Plants

In creating the ideal landscape, plants serve more than just elements of decoration. Their size, color, texture and form are key components in the design of the outdoor space. Types of plants include annuals, biennials, perennials, trees, shrubs, creepers and climbers, and bulbs.

Annuals, also known as seasonal flowering plants, are plants that live for a year or less. Biennials typically last for two years and perennials are those flowering plants that reappear every year. Trees are woody plants that grow to at least 20 feet in height and have an erect stem or trunk and a well developed crown. Different from trees, shrubs are woody plants that are lower in height, lack a single trunk, and have multiple stems. Creepers and climbers are plants that can be found on walls, trellises, and pergolas. Bulbs grow beneath the soil and stay underground. Roots grow down from the bulb and a stem with leaves grow up from it. Characteristics Plants possess many visual characteristics that can be utilized in creating an ideal landscape. They include size, form, color, foliage type and texture. More…

Uses

Besides the visual qualities that plants possess, they provide many other functions within the landscape. Plants can be used to create outdoor spaces, stabilize steep slopes, screen unsightly views and modify the exposure to wind and sun. Additionally, plants provide ecological benefits by cleansing the air, modify air temperatures, preventing erosion and providing habitat for birds and animals. More...

Hardiness Zones

Prior to purchasing the desired plant, make certain that it can flourish and survive in the proposed area by referring to the plant hardiness zones. Plant hardiness zones are geographically defined zones in which specific categories of plant life are capable of growing, as defined by temperature hardiness, or ability to withstand the minimum temperatures of the zone.More...

Purchasing Online

Why buy plants on the internet, when the local nursery is right down the road? Read on to find reasons The Greenscape Guide recommends purchasing plants online. More...

Lawn Care

Lawns are defined as an area of land with grass, and sometimes clover and other plants, which are maintained at a low, even height. They are an integral component to a landscape as they provide aesthetic and functional uses. Lawns can be utilized in ornamental gardens, public parks, recreational facilities, and many other outdoor spaces. The care and maintenance of lawns depend on their location and intended use. Lawns used for recreational purposes are coarser, whereas ornamental lawns are much finer. Types of Northern grasses include Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis), Red Fescue (Festuca rubra), Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea), Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne), and Colonial Bentgrass (Agrostis tenuis). Southern grasses include Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), and Zoysia (Zoysia spp.) More...