Posts

Increase the Lifespan of Your Shrubs

, ,

Fans of shearing love to the debate about shearing. Do you prefer formal shearing or seasonal rejuvenation pruning? Let’s see if we can’t help things cool down by explaining the benefits of regular pruning. There are many advantages of regular pruning. These all include health, environmental, and aesthetic benefits. This article will help you understand how to increase the lifespan of your shrubs and plants.

Health Benefits

Shearing a shrub is harmful to its long-term health and may cause its death. But proper seasonal pruning can improve the plant’s health over time. Shearing promotes growth of a twiggy outer layer that screens the interior of the plant. When this happens the middle part of the shrub becomes clogged with dead wood and leaves. Insects, die-back, and frost or drought damage happen in the shaded interior. Likewise, shearing also prevents the shrub from photosynthesis. This is due to the outermost shell being woody rather than leafy.

Shrubs use a lot of their energy when diseased. That means they have to work extra hard produce nutrients. As a result, the plant loses energy and sheared bushes die faster than revived shrubs. But with natural growth, dead wood and disease minimized. The natural growth pattern of a rejuvenated shrub allows light and air to enter the inside the plant. This results in less dead wood and disease. Nutrient absorption is also encouraged.

Environmental Benefits

Frequent shearing promotes fast development that also helps to increase the lifespan of your shrubs and plants. It also requires regular care to preserve a good form. Gas-powered hedge trimmers and blowers used to clear debris generate exhaust fumes and emissions. Furthermore, green waste must be picked up off site. The debris and branches also takes up more landfill room as a result of this regular maintenance.

Sheared bushes consume more energy and need lots more water to survive. Rejuvenating instead, of shearing, uses less gasoline and irrigation water. It also generates less air pollution and requires fewer trips to landfills. So those are some things to think about.

Aesthetic Benefits

Formal Pruning/Shearing

Sheared shrubs have trouble maintaining a consistent shear on each shrub. This can result in a variety of forms and looks. Frequently shorn shrubs will also appear inconsistent as they try to blossom. Over time, the shrub’s continual shearing will result in a lot of dead wood. Traditional pruning compromises the vision that the designer intended for the landscape. Landscape designers plan out these details of aesthetic elements at the beginning of the project. The natural form of seasonal pruning not only extends the life of shrubs, but it also helps to tie in with current landscape design ideas.

Seasonal Rejuvenation Pruning

This method is based on the plants species’ natural flowering cycle. Rejuvenation pruning is done after a plant has flowered. The pruning frequency is determined by the landscape’s planting density; generally every 1-3 years. After the blooming cycle is finished, the plant’s crown is trimmed by roughly 30-50% and allowed to regrow naturally in the next growing season. Some plants will need to be cut back down to the ground. This can happen with ferns.

Let Paradise Landscape and Hardscape’s Services Help You

Team Paradise takes pride in the landscapes we create for our clients. We begin by creating a unique design that reflects your own style and vision. We find the right plants for your lawn environment.

Your yard’s curb appeal is important to the value of your home. Simply stated, it requires a little TLC. It will be important to find a balance between the aesthetic appeal and its cost to maintain and protect. No matter the season or environment, we can help you with any type of yard or lawn landscape project. We tailor everything to your demands and exceed your expectations.

REQUEST AN ESTIMATE
/by

The Best Low Maintenance Plants

, ,
Is your green thumb not so green? Are you looking for the best the best low maintenance plants to plant in your yard? This is a great way to add both interest, appeal, and functional use to your garden. If you have plants that need a lot of attention, this can become a hassle. Most likely you are busy and don’t have time to be trimming, fertilizing, pruning or cutting the grass. We can help you with your landscape gardening efforts in Annapolis. We can also help guide you on purchasing the best low maintenance plants for your yard.
 
So we decided to put together a list of the best low maintenance plants in Annapolis. If you want to dive right in, these plants and shrubs make great choices for your landscape.
 
It’s important to keep in mind that the proper installation of these plants is key. Some plants are shade lovers while other like hanging out in the sun. We have decades of experience and knowledge with plants and gardens in Annapolis. If you need a hand, fill out our quick estimate form by clicking the button at the end of this post.
 

12 of the Best of Low Maintenance Plants in Annapolis

 

Low Maintenance Trees

 
Low maintenance trees to be relatively disease and pest-resistant. They also don’t need lots of care, such as regular pruning, to fall under the category of low maintenance trees. While there is no such thing as a tree that needs zero care, these 4 won’t give you lots of extra work:
 

Japanese Maple Trees in Annapolis

 
Japanese Maple trees are famous for their bright fall foliage. They come in many varieties. Some of which are airy and upright and others that are compact and domed. On the whole, most all Japanese Maple make low maintenance trees for your yard.
 

