Plant Selection

Before you actually select the plant material for your landscape, consider the placement of the various sizes and types of plants; that is, you may want a shade tree here, a line of tall evergreens there, some fragrant herbs near the pathway, etc.

First outline the areas you've chosen for shrub beds, lawn, raised vegetable beds, etc. Unless you've chosen a very formal theme, create shrub beds with gently curved borders to soften the architecture of the home and shape of the lot.

A general rule is to place the larger plant forms first, and then fill in with smaller forms. Hardscape items like patios, walkways, ponds, etc. should also be placed before the majority of plants. Evaluate your plant placement in terms of the principles of design (line and form, color, texture, etc.).

Base your plant selection on your personal preferences, local recommendations and information you gather from books and online sources. Selecting the plant material for your landscape involves plenty of trial and error - as with all phases of design, don't try to complete the process in one sitting.

You may have some favorite plants - be sure these receive a dominant place in the landscape. And don't forget that we spend much of our time indoors, even in warm climates...plan your landscape to be viewed from your living room or other sitting area.

You can label the plants with numbers, letters or full names. If you're using plant cutouts to compose your design, these can be colored to indicate predominant plant characteristics (i.e. white flowers, red foliage, etc.).

Be sure to consider light levels...on the north side of the house, choose shade tolerant plants, heat loving plants against a south or west wall. In fact, all your environmental conditions should come into play for each plant selection and each specific location. A rhododendron, for example, should be placed in a location which is moderately shaded, sheltered from harsh winds, in a soil with plenty of humus and excellent drainage.

There's a lot to consider when selecting and placing your plant material, and plenty of information to digest regarding each specific plant. Don't feel alone, though...even professional designers rely on extensive published information to check and double check their plant choices. The following online resources will prove useful in your plant selection process:

http://www.arborquest.com/PLsearch.cfm
This is a very well organized database which allows you to search based on a number of plant characteristics.

http://www.botany.com/
This database offers plenty of cultural and propagation information.

http://www.exotic-plants.com/
Exotic and rare plants.

http://www.streetside.com/plants/floridata/
Not a large database, but excellent photos and cultural information, especially for southern plants.

http://www.bcc.orst.edu/hort226/
Another extensive database, from Oregon State University.

http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/mod03/master03.html
From Michigan State.

http://www.neoflora.com/
Very extensive database.

http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu
Quick loading, with good photos, from Ohio State.

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/
Excellent information, from University of Connecticut

You may find that one or two of the above sites will best meet your needs. Don't try to use them all - you'll be overwhelmed with information! There are MANY other online databases...search for specific needs by keyword - i.e. "palm", "desert plants", "tropical", etc.

Good luck with your plant selection process!

Happy Trails,

Dan Eskelson
Clearwater Landscapes, Inc.