plants, palm trees usually come to mind. Palm trees can easily give your backyard that tropical feel. When choosing the right palm tree for your tropical landscaping plans, there are usually some important things to consider. You have to know which palm trees would grow well in your area. For this, you must try to learn about a certain palm tree’s ability to withstand cold, their sunlight requirements as well as their height especially when there are space limitations to consider.

There are two kinds of palm trees. There is the palmate which is characterized by leaves having lobes that fan out from a common point. Palmate leaves usually resemble an opened hand with fingers jutting out from a common center. Then there are pinnate palm trees whose leaves are characterized by leaflets branching out along both sides of a main stalk, much like resembling a feather.

Different palm trees can be chosen according to how they can withstand cold, plant size and height as well as for their sunlight requirements. If you are looking for smaller versions of palm trees for your backyard, you may want to check out Lady Palm trees. These tropical palms usually grow to a height of four to eight feet. Lady palm trees usually do well in places that afford some filtered light or shade rather than being exposed to sunlight directly. Lady palm trees are also able to withstand temperatures for up to 22 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you wish to have majestic palm trees in your home, then you might want to have Queen palm trees that can grow as high up as 50 feet. This type of palm tree has pinnate leaves and can withstand cold for up to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. A big disadvantage though is that Queen palm trees require healthy amounts of direct sunlight to grow and may not be a good choice if you have a shady backyard.

Aside from palm trees, there are also other plants that can help give your backyard that tropical look. Bamboo, for example may help give your backyard not only a tropical look but also some Oriental feel. It would be good to know that there are some species of bamboo that are able to withstand freezing temperatures. Some species are hardy enough to withstand temperatures of up to -20 degrees Fahrenheit. Such bamboo species would really help transform your backyard into your very own tropical landscaping paradise.

And mind you, the use of plants is just but one of the many ways that you can employ to make a tropical enclave out of your own backyard. Research and careful planning would make it all possible.

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The Proper Plants for the Landscape

July 21, 2024   Matt

The Proper Plants for the Landscape

Exploring nature is a rejuvenating experience. However, exploring the forest may not fit into the daily schedule. Why not bring nature right into your courtyard?

Landscaping Options

Landscaping brings nature closer to home. It includes many elements: the area, design, weather and others. The over all look depends on the owner’s taste. Some want the effect of water (pools, waterfalls, etc.) and some like rocks, stones, etc.

To create a very natural feel, you must use plants. They are most helpful in creating the total effect of the landscape. It should not be just any plant; it should be the most appropriate plant for the area and climate.

Best Choice of Plants for the Landscape

1. Groundcovers
These plants are indispensable to a landscape as they can serve as backdrops for trees, shrubs, etc. There are many types of groundcovers to choose from.

Sun-Loving
Sunny areas are considered problematic. Many plants do not like direct sunlight. Juniper groundcovers and hardy perennials are very helpful in resolving this problem.

Shade
These plants cannot stand the heat of direct sunlight. They should be used in areas that are not exposed to the sun except for short periods of time. Most of the shade-loving plants are low-growing or mid-sized.

“Attractive”
Many flowering plants attract birds, butterflies, bees, etc. It is important to choose plants that grow pollens. Plants like bee balm, holly hock and red columbine attract hummingbirds.

Aroma
The garden can be made aromatic by using foliage plants. The lavender perennial plant’s flowers provide therapeutic scent. At the same time, it serves as a beautiful border.

2. Wet Plants
Some landscapes come with wet areas like artificial ponds or waterfalls. To avoid leaving it bare, plants that thrive in wet soils are used to give beauty and natural effect.

3. Repellent Plants
More than coming up with a good landscape, it is also necessary to maintain it and keep it free from intruders. Some plants are able to repel pests like the deer. Some ornamental grasses and flowers are used for deer control.

4. Grasses
These are also helpful in the garden. There are varying kinds of grasses, the ornamental type and the functional ones.

Functional grasses are those that are used in the background. Lawn grass is an example. It serves as an outdoor carpet.

Ornamental grasses appeal more to aesthetics. They are used for decoration and for landscaping just like flowers. These can be mixed with trees and shrubs or can stand alone.

