No matter when your new build house is slated for completion, it’s never too soon to start planning out your planting.
Be sure to do your homework before you start choosing plants, says Patrick Affourtit, design manager at Blendon Gardens.
Every municipality has building codes, and most include landscaping, so don’t overlook any regulations on topics like shade trees and utility screenings. Once you know the rules, you need a master plan, which you can create yourself or hire a landscape professional to design. A master plan will provide a balance of seasonal color and textures, and also is used as a great budgeting tool, especially if the project is split up in stages, Affourtit says.
A quality irrigation or sprinkler system is also key to new home landscape installation, he says.
The majority of new home sites have soil compaction due to construction equipment, but many hardy plants will thrive under those conditions, Affourtit says.
His recommendations:
Shade tree: “October Glory” Red Maple, used for its brilliant red-orange fall color.
Flowering trees: “Prairie Fire” Crabapple, used for its disease resistance, vibrant spring flowers and very small ornamental fruit; “Cleveland Select” Pear, used for its upright shape, stronger wood and spring flowers.
Evergreen Shrubs: Boxwoods, used for their adaptability in pruning, slow growing and glossy green leaves; Junipers, used for their more natural shapes, which are great for texture and color.
Flowering Shrubs: Knockout rose, low-care roses with extremely long bloom times; “Juddi” Viburnum, fragrant spring flowers with great fall color; “Shirobana” Spirea, white and pink summer flowers with low maintenance; “Admiration” Barberry, dwarf shrubs with brilliant red leaves and cream color variegated leaves.
Stephan Reed is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
