Landscape Design Solutions
As you may or may not know, Oliver Nurseries offers landscape design services. Knowing where to place a plant on a property is just as important as choosing the right plant. No matter how beautiful a plant may be, if it's in the wrong location chances are it will not have the desired effect. That's where we can help. Over the years, I have been asked to fix many landscapes that just "don't seem to work." The reasons vary, but often they share a common mistake, lack of planning. Too often, only a plant's aesthetic value is considered before a purchase. The growing requirements of the plants, their ultimate size, and, most importantly, the problem you are trying to solve should be taken into consideration as well .
I've often found myself asking, "Why did you plant a weeping cherry tree three feet away from your house?" In order to maintain a tree, wanting to get 30 feet tall and wide, in that spot will require a lot of pruning. The response most commonly given reflects on the lack of planning mentioned above, "Because when I planted it there three years ago, it looked great." I would have suggested either choosing a plant more appropriate for the size restrictions, or planting a weeping cherry at least 15 feet away from the house to allow for full growth.
"What are those brown twigs under your Pine trees? Oh I see, those are the remains of some unfortunate shrubs. What were they doing there?" Sadly, I have seen more plants subjected to this type of slow torture than I can bear. Without water and sun a plant cannot survive. Unless your plant is guilty of some unspeakable offense, planting it under a pine tree, which shades all direct sunlight and sheds away the rain with its canopy, is the equivalent of a death sentence.
Now, I know these are some extreme examples of mistakes, but the point that I'm trying to get across is that you should know what you need before you decide what you want. If you have nothing but shade in your yard, sun loving plants are not for you. If your property is small, then planting a tree that can grow very tall and wide is probably a bad idea. The better way to decide on what to plant is to assess what your needs are and then seek out a plant that will address your concerns.
Start by evaluating your property. Is there a bad view you want to hide, an attractive view of your neighbor's well maintained perennial garden that you want to appreciate, or is your house too large on the outside to relate to human scale? (This is the most common and the most unrecognized issue in my opinion). The list goes on, but the point is that you need to find the problem before you can find a solution.
As you start thinking about next season and your next project, please feel free to give us a call so we can help you develop a plan. We'll not only help you choose the right plants, we can also propose a landscape plan for your whole property, including hardscape components such as masonry and driveways. Please don't wait until you realize your landscape solution "didn't work" ... give us a call.
If you're interested in getting more information about landscaping with Oliver Nurseries, click over to our contact page and give us a call or send us an email. To learn more about the nursery in general, check out our Facebook page.