Plants are beautiful, but the appropriate ones in a certain design must be selected and properly situated. They must thrive and be able to serve their purpose. This is the only key to bringing nature closer to the home.

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The Best Plants for Your Landscaping Project

May 17, 2024   Matt

The Best Plants for Your Landscaping Project

When you deal with plants, information is necessary to ensure that they are right for your landscape, your geographical area, the season suitable for planting, and the proper care that needs to be implemented, and etc. Without this knowledge, you can not assume that the investment is justified..

One practical suggestion is to consider planting an herb garden. Herbs are good for landscaping. The bonus will be herbs are both practical and can be used in cooking. Other options are available but you must you must carefully consider the plants to insure that they are appropriate for your needs.

One consideration that you should not dwell a great deal is the decorative appeal of the plants. You may be attracted to their color, size, and flowers but they may not be appropriate. Select plants that will do well in your area so that do well and provide the desired effect. Take note of the following factors in choosing plants:

• Site and soil conditions. Remember plants have environmental requirements. You need to be aware of your particular conditions and consider the following: exposure to light and wind, soil conditions and structures nearby. If you fail to check on these very important factors, chances are, the plantings will not do good as well as you expected.

• Size and type selection. If you desire a certain plant because of its size and type, you should be aware that they must be handled, planted, and cared for in the proper way. There are three types of ornamental plants: those that are called ball and burlap (B&B), bare root and container grown. If the plants are container grown or ball and burlap plants, you must handle with care and remove the container around the root ball leaving as much soil as possible around the roots. The pot should be totally or the burlap partially removed. Bare root plants, which are smaller in size, are only available in spring and should be planted immediately after purchase.
• Climatic considerations are very important because the plants survival is highly dependent on temperature, etc. Carefully check the plants you are choosing for your landscape and make certain the climates in your area is suitable.
• Prevent pests. There are plants that can resist certain pests. Be sure to choose these plants for your landscape especially if you have identified the pests that are a problem in your area.
• Start healthy. Choose plants from a reputable nursery that you know have been properly cared for. Be aware – do not purchase damaged in plants.

Landscaping is a big investment so as choosing the plants that goes with it. Proper selection and care is needed.

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$1148 in One Day Working With Plants? You Bet!

April 17, 2024   Matt

48 in One Day Working With Plants? You Bet!

This article is actually an example of a simple yet, excellent marketing plan. Pay close attention to how I went out and found new business at a time of the year when things are normally slow, and not only did I make ,148.00, my friend Franky also made ,060.00.

Because I chose to keep myself out of the rat race of landscaping new homes, I went after a market that was more of an impulsive type market. New home landscaping is almost a necessity, since new homes don’t have any shrubs or grass. Not only that, many housing developments actually require people to have their landscaping done within a certain number of months from the time they move into their new homes. Therefore, when the house is done, people are anxious to get it landscaped.

Since I wasn’t in that market, and most impulsive gardening decisions are made in the spring, my business typically slowed down during the very hot summer months. So one year I decided to do a little test marketing, to see if I could muster up some work during the summer.

I decided to do a test mailing to 350 homeowners in an area where I knew the people could afford landscaping services, but were not extremely rich. I mailed a letter to these 350 homes, and the letter basically said I could help them with any landscaping project that needed done, and because my business was slow during the summer I could give them a really fair price.

Of the 350 people that received the letter 3 called me. I immediately sold two jobs, and the third job was still open for discussion. On one of the first two jobs I made about 0. and on the other I made about 0. That’s net profit. That’s how much I got to keep. Since the mailing cost less than 5., my immediate profit on the mailing was 5. Not bad at all considering this was only a part-time business for me. But don’t forget about that third caller. I had not even met this person yet.

The reason he called is because he happened to own a 60 unit apartment building in the Cleveland area, and he needed some trees or shrubs planted around the parking lot. The architect that he had been working with suggested Taxus Hicksi, which is an evergreen that is easily trimmed and maintained to a certain size. However, all the landscapers he had spoken with in Cleveland wanted about .00 each to install these plants. Although a fair price, that amounted to ,664.00 because he needed 106 plants.

He contacted me because he was hoping I could find a less expensive plant to use. After visiting the job site I realized that Taxus Hicksi actually was about the best choice for this situation, so I told him I would see if I could get a better price on the plants. I showed in a wholesale catalog that the wholesale price was .00 per plant, but mentioned that I might be able to find another source.

