A Case of the Instant Landscape

We have heard them all before, even quoted one from a classic, cult 90's movie, the case of cases... someone's got "a case of the Mondays", "a case of the blues", and a "case of.... the instant landscape?" More than likely you have never heard of this, quoted it or used it on that dreaded day after Sunday. It really only comes around this time of year, not weekly. I'd like to think this particular case is a side effect of a fever that strikes this time of year...spring fever.

I, by no means, am any epidemiologist but after suffering through the coldest winter we have had in years, I predict that the spring fever is likely to run rampant this year and there will be hundreds of cases of instant landscape to go along with it. Spring is here, it is beautiful...we want our landscape beautiful, now....

I would be lying if I said I had never experienced it. Here is what I would love my instant landscape to look like.... 

Before: 

After one day of planting: 

Yeah right ... especially as my hydrangeas look like this right now... 

"It looks like we had a storm, and the limbs from your trees got stuck in the flower bed upright..." 

Here's how it strikes. The first warm day hits, the ground thaws and that itch to go dig in the dirt comes right along. You run to the garden center, snatch up some plants, throw them in the ground...then pause to realize that those tiny 1' shrubs look nothing like you've imagined. Your heart sinks and that is when the case of sudden landscape takes hold of your spirit. You had envisioned a garden that you've read about in Traditional Home, only to look and see some wiry, tiny shrubs that in no way resemble the landscape of your dreams.

So instead of running back to the garden center to fill in the blank spaces with more plants, pause, take a deep breath and realize that plants grow. More than likely your budget does not allow for the size plants needed to create an instant landscape...if it does, call me... because I will happily come create your instant landscape. But to the everyday gardener in small town Mississippi, we get what we can find. 

In order to prevent the case of instant landscape here are five simple things to remember:

1. Plants grow. Often times the plant you purchase at the nursery will triple or quadruple in size by the time it reaches maturity. That's the beauty of our landscapes and plants....they grow and evolve over time. 

No photos are involved in this section for the protection of those parties that may have suffered instant landscape. 

2. Dive, Come Alive, Thrive. The first year your plants are going to dive, meaning they are going to work on establishing their root base. The second year your plants are going to come alive, meaning they will be working on the leaves, blooms and the above ground features (leaves, stems, blooms, etc.) The third year your plants are going to thrive, meaning they will really start to grow, add height, and mass...not rapidly, but enough for you to start to notice. 

3. Develop a plan. That first spring day, instead of grabbing a shovel and digging, simply walk outside and begin thinking what you would like to see where? Make note of the site conditions...space, light, moisture. This can be a simple, simple sketch as noted below. Also, make note of a budget for your plan. By the time you purchase plants, soil amendment, and mulch, the landscape price tag can become quite steep. I'm not even saying you have to stick to a plan or your budget, but at least formulate some thoughts on with what and where you will be working....

   a simple site plan of current conditions                                                    simple sketch of new material

4. Always read the tag. You would never buy clothes without reading the tag (size, material, washing requirements) so why would you buy a plant without reading its tag? When checking the tag always look for mature size, light requirement, moisture requirement and spacing...and match these conditions to the notes you took in step 3. By placing the right plant in the right place you will have little to no maintenance throughout the years of the plants' growth. Years from that spring fever planting rampage, you will be wanting to look out on a well placed plants that have brought your vision to life, not digging and removing the side effects of some over zealous planting.

5. Make the investment. If patience is just not your thing, consider buying larger size plants. Landscapes are an investment, so go ahead and invest a larger up front sum that will reap faster rewards. Sure you will spend a bit more in the beginning, but you will start gaining the satisfaction of having your vision come to life much sooner.

A Quick Explanation of Plant Size: 

www.junglemusic.net

Plants come in standard sizes, starting with pots that are measured in inches for smaller perennials and annuals. Landscape shrubs come in standard, gallon sizes: 1 gallon, 3 gallon, 5 gallon, 7 gallon, and 10 gallon, 15 gallon, and sometimes 25 gallon. Once over 25 gallons, they come in b+b (ball and burlap) or by inch stem caliper.

