5 Quick Tips About Sunlight

When starting a new plan, there are a few questions that we look to answer. "What are the sun values?" is always up there (along with concerns about moisture levels and soil suitability - not to mention matching the environment and customer aesthetic).

On sunny days, the edge of this hoop house works like a sun dial

#1 Pick a Winning Location
How hard do you want to work?

Maybe your hose doesn't reach the quarter mile down to your mailbox. Do you see yourself willing to carry watering cans all summer long to hit those pretty sun-loving annuals you couldn't resist in April?

An evergreen situated too close to the foundation 

Think about the mature size of what you're planning as well. Crape myrtles are beautiful, but different varieties mature to different sizes. If you don't pay heed, you may find it growing halfway into your driveway because you set it too close initially. Maybe that same crape myrtle would fit easier into a different space in your garden which is mostly shaded. They tend to reach for the light and not bloom much in those circumstances. In that case, perhaps it is worth thinking about another variety or a different tree altogether.

This azalea was shaded out by a nearby magnolia

#2 It's All About Timing
Plan your timing for success. Is this the best season for what you want to put in?

Planting out of step with the proper time can lead to weak, burnt, bolted and diseased plants (if they even survive in the first place). If that gorgeous hibiscus is on sale for $2 in late September, you may find that it is not the pretty perennial you'd thought, but a tropical variety that won't survive the first frost. Alternatively, the unpicked spinach left in your garden box will most likely bolt when it starts turning warm. So, it is definitely worth paying attention to information tags and seed packet directions.

#3 Round Pegs and Square Holes
It may be gorgeous in the catalog or even at the local nursery, but that doesn't mean it will be happy on your property.

When this tree leafs out, these beds are in full shade

Look at the area you want to fill. Note where the sun hits during the day. Even "part-sun" or "part-shade" creatures usually require 3-6 hours of sunlight during the day. There are many plants that don't make it, never fill out properly due to lack of light or burn because they're getting way too many rays.

An ornamental tree reaching for light

#4 Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
What do you see planted nearby that looks beautiful in the same light?

What is the name of the purple spikes the city planted at that nearby intersection? It just gets fuller every year and seems to thrive in full sun, wind and auto pollution. Take a picture! If you're in our area, send it in & we'll try to identify it for you. If you are in a totally different part of the country or another country altogether, I suggest bringing it to your local nursery.

Love that shady bloomer at the neighbors house? Gardeners love to talk about their successes - they might share where they got it. They might even be willing to offer you cuttings or volunteers.

#5 Not Sure? Trial Runs
Patience is a virtue as much in the garden as elsewhere.

These pots have received differing amounts of light and thus, one is much fuller than the other

When you're not sure it's going to work where you have in mind, go mobile. Pot that shrub into a larger container so that it doesn't get root bound and try just setting it in the area for a while. I often find material which is more available in the spring and don't actually plant until the autumn. It is important to check the pot for watering and general health pretty frequently.

We use this box to heel in leftover plants. It's a full sun storage spot.

Soil Sample for Success

It is really tempting to rush out & purchase all the gorgeous plants which will start to become available in just a few, short weeks. After the grey, damp days of late winter, the prospect of bright blooms and lush foliage has us all salivating.

Already, half the catalogs showing up are of people frolicking about on perfect, green lawns and paddle-boarding off of Caribbean islands (perhaps the cruise lines are in cahoots with exercise apparel companies?). Yes, a flowering hibiscus and some palm trees are just what we need!

Of course, the reality is that the turf is just waking up. The weeds seem about a month ahead of everything else. All those spots you forgot to rake the leaves off of last autumn are now bare, muddy patches. For some reason, the children have left toys and shoes all over the front beds and the nocturnal creatures are gnawing the tiny bit of new, fresh growth off of all your favorite plants.

Sometimes it feels as though we could spend all our time in the yard and we would still not get the best results. The good news is that there are some basic things to prepare outdoor spaces for greater success which are not horribly time-consuming or back breaking.

Please think about taking a soil sample. This is a great step so many people ignore. It really can give you good information. What are you working with? Maybe you've been throwing lime every year on your grass to no avail? You might actually have alkaline soil that isn't helped by lime.

It really behooves us to get the right information so that we're not just guessing and throwing random product out. Here's a link for soil testing at our Dept of Agriculture in NC. We also do carry soil sample kits here at the shop.

Once you have the knowledge, then you can prepare for all those irresistible blossoming beauties which will be for sale, on offer from neighbors and which those kids might even be bringing back from school. Speaking of those kids, shouldn't they be out there helping to pick up branches and raking leaves with you?

A Bit Seedy

"What grass seed do you recommend?" This is a question we hear so often - particularly in the spring and autumn. So far, no one here has incorporated that into a dream, but certainly it's just a matter of time.

Of course, the answer is "it depends" It depends on what the light, moisture & weather in your area are as well as the type of use and amount of maintenance you are looking for.

Often, our customers have a bigger problem for why their grass won't grow. If it's a deep shade area with lots of tree roots sucking out all moisture or a blazing, sunny rise with poor soil and high winds, it's going to be tough.

Even the best grass seed can only do so much. In tough cases, it's more sensible to fix the problem (refurbish the soil, deal with drainage, etc) or find an alternative (create a mulched or pine needled bed around a heavily wooded area for example) 

This said, we have had exceptionally good results in the field using Big League seed for high sun areas and Shady Nook for partial shade areas. At the shop, we carry 5, 10, 25 & 50 lb bags of the Big League / 5, 25 & 50 lb bags of Wyatt Quarles Shady Nook. We also carry accompanying products such as lime, new lawn starter fertilizer (9-13-7), 18-24-12, bales of straw as well as bulk and bagged garden soils.

Silca System

Wow, what a cool look! We really like installing this method of setting stone into decking. It creates a gorgeous patio appearance.

Check out their website (silcasystem.com) for more uses and ideas. Contact us with any thoughts or questions.

Always Improving

We shouldn't have to choose between useful space and beauty. When creating a plan, our lead designer wants to work with your vision and specific needs to get the best result.

This can occasionally be a real challenge. Imagine trying to design around a steep slope for a homeowner who can't handle many stairs? Perhaps our client has her heart set on installing a pathway to her barn, but it turns out that the site has major drainage problems. What do we tell the fellow looking for a huge, multi-faceted project to be accomplished on a property only accessible by a small, weight-limited bridge? Bring it on!

We fully utilize our years of experience, technical understanding and creativity. More times than you can imagine, our design and building teams come up with amazing solutions. Often, these "problems" actually result in an even more flowing and beautiful contour than initially envisioned. 

Our Building Process

 

Our client is going to enjoy this outdoor space for many years to come!