1. Trees<\/h3> ![\"Using](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/landscape-tree.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxfuel<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Tree types:<\/b><\/p> - Evergreen (maintains needles or leaves year-round). Examples of evergreen trees include junipers, spruces, and cypresses.<\/li>
- Deciduous (loses leaves seasonally, typically during the fall months). Deciduous trees include maples, oaks, and dogwoods.<\/li> <\/ul>
Advantages:<\/b> Besides adding diversity to your landscape with various colors and shapes, trees:<\/p> - Can live for decades.<\/li>
- Provide homes for wildlife.<\/li>
- Reduce noise and air pollution.<\/li>
- Produce fruits or flowers.<\/li>
- Offer shade (reducing your energy costs).<\/li>
- Prevent soil erosion.<\/li> <\/ul>
Disadvantages:<\/b><\/p> - Costly to purchase and install.<\/li>
- Grow slowly.<\/li>
- Require lots of maintenance<\/a> \u2014 especially fruit trees.<\/li>
- Need lots of space to mature and spread roots. Without this, roots may disrupt underground utilities and growing branches may interfere with power lines.<\/li> <\/ul>
2. Shrubs<\/h3> ![\"Using](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/shrubbery.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxfuel<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Shrub types:<\/b><\/p> - Evergreen (maintains needles or leaves year-round). Examples of evergreen shrubs include boxwoods and azaleas.<\/li>
- Deciduous (loses leaves seasonally, typically during the fall months). Deciduous shrubs include forsythia bushes and rhododendrons.<\/li> <\/ul>
Advantages:<\/b> These woody plants are often used as foundation plantings and can create living fencing for privacy. In addition some shrubs:<\/p> - Can block against heavy winds<\/a> (think mugo pines and yews).<\/li>
- Reduce noise and air pollution.<\/li>
- Provide food and shelter for wildlife.<\/li>
- Prevent soil erosion.<\/li> <\/ul>
Disadvantages:<\/b><\/p> - Needledrop, which happens throughout the year with evergreen types, can lead to more yard and garden cleanup.<\/li>
- Can grow too quickly and cause damage to foundation.<\/li>
- May require a lot of time to shape and trim.<\/li>
- Can be difficult to remove when you\u2019re ready to switch out these plants with updated options.<\/li> <\/ul>
3. Succulents<\/h3> ![\"succulents](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/succulents.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Orlova Maria<\/a> via Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure> Succulent types:<\/b> Of the more than 60 plant families that make up succulents, popular types include:<\/p> - Sedum<\/li>
- Sempervivum<\/li>
- Echeveria<\/li>
- Cacti<\/li>
- Kalanchoe<\/li>
- Ice plant<\/li>
- Aloe<\/li> <\/ul>
Advantages:<\/b> Drought-resistant and low-maintenance, succulents also:<\/p> - Have medicinal value (depending on type)<\/li>
- Improve air quality, according to experts<\/a><\/li>
- Boost your mood and lower stress<\/li>
- Are not very susceptible to diseases and pests<\/li>
- Do well with container gardening<\/li>
- Add color and texture to rock gardens<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Disadvantages:<\/b> Some succulents have sharp spikes, so be careful not to plant these as walkway edgers or in kids\u2019 play areas.<\/p> 4. Flowering plants<\/h3> ![\"red](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/hibiscus.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Snejina Nikolova<\/a> on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure> Flower types:<\/b> Besides trees and some succulents and shrubs, other flowering plants include perennial and annual plants:<\/p> - Hibiscus plants<\/li>
- Dianthus<\/li>
- Gardenias<\/li>
- Geraniums<\/li>
- Begonias<\/li>
- Peonies<\/li>
- Petunias<\/li>
- Daffodils<\/li> <\/ul>
Advantages:<\/b> Like other plants, flowering ones also:<\/p> - Help purify the air and provide oxygen.<\/li>
- Boost your mood and lower stress.<\/li>
- Help you get exercise (taking care of flower beds).<\/li>
- Add color and texture to landscaping.<\/li>
- Provide cut flowers for interior decor.<\/li>
- Attract pollinators, such as bees and butterflies.<\/li>
- Come back on their own year after year (if perennials).<\/li>
- Provide immediate color (if annuals).<\/li> <\/ul>
Disadvantages:<\/b><\/p> - Annual plants must be set out each year, meaning more expenses and care.<\/li>
- Perennials have a short growing season.<\/li> <\/ul>
5. Desert landscaping plants<\/h3> ![\"desert](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/desert-landscaping.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Taylor Simpson<\/a> on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure> Desert plant types:<\/b> When it comes to desert landscaping, succulents and cacti aren\u2019t the only options. Consider:<\/p> - Trees, such as palm and desert willow.<\/li>
- Ground covers, such as trailing rosemary and salvia.<\/li>
- Shrubs, such as barberry and cape honeysuckle.<\/li>
- Vines, such as lilac vine and grape ivy.<\/li>
- Ornamental grasses<\/a>, such as bamboo muhly and blue grama.<\/li>
- Perennials, such as desert marigold and autumn sage.<\/li>
- Annuals, such as red flax and Mexican sunflower.<\/li> <\/ul>
Advantages:<\/b> Especially when native to the growing area, these plants:<\/p> - Are adapted to local climate and soil conditions.<\/li>
- Require less water and fertilizer.<\/li>
- Are less prone to pests and diseases.<\/li>
- Low-maintenance, eco-friendly, and take less money to care for.<\/li> <\/ul>