4" pot= pint (0.5 quart)

5-6" pot = quart (0.25 gallon)

7-8" pot= 1 gallon

8.5" pot = 2 gallon

10" pot = 3 gallon

12" pot = 5 gallon

14" pot= 7 gallon

16" pot= 10 gallon

18" pot = 15 gallon

24" pot = 25 gal

30" pot= 30 gal

(http://www.hardytropicals.org/blog/entry/pot_sizes_inches_to_gallon_conversion)

Now the plant height will vary according to the container size, but the larger the container, the taller the plant because larger containers can support larger root balls.

Although I wish there were a shot to cure instant landscape; one that allows us to click our fingers and transfer images from a magazine into our own landscapes, there just is not. The case of the instant landscape can really only be cured with some patience, which is about as disgusting as that pink, liquid antibiotic we would take as children. However, the best option is to take preventative measures...take a deep breath, take some notes, make some plans (back in January and February when you are pining for spring temperatures), and start saving pennies so that you will be ready to jump into your landscape when April 3 hits and it is 78 degrees. And as in the case of any case...seek professional help should the symptoms of instant landscape continue into the Summer months...

Which Switch is Which?

Early spring is upon us! It seems we have been chomping at the bit for a few weeks now, but with daylight savings time taking place Sunday...we can taste the warmer days. I have been so excited in anticipation of spring that I made a bit of an identification blunder. Yet, my lesson was re-learned and I thought this an opportune moment to share.  

There are 2 types of bright yellow blooms that grace us with their presence this time of year....Forsythia and Winter Jasmine. Both grow of soft, switch like stems. While Forsythia is a sure sign that spring is on the way, Winter Jasmine is a late winter bloomer and really gave me the slip in my premature spring fever. 

Here's how to tell the difference between the two...  

Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)

Winter Jasmine is the first to bloom in "normal" winter season...aka when it stays cold, as it has this year. I don't see this plant often in Greenwood, so the yellow bloom on a walk one morning tricked me into thinking it was a yellow Forsythia bloom foreshadowing spring. A native to China, Winter Jasmine can reach 4' in height by 7' in width if left unsupported. It grows in a tangle of green (first year) stems and does well as a bank cover or billowing over a wall or slope. Winter Jasmine has a 3 leafleted leaf that appears after the bloom. It is a fast grower, tolerant of sun and shade, but blooms best in the sun. Use it for erosion control as it roots where the stems touch the soil. Winter Jasmine blooms a few blossoms at a time over the course of 6-8 weeks. 

 the tangle of green stems with a few open blooms

typical growth habit of Winter Jasmine 

(ignore the leaves and Natty Light can...this photo was taken in the Delta) 

Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia)

The literal golden child of the spring landscape, Forsythia has been growing in Southern gardens for so long that people assume it is a native. Forsythia begins blooming in late February and will be seen blooming through April. Warmer winter temps can force it bloom sooner in some circumstances. Instead of growing in a somewhat tangle, Forsythia has graceful arching, light tannish brown branches that can reach 7-10' high. Unlike Winter Jasmine, Forsythia goes all in on the blooms, blooming all at once. This is what makes the display so magnificent in the spring. 

My favorite use of Forsythia is seen across the park from my house where my neighbor uses it as part of a shrub border to divide the yard from the street. The row of Forsythia lines the front of an evergreen holly hedge. The dark green of the hedge offsets the bright yellow glow of Forsythia and makes for quite a show...on both sides... 

Forsythia hedge seen from the front yard 

with an evergreen holly border behind

Forsythia hedge seen from the road, peeping out behind the holly

Forsythia is one of those plants that needs it's space to be allowed to showcase its natural growth habit. Part of the beauty of this plant is the graceful, arching branches that soften any landscape bed. Even when it's not blooming, the soft green leaves on the arching branches add impact to the landscape. That's why it takes my breath away to see it shaped like a boxwood.... 

