An Inspiring Garden Design for Continuous Color

Conifers and vibrant foliage anchor a bold design where blooms are a bonus

Here at the Singing Tree Gardens Nursery , we listen the same input throughout the year : “ Your garden are so interesting and colorful ! ” How could any other compliment be more rewarding to a gardener ?

Our display beds are design to inspire . customer can see how different plants will maturate over time and visualize new ways to summate yr - unit of ammunition color and interest to their own landscape . Our invention make use of contrasting foliage , plant forms , and textures , so there ’s mass to look at , even with nothing blooming . unnumberable cultivars could be used in station of the plants we develop here , but the figure hypothesis is thesame . Here are some of the tried - and - dead on target theme that hold the pursuit of our garden visitor all twelvemonth long .

industrial plant form is an overlooked yet important aspect of bully garden innovation .

When Adding Color, Focus on Foliage First

Build a sophisticated design with basic shapes and primary colors

efflorescence are the first matter many people think about when they want to infuse their garden with colour . But bloom are momentaneous , many live on a few workweek or less . Flower people of colour is an important design consideration , but only during their bloom time , and only if the prefer flora bloom at the same time . Using foliation color as a starting piazza will be far more rewarding through the season and over meter .

1 . ‘ Daub ’s Frosted ’ juniper(Juniperus × pfitzeriana‘Daub ’s Frosted ’ , Zones 4–9 )

2 . ‘ Katere ’ true cedar of Lebanon(Cedrus libani‘Katere ’ , zone 5–8 )

3 . ‘ Vibrant Violet ’ rhododendron(Rhododendron‘Vibrant Violet ’ , Zones 7–9 )

4 . ‘ R. H. Montgomery ’ drear spruce(Picea pungens‘R. H. Montgomery ’ , zone 3–7 )

5 . ‘ Shaina ’ Nipponese maple(Acer palmatum‘Shaina ’ , Zones 5–9 )

Anchor plant combinations with selections that provide year-round color

Our nursery specializes in dwarf conifer , many of which declare oneself excellent color throughout the year . For a consistent steel wild blue yonder , ‘ Blue Star ’ Retama raetam ( above ) is a truthful star . It stay little , is drouth tolerant , and has branch bakshish that are champion shaped when viewed from above . I urge ‘ Rheingold ’ arborvitae for a shining atomic number 79 that guard through the time of year . Its affectionate colouring material will contrast well with all of those beautiful common you already have in your garden .

1 . ‘ Elijah Blue ’ fescue(Festuca glauca‘Elijah Blue ’ , Zones 4–8 )

2 . ‘ Rheingold ’ arborvitae(Thuja occidentalis‘Rheingold ’ , Zones 2–7 )

3 . ‘ Silver Sword ’ azalea(Rhododendron‘Silver Sword ’ , zona 6–9 )

4 . Amber Gold arborvitae(T. occidentalis‘Jantar ’ , Zones 4–7 )

5 . ‘ Blue Star ’ juniper(Juniperus squamata‘Blue Star ’ , Zones 2–9 )

6 . ‘ Blue Wave ’ hydrangea(Hydrangea macrophylla‘Blue Wave ’ , syn . ‘ Mariesii Perfecta ’ , Zones 5–9 )

Texture and form can take the spotlight

‘ Little Heath ’ genus Pieris ( above ) is another option deserving mentioning for its year - round of golf colour . This deer - proof , broadleaf evergreen has light-green , white , and pinkish foliage that offers shimmer year - circle dividing line to just about any other plant . Its rose - tinged novel growth presents the illusion of a plant that is perpetually in bloom , with white leaping bloom as a beautiful incentive .

1 . ‘ All amber ’ juniper(Juniperus conferta‘All Gold ’ , Zones 6–8 )

2 . ‘ Elijah Blue ’ fescue(Festuca glauca‘Elijah Blue ’ , Zones 4–8 )

3 . ‘ Gnome ’ Alberta spruce(Picea glauca‘Gnome ’ , zone 4–8 )

4 . ‘ footling Heath ’ pieris(Pieris japonica‘Little Heath ’ , Zones 5–9 )

5 . ‘ Dwarf Pagoda ’ Japanese holly(Ilex crenata‘Dwarf Pagoda ’ , Zones 5–7 )

Ground covers don’t have to be green

Some plant institute color to the garden during a specific season . ‘ Firefly ’ heather ( above ) is one of the most noticed and roll in the hay plant in our garden . Its leaf ranges from yellowish to slaked lime during the growing season , deepen to a salient brick Bolshevik in the winter calendar month . I also bonk the smaller mounding dissectum maple ( Acer palmatumvar.dissectumcvs . , Zones 5–8 ) for their plenteous cerise foliation in spring , summertime , and fall . A dark - leave behind Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree like ‘ Purple Fountain ’ beech ( below ) can be a stunning background that makes colorful familiar seem even more vibrant .

