Seasonal color is one of the best ways to add the “wow factor” to your landscape. When choosing the best spot for flowers, I tend to look for the accent points in the yard. These are typically located around front walkways, porches, driveways, and at the apex of your landscape beds. You want the seasonal color areas to be easily visible from the street making sure they are not hidden behind other plants. Accessibility is also a deciding factor, as these planting beds will need to be changed out from season to season.
Once the proper area is chosen, the soil will need to be cultivated and prepped for the planting. New bedding soil will need to be installed and the landscape beds will need to be crowned for proper drainage. Make sure the bed is not sitting in a low spot that will hold water, this will cause the seasonal color to rot. A slow release fertilizer made for seasonal color will need to be installed and tilde into the fresh soil. Anti-fungicides can also be applied as well, to keep funguses from growing and damaging the plants. Make any necessary adjustments to the irrigation system or hand watering will need to be done as needed.
Choosing the proper color for your landscape beds will consist of a few factors. Check the amount of sunlight the area will receive. Some seasonal plants can tolerate more shade and are better suited for low light areas, while others are perfect for the hot, direct sun we experience in Houston. When designing the layout of the seasonal color, creating layers will bring added interested into the landscape. Different types of color will grow to different sizes, shapes and heights. A few varieties can be mixed together for a dramatic effect. If you live in a heavily wooded area, keep an eye out for the native wildlife. Deer and other small animals love to eat plants and flowers! However, there are certain plants and flowers that are deer resistant.
Once the proper seasonal color is chosen, it is now time to plant. Lay your color out in the chosen design prior to installing, as this will help to get a sense of how it will look. Give larger color more space between plants and bring shorter plants to the front to create borders. Plant your color slightly up out of the soil. This will give some room for a light topdressing of mulch to be installed around the seasonal color.
For more information on seasonal color design and installations, call Envy Exteriors today, 281.357.0007.