There are several selections of Forsythia available in the trade, in all heights, growth habits and even leaf variegation. Make sure to select the right variety for your landscape so that you don't have to force it into a mold with pruning.

Both Forsythia and Winter Jasmine are great plants for any Southern landscape. They are easy to grow, tolerant of most conditions and provide a beautiful show during a time when there is not much to see in the landscape. Forsythia is a sure sign that spring is right around the corner, but Winter Jasmine offers a glow during the winter months when we need a light in the landscape. Despite their awesome yellow color, neither flower is fragrant. Both plant blooms on old wood, so wait until after it blooms to prune. And by prune, get in there and cut individual branches to preserve the shape...and please don't shear it into a box or ball... 

Enjoy the golden displays of both plants this time of year, plant either in your yard now for enjoyment next year but whatever you do, don't automatically assume that one yellow bloom means Spring is here... know which switch is which. 

A New Year, A New Landscape...

By now, we're all quite sick of the old saying " a new year, a new you". We survive the month of Kay Jewelry commercials in December just to be bombarded with self improvement and weight loss commercials in January. However, this year,  I've decided to take the whole improvement theme into my own hands and throw a new spin on an old saying. "A new year, and a new landscape....

container,shrub, walkway, etc" Notice I'm not suggesting tear everything out to start completely afresh (although you can), but allowing you to fill in the blank on what simple task could be done in your own landscape.  As it turns out, our home landscapes are outward expressions of ourselves (kind of like our clothes). And not to add any pressure, but one can say a lot with landscape choices and features. Maybe you've read about a herb gardens for years, but never started on? Maybe you've always wanted  some containers on your patio, or wanted to incorporate a water feature (big or small), or maybe it's adding some native plants to your existing beds?  Why not this year, and why not now resolve to make these improvements to you landscape? 

To the non-garden enthusiast, any landscape task besides mowing the lawn can seem overwhelming, yet with the right planning and guidance anyone can develop their own version of a green thumb. The key is to start planning as soon as possible. Early planning can help avoid any hidden obstacles that hinder so many potentially great projects. Sure, it's January, but now is truly the best time to start planning and get the ball rolling so you will be ready for spring.

Start by making a list of the components of the project. Let's say we want to add a new vegetable garden to our landscape. What really makes up a vegetable garden? Light, water, soil, plants, and the tools to create it.

Light- Where will the bed be located? Does any pruning of trees need to occur for there to be ample light? ( remember: a sunny spot in winter, may be shady as soon as the leaves reappear on trees)

Water- Is the bed near a water source? Maybe you need a longer hose or need to add a sprinkler head?

Soil- I will always recommend a soil test through your local extension agent before creating or modifying your beds. Super easy and one of the most important preparations you can do!

Plants- Decide now what you want to plant. Will the local nursery provide your vegetables or will you star with seeds?

Tools- Do you have a shovel? If you need to do some pruning, are your snips ready? What about gloves? A tiller?

Now after checking off your own project list and as soon as the warm weather hits, you're ready to go!

Some simple brainstorming and game planning in January and February can lead to some beautiful garden results in May and June.

Now, on another new year note there will be some great articles to look forward to. I've expanded the horizons to incorporate Southern tales and spotlights to our gardening and design articles. And now, some hints of what to look forward to in 2012:

Spotlight on home conservation techniques, going green in the new year

Plants that every yard needs, if company is coming

Incorporating vegetables into your existing landscape

What's in season?

Creating the perfect courtyard

Overlooked landscape icons

Garden tool management

Terrariums

Etc, etc, etc

Any thoughts, requests, or inquiries please don't hesitate to email them to me at brantleysnipes@gmail.com or tweet them in to @brantleysnipes.

And, finally, if this article has failed to inspire any landscape creativity, Brantley Snipes Landscape Design LLC is now officially up and running and I would be delighted to help! Book now for spring containers and beds.