A HIGH DESERT GUIDE TO LANDSCAPING

Horticulturist Doug Stott’s Tips for Building Your Perfect Plant Retreat

andscaping is an arduous activity that will not only add dramatic esthetic effects to your home, but will add significant value to your property. These two facts alone have inspired homeowners throughout the country to grab the shovel and join in America’s number one hobby, landscaping! However, before you become overly inspired with all of the great possibilities landscaping can yield, there are a few points you should consider to ensure your success and award-winning results.

Plan, Plan, Plan

As with any project of this size and dimension, the master plan of your overall goals and dreams should be thought out carefully, especially when you live in the daunting climate of the High Desert. Let’s take a look at some points you should consider before you head down to the local nursery. First off, your overall plan should be scaled to size; this will ensure the proper placement of plants with no over planting and a focus on the target area.

Next on your list, make sure the plants you install will give you year-round interest and appeal. I have seen many landscapes that were planted in the spring with seasonal blooming shrubbery. The colors, however, ran dry during summer, fall and winter. The best landscaping designs incorporate plant selections that will continually rotate in color with each season If you get this part right, you will create a four-season wow factor. Professional garden center personnel should be able to assist you with this task, as well as the placement of evergreen plants (plants that don’t lose their foliage in the winter months), which are the foundation of a year-round design.