GardenLeap

tips, guides and articles to jump start your garden

Designing A Year-Round Garden

Posted by plantsman On December - 22 - 2009

An ideal garden design is one which offers something during every season. In spring and summer, ornamental trees and flower beds are full of colorful blooms. Vibrant foliage adds beauty to the fall landscape and in the winter the berries, evergreens and bark color provide color. Also important in the winter is the silhouette of [...]

An Introduction To Japanese Gardens

Posted by plantsman On December - 6 - 2009

Japanese gardens are designed to portray a scene that mimics nature, through symbolization and abstraction, by using trees, shrubs, rocks, sand, artificial hills, ponds, and flowing water as art-forms. Often Japanese gardens reduce the scale of the natural environment, which may consist of  mountains, rivers, trees, and ponds, through the use of  symbolization and abstraction. [...]

7 More Spring Flowering Trees

Posted by plantsman On November - 25 - 2009

After a long cold winter, small ornamental flowering trees are a very welcome sight as they are among the first garden plants to brighten up the landscape and announce the arrival of spring. The following are a few classic spring flowering trees for the garden.

Shade Gardens

Posted by plantsman On November - 19 - 2009

Gardening in the shade presents gardeners with the opportunity to work with a wide variety of beautiful plants. There are virtually an end number of plants which can grow in a garden. Many plants, in fact, prefer at least some protection from full exposure to the sun.

Woodland Gardens

Posted by plantsman On November - 16 - 2009

Working with the existing conditions of site rather than overhauling the site often times result in very successful garden. Woodland gardens are generally planned in such a way. A shady spot beneath a stand of trees, for example, is the ideal location for a woodland garden. Prepare the site for plants such shade tolerant shrubs [...]

Stone found locally…

Posted by plantsman On January - 4 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

can tie your garden to the surrounding landscape.

Weekly Garden Photo: Duke Gardens

Posted by plantsman On January - 3 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

If you have steps leading up…

Posted by plantsman On January - 3 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

to your front door, the use of planters will charm your visitors

Container gardens can accentuate interesting…

Posted by plantsman On January - 2 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

architectural details. For example, large planters with tall evergreens are great for framing an entry way.

Spring Flowering Trees, Shrubs & Perennials

Posted by plantsman On January - 2 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

To start of the gardening season with color, incorporate in your design some of the following plants. Just be sure they are hardy for your zone.

Trees

Allegheny Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)
Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
Camelot Crabapple (Malus ‘Camzam’)
Eastern Redbuds (Cercis canadensis)
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Higan Cherry (Prunus subhirtella)
Kwanzan Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata “Kwanzan”)
Little Leaf Linden (Tilia cordata)
Native American Plum (Prunus Americana)
Purple Leaf Sand Cherry (Prunus cistena)
Royalty Crabapple Tree (Malus ‘Royalty’)
Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana)
Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata)
Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
Washington Hawthornes (Crataegus phaenopyrum)

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Alternatives To The Traditional Lawn

Posted by plantsman On January - 2 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

meadowAcross the country, the tradition lawn is the dominant landscape feature. Lawns are quite labor intensive as they need weekly moving and other tasks such as aerating. Also, since they are not a natural occurrence they depend on chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides to really flourish. Some lawn space can be managed with little trouble but the vast, weed-free lawn can be rethought. Think about reducing the size of your lawn and replacing it with a more low maintenance, environmentally friendly alternative. The possibilities are endless and often result in a more attractive garden.

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The longer the growing…

Posted by plantsman On January - 1 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

season, the more compost is needed to keep the soil nurtient rich.

5 Garden Resolutions

Posted by plantsman On January - 1 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

Each fall I regret that there were projects I just didn’t have time to get to and each spring I try to recall the successes and failures of the previous season. This year I’ve decided to change all that and resolve to prioritize certain projects and hopefully solve some of my garden issues.

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The Uses And Types Of Stone In The Garden

Posted by plantsman On December - 31 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

pathStones are an important part of the garden. They have functional qualities, such as, strength and stability, as well as aesthetically ones. Stones have wonderful sculptural characteristics. When designing your garden consider the use of stone, whether for a wall, a path or as an interesting focal point within the landscape.

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Pine needles…

Posted by plantsman On December - 31 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

make a great mulch for acid loving plants.