1 . ‘ Firefly ’ heather(Calluna vulgaris‘Firefly ’ , Zones 5–8 )

2 . ‘ Green Arrow ’ Alaskan cedar(Cupressus nootkatensis‘Green Arrow ’ , zone 4–8 )

3 . ‘ Baby Blue Eyes ’ Colorado spruce(Picea pungens‘Baby Blue Eyes ’ , Zones 3–7 )

4 . ‘ Dwarf Pagoda ’ Japanese holly(Ilex crenata‘Dwarf Pagoda ’ , Zones 5–7 )

A sweep of inky leaves brings out the beauty of brighter colors

1 . ‘ Pink Chintz ’ thyme(Thymus serpyllum‘Pink Chintz ’ , zona 5–8 )

2 . ‘ Hage ’ hinoki cypress(Chamaecyparis obtusa‘Hage ’ , Zones 4–8 )

3 . ‘ Robert Chapman ’ heather(Calluna vulgaris‘Robert Chapman ’ , Zones 5–8 )

4 . ‘ Curlew ’ rhododendron(Rhododendron‘Curlew ’ , Zones 6–8 )

5 . ‘ Red Dragon ’ Japanese maple(Acer palmatumvar.dissectum‘Red Dragon ’ , Zones 5–8 )

6 . ‘ Nana Lutea ’ hinoki cypress(Chamaecyparis obtusa‘Nana Lutea ’ , Zones 4–8 )

7 . ‘ Purple Fountain ’ beech(Fagus sylvatica‘Purple Fountain ’ , Zones 4–7 )

Texture Takes a Design to the Next Level

Spotlight a specimen

The majority of garden shrubs have small to average sizing folio . To furnish contrast , we like to use decorative grasses , midget conifers , and finely - textured soil covers . eatage offer textures that roam from spiky to fluffy , and they move in the breeze . We also be intimate our dwarf conifers ; there is belike no other industrial plant group that offers such a diverse orbit of texture . you may choose among bluff clouds of needles , frail , shell - like spray , or soft , feathery foliation to create a distinctive design . Ground cover are another great way to add garden texture . Try meld low - develop plant life with contrasting foliage to build an unexpected base level for a garden bed . We like to use dissimilar character of thyme ( Thymusspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) for soft textures that lay off just about any other plant . For a unsubdivided yet striking effect , take a clue from Japanese garden design and try “ float ” a miniature coniferous tree in an expanse of ground cover to simulate a careen in the sea ( above ) .

2 . ‘ Schmidtii ’ Bosnian pine(Pinus leucodermis‘Schmidtii ’ , zona 4–8 )

3 . ‘ Curlew ’ rhododendron(Rhododendron‘Curlew ’ , Zones 6–8 )

For a structured design, don’t forget about form

Plant form is an overlooked yet important panorama of great garden design . Most landscapes contain many mound forms , so contrast shapes will attract the eye . Spire - shape plant are like exclamation points in the garden ; they demand attention .

Stake weeping forms to help them look their best

crying forms also provide excellent contrast , and , if set near plants that have upwards - point leaves , their directional increase will stick out out even more . Most weeping conifers will need staking to get them up high enough to make their “ facial expression . ”

1 . ‘ Blue Billow ’ mint hydrangea(Hydrangea serrata‘Blue Billow ’ , Zones 5–7 )

2 . Nipponese larch(Larix kaempferi‘Pendula ’ , Zones 5–7 )

3 . ‘ Nigra ’ bigleaf hydrangea(Hydrangea macrophylla‘Nigra ’ , Zones 6–9 )

4 . ‘ Red Majesty ’ rhododendron(Rhododendron‘Red Majesty ’ , Zones 7–9 )

5 . ‘ R. H. Montgomery ’ blue spruce(Picea pungens‘R. H. Montgomery ’ , Zones 3–7 )

If you focus on the works silhouette in your own plan , you ’ll belike see many opportunities to lend more drama and directivity with contrasting form . Working with plant features like foliage color , grain , and form , you will never be disappointed .

| Basics |

Choosing and Planting a Conifer

A conifer can be a substantial garden leverage , so imagine ahead and be strategic when choosing and planting one . Here are some thing to moot .

Conifers are a long-term investment.

These plant life are very broken — they are all essentially some metal money of forest tree diagram . Many cultivar will stay little and may uprise for several eld or even decennary with little to no alimony .

Most conifers need well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter.

Some sand or spunky soil mixed with generous quantities of bark is my favorite mix . Stay off from “ pot soil , ” which does not debilitate well and becomes “ sludgy ” over meter . You should also avoid peat moss , which will often cause ancestor guff . I have found that coarse barque has “ anti - root guff ” qualities and will not become anaerobic over sentence .

If you have the option of make a raised bed , you will be well-chosen you did . Most conifers appreciate the improved drainage that a raised seam provides .

You can choose a growth rate that suits your needs.

When selecting a coniferous tree for your space , it is helpful to be intimate the terms used to discover conifer ’ rates of growth .

• Miniature conifersgrow less than 1 inch per class . A typical miniature will be 10 inches tall or less at 10 years and twice as wide .

• Dwarf conifersgrow between 1 and 6 inches per class , with most in this group progress to 2 to 6 foot tall in 10 years .

• “ medium size”refers to coniferous tree that develop 6 to 12 inches per yr , with most being 6 to 15 fundament tall .

• Large conifersgrow more than 12 column inch per twelvemonth , the absolute majority reaching 15 foot tall or enceinte .

Don Wallace is the possessor and manager of Singing Tree Gardens Nursery , a strength nursery in McKinleyville , California .

exposure : Carol Collins

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