<b>Trees, Ornamental & Bedding Plant:</b> Landscape thoughts for lean times

Budgets may be tight and labor stretched thin, but the green industry continues to persevere and achieve success thanks to creative thinking. The creative-minded landscape contractor suggests plants that give the customer more “bang for her buck.” Installing low-maintenance cultivars that are manageable and enjoyable, with materials that provide multiple seasons of landscape interest and use, helps fulfill consumer demand.

An example: The USDA introduction Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade,’ is an excellent plant that offers multi-seasonal interest and provides additional consumer uses.

Not only does this energetic cross between Vaccinium corymbosum (highbush) and ashei (rabbiteye) make an excellent hedge or foundation planting, it produces luscious pink berries – making this selection a wonderful landscape feature, as well as a culinary delight. For that matter, any of the traditionally fruiting Vaccinium provides excellent features in the landscape or small garden because the berry harvest is followed by a fall color that glows in tones of peach, apricot and red. Vaccinium, too, serves as a great alternative for the invasive Euonymus alatus compacta in terms of both performance and seasonal appeal.

Plants for today’s needs
Think in terms of small, manageable spaces with textures, and colors, woven into the fabric of the landscape. Just because the landscape job is smaller doesn’t mean you have to compromise on quality. In fact, higher quality is greatly appreciated, even studied, in small spaces. Integration of color and texture increases this interest value. Use of grasses, or grass-like growers – Carex, Festuca, Hakonechloa, Helictotrichon and Miscanthus – contrast nicely with ferns and hostas.

Kick start your creativity
With so many choices, how do you get the creative juices flowing?

Use trade magazines as idea factories. Take a few moments to sift through the information and tear out the pertinent information relating to the landscapes you build. Pay particular attention to phrases like “low maintenance,” “heat tolerant” and “drought resistant.”

Look at the USDA zone range of the plants you may include in your installation. Are you exploring all your options?

Attend industry trade shows, nursery tours or join a local nursery group. Take time to visit with the growers and nursery owners asking them what plants are “good production plants.” Ask them which plants are the most heat tolerant, cold hardy or disease resistant.

And always consider your audience: A happy customer is your best advertisement, ever.

The author is the sales and marketing director for Briggs Plant Propagators.