Formal Gardening. Bilateral symmetry. Clipped/hedge

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Louisiana Yards and Neighborhoods
Selecting the Right Plant

• For the Right Place

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Gardening Styles

• Formal
• Informal

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Formal Gardening

• Bilateral symmetry
• Clipped/hedged plantings
• Geometrically shaped plants
• Orderly rows
• Repeated plant spacings
• Classical hardscape structures
• Smoothness in paint, wood, etc.
• Neatly manicured

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Formal Gardening

• Very effective
• Very repeatable
• Stiff
• Lifeless
• Boring
• High maintenance
• Fewer plant types more of the same plant

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Informal Gardening

• Natural plant shapes
• Pruned plants but not sheared plants
• Irregular arrangement
• Curved and flowing beds
• No geometric shapes
• Relaxed, rustic building features
• Lower maintenance
• More plant types included

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Landscape Planning Steps

• List your needs.
• Study your site.
• Diagram space needs.
• Shape the spaces.
• Select the materials.

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Step 1 List Your Needs

• Privacy issues
• Outdoor living area
• Swimming pool
• Greenhouse
• Storage areas
• BE THOROUGH!!!

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Step 2 Study Your Site

• Compass directions
• Shady and sunny areas
• Wet and dry areas
• Simple sketch of property
• Scale drawing even better

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Step 3 Diagram Space Needs

• List all things to go in landscape.
• Assign activities to spaces.
• Create a bubble plan on paper.
• Use multiple arrangements.
• Think/plan for future.

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Step 4 Shape the Spaces

• Finalize spaces.
• Decide on plant characteristics.
• Creative stage (guided by previous steps) need to
  know the style you want to achieve.

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Step 5 Select the Materials

• Plants to be used
• Surfacing materials to be used
• Cost factor

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Site Analysis

• Soil chemical/physical properties
• Drainage
• Sunlight exposure
• Temperature exposures/extremes
• Structural limitations
• Other conditions

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Louisiana One Call

• 1-800-272-3020
• or 811

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Soil, Soil Amendments

• pH of 5.5-6.5
• pH of 7 is neutral, above 7 is alkaline (basic),
  below 7 is acid.
• Raise pH with lime.
• Lower pH with sulfur.
• Dont guess, SOIL TEST!!!

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Soil Drainage Modifications

• French drains
• Raised beds
• Pitchers mound
• Berm

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Plant Materials

• Annual bedding plants
• Herbaceous perennials
• Ground covers and vines
• Shrubs
• Trees
• Turf grass

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Annual Bedding Plants

• Warm-season
• Cool-season
• Transitional

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Annual Bedding Plants

• Create islands of flowers in open lawn.
• Easily viewed from every side.
• Problem? High maintenance.

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Annual Bedding Plants

• Border plantings along landscape edges
• Soften transition areas
• Slightly less maintenance

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Annual Bedding Plants

• Group according to color.
• Intermix blooming times.
• Consider plant height.
• Consider water, sunlight and fertility
  requirements.
• Provide proper spacing between plants.

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Herbaceous Perennials

• Fall bloomers tall
• Summer bloomers intermediate
• Spring bloomers short

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Annual/Perennial Selection

• Shade or sun
• Container, hanging basket, landscape bed
• Cool-season or warm-season
• Season-long performer or short-term performer
• pH requirement

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Annual/Perennial Selection

• Irrigation requirement
• Fertilization requirement
• Maintenance requirement
• Re-seeding tendency
• Insect susceptibility
• Disease susceptibility

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Ground Covers

• Proper spacing at planting faster establishment
• Improper spacing at planting slower
  establishment
• Fall planting best
• Should cover area in one year

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Ground Covers

• Erosion control on slopes
• Vegetation growth where grass is difficult to
  grow
• Reduces temperature and glare
• Less lawn to maintain
• Fill in odd-shaped areas in the landscape

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Ground Covers

• Sunlight issues
• Irrigation availability
• Desired height
• Desired growth habit
• Desired growth rate

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Shrubs and Trees

• Shrub growth habits
• Height
• Spread
• Form
• Color
• Texture
• Match growth habits to design specifications

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Shrubs and Trees(Leaf Retention)

• Evergreen
• Semi-evergreen
• Deciduous

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Shrubs and Trees(Mature Size)

• Small
• Medium
• Large

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Shrubs and Trees(Growth Rate)

• Slow
• Moderate
• Fast

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Louisiana Yards and Neighborhoods
Selecting the Right Plant

• For the Right Place