Disadvantages:<\/b> Going dormant is what helps keep these plants drought-resistant. However, dormancy can make your landscape appear dead and colorless. Experts suggest avoiding this by choosing plants with various blooming seasons<\/a> and surrounding them with additional points of interest, such as rocks, statues, and other hardscapes.<\/p> 6. Aquatic plants<\/h3> ![\"water](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/aquatic-plants.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxfuel<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Aquatic plant types:<\/b><\/p> - Planktonic algae<\/li>
- Floating plants (water lilies and lotuses)<\/li>
- Emergent plants (cattails and bulrushes)<\/li> <\/ul>
Advantages:<\/b> If a pond or water garden is a part of your landscaping, consider adding aquatic plants<\/a> to the mix. They provide the following for wildlife, such as birds and fish:<\/p> - Food<\/li>
- Shelter<\/li>
- Nesting habitats<\/li>
- Shade<\/li> <\/ul>
Disadvantages:<\/b> Left to their own devices, the algae and floating and emergent plant types can:<\/p> - Overspread.<\/li>
- Disrupt water quality.<\/li>
- Mess with oxygen production, potentially leading to fish death.<\/li> <\/ul>
7. Ground covers<\/b><\/h3> ![\"Purple](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/groundcover.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pikist<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Ground cover types:<\/b><\/p> - Dianthus<\/li>
- Clematis<\/li>
- Hosta<\/li>
- Deer-resistant hellebore<\/li>
- Sedge, can double as ground cover and ornamental grass<\/li> <\/ul>
Advantages:<\/b> Replacing your grassy lawn with a ground cover makes things low-maintenance \u2014 you won\u2019t have to worry about mowing. Ground covers are also a good substitute for plants that can\u2019t grow in full sun or in shade gardens, as certain ground covers do well in either. Ground covers prefer moist soil; other benefits include:<\/p> - Erosion and weed control.<\/li>
- Textural balance in garden design.<\/li>
- Cold hardiness (depending on type).<\/li> <\/ul>
Disadvantages: <\/b>Be careful when selecting ground covers, as some can become invasive. Prune occasionally to keep them in check. Some varieties are also susceptible to disease and pests.<\/p> When to Call a Landscaping Pro<\/h2>
Need help selecting different plants for your climate and soil? Overwhelmed by all the information on growing and maintaining even low-maintenance landscape designs? Get help from your local landscaping experts<\/a>. They\u2019ll help elevate your yard\u2019s aesthetics by customizing a layout for your garden beds and overall terrain.<\/p>
Tree types:<\/b><\/p> Advantages:<\/b> Besides adding diversity to your landscape with various colors and shapes, trees:<\/p> Disadvantages:<\/b><\/p> Shrub types:<\/b><\/p> Advantages:<\/b> These woody plants are often used as foundation plantings and can create living fencing for privacy. In addition some shrubs:<\/p> Disadvantages:<\/b><\/p> Succulent types:<\/b> Of the more than 60 plant families that make up succulents, popular types include:<\/p> Advantages:<\/b> Drought-resistant and low-maintenance, succulents also:<\/p> Disadvantages:<\/b> Some succulents have sharp spikes, so be careful not to plant these as walkway edgers or in kids\u2019 play areas.<\/p> Flower types:<\/b> Besides trees and some succulents and shrubs, other flowering plants include perennial and annual plants:<\/p> Advantages:<\/b> Like other plants, flowering ones also:<\/p> Disadvantages:<\/b><\/p> Desert plant types:<\/b> When it comes to desert landscaping, succulents and cacti aren\u2019t the only options. Consider:<\/p> Advantages:<\/b> Especially when native to the growing area, these plants:<\/p> Disadvantages:<\/b> Going dormant is what helps keep these plants drought-resistant. However, dormancy can make your landscape appear dead and colorless. Experts suggest avoiding this by choosing plants with various blooming seasons<\/a> and surrounding them with additional points of interest, such as rocks, statues, and other hardscapes.<\/p> Aquatic plant types:<\/b><\/p> Advantages:<\/b> If a pond or water garden is a part of your landscaping, consider adding aquatic plants<\/a> to the mix. They provide the following for wildlife, such as birds and fish:<\/p> Disadvantages:<\/b> Left to their own devices, the algae and floating and emergent plant types can:<\/p> Ground cover types:<\/b><\/p> Advantages:<\/b> Replacing your grassy lawn with a ground cover makes things low-maintenance \u2014 you won\u2019t have to worry about mowing. Ground covers are also a good substitute for plants that can\u2019t grow in full sun or in shade gardens, as certain ground covers do well in either. Ground covers prefer moist soil; other benefits include:<\/p> Disadvantages: <\/b>Be careful when selecting ground covers, as some can become invasive. Prune occasionally to keep them in check. Some varieties are also susceptible to disease and pests.<\/p> Need help selecting different plants for your climate and soil? Overwhelmed by all the information on growing and maintaining even low-maintenance landscape designs? Get help from your local landscaping experts<\/a>. They\u2019ll help elevate your yard\u2019s aesthetics by customizing a layout for your garden beds and overall terrain.<\/p>
2. Shrubs<\/h3>
3. Succulents<\/h3>
4. Flowering plants<\/h3>
5. Desert landscaping plants<\/h3>
6. Aquatic plants<\/h3>
7. Ground covers<\/b><\/h3>
When to Call a Landscaping Pro<\/h2>