Louisiana Yards and Neighborhoods

Louisiana Yards and Neighborhoods

For the Right PlaceFor the Right Placewww.lsuagcenter.com/lyn

Selecting the Right Plant Selecting the Right Plant

Gardening StylesGardening Styles

• Formal

• Informal

• Formal

• Informal

Formal GardeningFormal Gardening

• Bilateral symmetry

• Clipped/hedged plantings

• Geometrically shaped plants

• Orderly rows

• Repeated plant spacings

• Classical hardscape structures

• Smoothness in paint, wood, etc.

• Neatly manicured

• Bilateral symmetry

• Clipped/hedged plantings

• Geometrically shaped plants

• Orderly rows

• Repeated plant spacings

• Classical hardscape structures

• Smoothness in paint, wood, etc.

• Neatly manicured

Formal GardeningFormal Gardening

• Very effective

• Very “repeatable”

• Stiff

• Lifeless

• Boring

• High maintenance

• Fewer plant types; more of the same plant

• Very effective

• Very “repeatable”

• Stiff

• Lifeless

• Boring

• High maintenance

• Fewer plant types; more of the same plant

Informal GardeningInformal 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

• 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

Landscape Planning StepsLandscape Planning Steps

1. List your needs.

2. Study your site.

3. Diagram space needs.

4. Shape the spaces.

5. Select the materials.

1. List your needs.

2. Study your site.

3. Diagram space needs.

4. Shape the spaces.

5. Select the materials.

Step 1 – List Your NeedsStep 1 – List Your Needs

• Privacy issues

• Outdoor living area

• Swimming pool

• Greenhouse

• Storage areas

• BE THOROUGH!!!

• Privacy issues

• Outdoor living area

• Swimming pool

• Greenhouse

• Storage areas

• BE THOROUGH!!!

Step 2 – Study Your SiteStep 2 – Study Your Site

• Compass directions

• Shady and sunny areas

• Wet and dry areas

• Simple sketch of property

• Scale drawing even better

• Compass directions

• Shady and sunny areas

• Wet and dry areas

• Simple sketch of property

• Scale drawing even better

Step 3 – Diagram Space Needs

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.

• List all things to go in landscape.

• Assign activities to spaces.

• Create a “bubble” plan on paper.

• Use multiple arrangements.

• Think/plan for future.

Step 4 – Shape the SpacesStep 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.

• Finalize spaces.

• Decide on plant characteristics.

• Creative stage (guided by previous steps) need to know the style you want to achieve.

Step 5 – Select the Materials

Step 5 – Select the Materials

• Plants to be used

• Surfacing materials to be used

• Cost factor

• Plants to be used

• Surfacing materials to be used

• Cost factor

Site AnalysisSite Analysis

• Soil chemical/physical properties

• Drainage

• Sunlight exposure

• Temperature exposures/extremes

• Structural limitations

• Other conditions

• Soil chemical/physical properties

• Drainage

• Sunlight exposure

• Temperature exposures/extremes

• Structural limitations

• Other conditions

Louisiana One CallLouisiana One Call

1-800-272-3020or 811

1-800-272-3020or 811

Soil, Soil AmendmentsSoil, 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.

• Don’t guess, SOIL TEST!!!

• 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.

• Don’t guess, SOIL TEST!!!

Soil Drainage ModificationsSoil Drainage Modifications

• French drains

• Raised beds

• “Pitcher’s mound”

• Berm

• French drains

• Raised beds

• “Pitcher’s mound”

• Berm

Plant MaterialsPlant Materials

• Annual bedding plants

• Herbaceous perennials

• Ground covers and vines

• Shrubs

• Trees

• Turf grass

• Annual bedding plants

• Herbaceous perennials

• Ground covers and vines

• Shrubs

• Trees

• Turf grass

Annual Bedding PlantsAnnual Bedding Plants

• Warm-season

• Cool-season

• Transitional

• Warm-season

• Cool-season

• Transitional

Annual Bedding PlantsAnnual Bedding Plants

• Create islands of flowers in open lawn.

• Easily viewed from every side.

• Problem? High maintenance.

• Create islands of flowers in open lawn.

• Easily viewed from every side.

• Problem? High maintenance.

Annual Bedding PlantsAnnual Bedding Plants

• Border plantings along landscape edges

• Soften transition areas

• Slightly less maintenance

• Border plantings along landscape edges

• Soften transition areas

• Slightly less maintenance

Annual Bedding PlantsAnnual Bedding Plants

• Group according to color.

• Intermix blooming times.

• Consider plant height.

• Consider water, sunlight and fertility requirements.

• Provide proper spacing between plants.

• Group according to color.

• Intermix blooming times.

• Consider plant height.

• Consider water, sunlight and fertility requirements.

• Provide proper spacing between plants.

Herbaceous PerennialsHerbaceous Perennials

• Fall bloomers – tall

• Summer bloomers – intermediate

• Spring bloomers – short

• Fall bloomers – tall

• Summer bloomers – intermediate

• Spring bloomers – short

Annual/Perennial SelectionAnnual/Perennial Selection

• Shade or sun

• Container, hanging basket, landscape bed

• Cool-season or warm-season

• Season-long performer or short-term performer

• pH requirement

• Shade or sun

• Container, hanging basket, landscape bed

• Cool-season or warm-season

• Season-long performer or short-term performer

• pH requirement

Annual/Perennial SelectionAnnual/Perennial Selection

• Irrigation requirement

• Fertilization requirement

• Maintenance requirement

• Re-seeding tendency

• Insect susceptibility

• Disease susceptibility

• Irrigation requirement

• Fertilization requirement

• Maintenance requirement

• Re-seeding tendency

• Insect susceptibility

• Disease susceptibility

Ground CoversGround Covers

• Proper spacing at planting = faster establishment

• Improper spacing at planting = slower establishment

• Fall planting best

• Should cover area in one year

• Proper spacing at planting = faster establishment

• Improper spacing at planting = slower establishment

• Fall planting best

• Should cover area in one year

Ground CoversGround 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

• 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

Ground CoversGround Covers

• Sunlight issues

• Irrigation availability

• Desired height

• Desired growth habit

• Desired growth rate

• Sunlight issues

• Irrigation availability

• Desired height

• Desired growth habit

• Desired growth rate

Shrubs and TreesShrubs and Trees

• Shrub growth habits

– Height

– Spread

– Form

– Color

– Texture

• Match growth habits to design specifications

• Shrub growth habits

– Height

– Spread

– Form

– Color

– Texture

• Match growth habits to design specifications

Shrubs and Trees(Leaf Retention)

Shrubs and Trees(Leaf Retention)

• Evergreen

• Semi-evergreen

• Deciduous

• Evergreen

• Semi-evergreen

• Deciduous

Shrubs and Trees(Mature Size)

Shrubs and Trees(Mature Size)

• Small

• Medium

• Large

• Small

• Medium

• Large

Shrubs and Trees(Growth Rate)

Shrubs and Trees(Growth Rate)

• Slow

• Moderate

• Fast

• Slow

• Moderate

• Fast

Louisiana Yards and Neighborhoods

Louisiana Yards and Neighborhoods

For the Right PlaceFor the Right Placewww.lsuagcenter.com/lyn

Selecting the Right Plant Selecting the Right Plant