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Selecting Plants for the Design. Plant Types. Tree- a single- stem, woody perennial plant reaching the height of 12 feet or more. Some trees such as a birch have several stems, but that is a rare case. Trees may be deciduous or evergreen Deciduous-lose their leaves.
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Plant Types • Tree- a single- stem, woody perennial plant reaching the height of 12 feet or more. • Some trees such as a birch have several stems, but that is a rare case. • Trees may be deciduous or evergreen • Deciduous-lose their leaves. • Evergreen- stay green year-round or don’t lose their leaves.
Shrubs- are multi-stem, woody plants that do not exceed 20 feet in height. • In general shrubs are as tall as they are wide. • They can be deciduous or evergreen. • Ground cover- may be woody or herbaceous. It forms a mat less than 1 foot high covering the ground. Grass is the most common ground cover.
Vines- are woody or soft stemmed (herbaceous) plants that need some type of support. They may climb on objects or along the ground. • Annuals- are herbaceous plants that live for one growing season and are valued for their flowers or colored leaves( foliage). • Perennials- a plant that has a life cycle of more than 2 growing seasons. They can be trees, shrubs, or herbaceous.
Ornamental grasses- are grasses valued for their textures and colors which add interest.
Plant Nomenclature • Is the naming of plants. • Horticultural plants have two types of name: common names and botanical names. • Common names for the same plant can be different especially in different parts of the country. • Genus- is a closely related group of plants made up of one or more species. Example: Red Maple, Silver Maple, Sugar Maple– are all Acer
Species- is composed of plants that show characteristics that distinguish them from other groups in the genus. Example– Red Maple is Acer rubrum. • Variety- a group of plants within a species that show a significant difference from other plants in the species. (Example a plant with thorns vs. one without thorns)
Trees • Fewer trees are used in landscapes than other plants, because of their size and since they may live for 100’s of years. • Shade Tree- a large tree with a spreading canopy. • Ornamental Tree- a smaller tree used for its beauty.
Hardiness- the ability of a tree (or other plants) to withstand cold temperatures. • Our part of Ohio is in Zone 5, we can use plants that can tolerate 1,2,3,4, and 5. • Messiness- avoid using trees that are known to drop fruit, twigs, and peeling bark. Messy trees can increase labor needed to maintain the appearance of the landscape.
Shrubs • Specimen plants- displays outstanding form, texture, and colors. It can stand alone because of these colors. • Group plantings- consists of several different species of shrubs. The group provides a bigger impact than alone. • Hedges- consists of all one type of shrub. They define space, they tie other landscape elements together, and they may screen views.
Screens- is a solid mass of one type of shrub. It serves as a living wall that effectively blocks views. • Foundation plants- are shrubs that are placed around the foundation of the house. They help soften the corners of the house and block the view of the foundation. • Shrub borders- a mass of many shrubs on the border of the property.
Flowers • Provide an accent of color to the landscape. • Use with caution, since they can be so colorful. • Use flowers near outdoor living area or in small numbers near the entry way to the public area. • Flowers should enhance the house and landscape and not distract from them.
Designing a Flower Border • Flowers should be planted in front of woody plants or physical structures. • Place taller plants to the rear. • Avoid mixing colors in the beds. • Angled or incurves flower beds work the best.