Serviceberry Trees in Annapolis

 
Serviceberry trees are deciduous members of the Rosaceae family. The bloom in all four seasons. Spring produces beautiful blooms. Winter produces fruit. In the fall they have gorgeous fall color foliage. Growing and caring for a Serviceberry tree does not take a lot of work. It is a very cold-hardy tree. It handles the winter well and brings an interesting unique design to your landscape.
 

Crape Myrtle Trees in Annapolis

 
The Crape Myrtle is one of the best known low maintenance trees in Annapolis. Natives Annapolitans know the Crape Myrtle as the “lilac of the South.” It’s flowers are striking and creates a stunning addition to a landscape. It is also low maintenance as far as flowering trees go. It only needs approximately 30 to 60 minutes of pruning each year and it will look and perform well for you. Crape Myrtles come in a variety of colors and will grow to vary in size when they mature.
 

Magnolia Trees in Annapolis

 
Hello sweet Magnolia. How do we love you? Magnolia trees can be evergreen or deciduous. Both types of these trees have large and striking blossoms. These trees are hardy and adaptable. Though they prefer slightly acidic soil, they will adapt to your natural soil, even if it’s sandy or heavy in clay. These trees often serve as small ornamental accent plants. But they have varieties that will grow into medium-sized trees.
 

Low Maintenance Shrubs

 
When looking at low maintenance shrubs, we’re looking at varieties that don’t need a lot of tending to. These are some of the best low maintenance plants and shrubs for the Annapolis region. They are drought-tolerant and generally resistant to problems with disease or pests. Here are 4 that are adaptable to most landscapes:
 

The Burning Bush

 
This shrub is a bright crimson color in the fall. Native to Asia, this large bush will adapt well to almost any site or soil condition. It also requires minimal care. While it’s almost wholly hands-off, occasional pruning will help keep its size down if you have a tight space. This medium to large-sized shrub has many uses. As a result, it can even create excellent privacy screens during spring through fall.
 

The Nandina

 
This hardy is nicknamed “heavenly bamboo” for its ability to thrive almost anywhere. It also resembles bamboo. Nandina has evergreen tendencies. It also has a unique color combination and leaves that change from green to reddish purple. Different cultivars will grow as small or medium-sized shrubs.
 

The Azalea

 
The Azalea is a member of the Rhododendron family. Azaleas produce showy and fragrant blooms in the spring. Additionally, they have many different color blooms such as white, lavender, orange, gold, red, and purple. They are easy to care for and need very little attention. Plant them in the right area of your yard! They need moist, but well-drained soil. Azaleas are slow growers so these are ideal choices for tighter spots. With regular pruning, it’s easy to keep them confined within most spaces.
 

The Hydrangea

 
Generally speaking, hydrangeas are versatile and easy to grow. There are many varieties of this flowering shrub. Oakleaf is one of the easiest to care for and can tolerate cold weather. They can also tolerate the sun and withstand drought. But all varieties of hydrangea are low maintenance and produce stunning blooms. These shrubs vary in size from 3-8 ft.
 

Low Maintenance Flowers

 
Choosing low-maintenance perennials will help color to your landscape. They will also provide a little curb appeal without adding a bunch of extra work. Perennials will re-grow each season. Annual flowers last one growing season and need to be replanted.
Here are 4 that you might want to consider if you’re looking for low-maintenance flowers:
 

Daylilies in Annapolis

 
Daylilies bloom quickly and are easy to grow. They are incredibly drought-tolerant and need minimal (if any) watering. Color variations include yellow, gold, orange, red, and purple.
 

Salvia flowers in Annapolis

 
Salvia is of the largest genus in the Mint family. It is also one of the best low maintenance plants in Annapolis. Perennial Salvias are easy to grow and perform well in our local climate. We love the Russian Sage. It’s a low maintenance perennial that produces tall spires of bluish flowers.

 

Lavender plants for your Garden in Annapolis

 
Lavender is an attractive flower and smells so good. It has a muted purple color. It also has a distinct scent, which used as a calming essential oil! Lavender is not fussy to grow. It’s a tough woody perennial that requires very little care. Lavender only needs well-drained soil and some room to grow and it will thrive.
 

Coreopsis flowers in Annapolis

 
Known as “Tickseed,” Coreopsis is a bright and showy flower. It can surive in almost any soil. There are more than 100 species. Most all are low maintenance and drought-tolerant.
 
Knowing which plants to incorporate is one important piece of the puzzle—but it’s not everything. It’s also a matter of incorporating them in a way that makes sense.
 
We hope this article has shed some light on the best low maintenance plants in the Annapolis, MD region. It’s important to understand that while these plants low maintenance, they might not thrive on your property.
 
There are tons of other options to consider! A beautiful, low maintenance landscape can add tremendous value to your home.
 
If you need a hand, we’d love to help. Fill out our quick estimate form by clicking the button below to get started! You can also view our YouTube channel for updates!

 

Request An Estimate
/by