I knew that my friend Franky did at one time grow this particular plant, so I gave him a call. Turns out he did have 106 plants available, and was anxious to move some of them, he quoted me .00 each, balled in burlap. I called my customer and told him that I found good plants at a lower price, and that I could actually deliver and plant them for .00 per plant, which is exactly half of what others had quoted him. He was delighted, and I did the job. As a matter of fact he actually asked me to install some additional plants while I was there.

I hired 3 guys to help me do the job, and we had it done in one day. After I paid for the plants, and paid my help, I actually made ,148.00 on that one day job. My customer was so happy with the work we did that he asked me to come back the following week and do about another 0.00 worth of work. I made another 0.00 The following spring he hired me to re-landscape an older home that he had purchased, and I made another 0.00.

Remember the 5.00 that I spent to mail those 350 letters? The net profit on that mailing turned out to be about ,973.00!!! And my friend Franky picked up ,060.00 for the plants I bought from him. Were these 350 people I selected special? No they weren’t. Every town in America has at least 350 people just like them, probably thousands more.

There are many different ways to make money with plants, this is just one of them, I can show you plenty more. I’ve been making money with plants for over 25 years.

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Tips on Choosing Plants for Landscaping

August 01, 2023   Matt

Tips on Choosing Plants for Landscaping

Choosing the right plants for your landscaping project is
one of the most important aspects of landscaping. First of
all, the plants are the ones which people will see
immediately so their impression of your lawn will depend
much on how you choose your plants.

Below is a list of some tips on choosing the right kind of
plants for your lawn.

1. Know thy plants

– being familiar with the plants that you are planning to
grow in your lawn is important because it will immediately
tell you whether or not they will grow in your area.

Aside from that, it also tells you how large it will grow
(which is important when you have a small lawn) and how
much care you would give to it.

2. Choose your color combination

– ugly lawns are those with terrible color combinations.
You should therefore be mindful of the plants or the
flowers’ colors before you even buy them. Otherwise, you’d
be in for a disaster.

3. How well can you maintain them?

– this is another important consideration when choosing a
plant for your lawn. There are plants that need extra care
and attention while others can grow with little
maintenance.

If you’re the busy type, you might want to opt for the
low-maintenance plants. On the other hand, if you have
extra time or are considering getting the services of a
gardener, then opt for those that require a little more
effort from you. What’s important is that you have a plant
that you can maintain.

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I recommend that you buy perennial plants like tulips because they grow twice as fast when they are planted enabling you to simply uproot some and plant in another location

May 23, 2021   Matt

I recommend that you buy perennial plants like tulips because they grow twice as fast when they are planted enabling you to simply uproot some and plant in another location

Sometimes, a landscaping plan can be built on something that already exists in your backyard or your frontyard; the beauty of a landscaping plan is that it doesn’t detract from the beauty that exists already, rather, it enhances it.|You can make it that your garden contains herbal plants that serve two purposes for you; a beautiful landscape feature that is pretty to look at and a source of homemade remedies for any illness that can be treated by them.

When you are going shopping for landscape plants, remember to purchase those that thrive in certain seasons or if you would rather, buy plants that are perennial in nature and last no matter the season.|In using landscaping rock, ensure that you place them particularly in places that add to the beauty of the yard not in a place that defeats the goal or objective of enhancement.|The variety of plants that exists can make the task of looking for the right landscaping plant a tasking one; however, you can narrow down your options by considering the climate of your home and the topography.

Using a landscape rock demands that you select from an assortment of designs available to find the one best suited to the landscape plan you have in mind.|A good source of a landscaping idea is the newspaper especially the home and design section where landscaping can be featured in extensive detail.

The trick in incorporating rocks as part of your landscape design is to make sure that you place the rocks in your backyard in such a way that they look like they came with the land.|Landscaping rock is a feature of landscaping that involves the pre-determined placement of pieces of rocks in your yard to add texture and depth to your backyard.|An erroneous notion most home owners have is that landscaping software is a technology that will help them design a landscape plan; in reality, they are only meant to pictorially represent what you want them to.

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