PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE DESIGN Foliage Focus

Today’s landscape architect must look at a variety of things when designing an outdoor plan, from water features and outdoor lighting to decks and patios. All of these items are meant to make outdoor spaces more beautiful and enjoyable, and they all revolve around what are arguably the most important components of any landscape: the plants.

 The plants you choose for landscapes can make or break the entire project, which is why choosing varieties wisely is so important. You most likely do a lot of the variety selection when it comes to trees, shrubs and other more “permanent” plant features, but do you give the same attention to your choices for annual flowers and foliage – or “color” – to complement those woody plants?
 
Even within one species, the traits of different cultivars (or “varieties”) can vary greatly; one plant isn’t always as good as the next, and using the best varieties available means the best opportunity for success. By the same token, using the same plants over and over again not only makes plantings stale, but can actually affect plant performance – and customer satisfaction – over time. Staying on top of what’s new and different in plant material helps you keep your business fresh and current and positions your company as a leader in your area. Landscape color done right also can have a major impact on a contractor’s bottom line – satisfied clients tend to offer repeat and referral business.

THE BASICS – DECIDING WHAT YOU NEED. There’s more to a successful planting than just installing an attractive bed of flowers. Savvy designers will take a number of factors into consideration before deciding which plants will provide the best results for their clients. Start with the client; some have more definite ideas than others about what they want in their landscape plantings, but at least discuss factors such as preferred colors or colors to avoid, how much maintenance is to be handled by the client vs. the maintenance company, and if there’s an overall look or feel that’s desired.
 
Next, do a site analysis. If you’re working with a repeat client, you may already have a good idea of the light levels of the planting area (whether it gets mostly sun or mostly shade or combination of the two, and how the light levels vary by season), but if it’s a new site you’ll have to start from scratch. Pay attention to any structures (like buildings or large trees) that affect the amount of sunlight the site receives. Note the color scheme of surrounding buildings or existing trees and shrubs so you’ll know which colors will work best in the new annuals you’re planning to install. Evaluate how windy the location is. If the site tends to have a lot of wind whipping around corners, it may be best to focus on lower-growing plants that are less susceptible to wind damage. Depending on where you live and work and the time of year, plants may need to tolerate cool temperatures or high heat and be drought-tolerant or moisture-loving. And of course you need to measure the planting area so you’ll be able to determine how many plants you’ll have to install to fill the space.
 
Consider any existing plantings into which the new plants will be incorporated. Pay attention to things like size, shape, color and texture. Think about how any new plant will complement the existing landscape. For example, if most of the surrounding shrubs have large, bold foliage, decide if you want the new plants to blend in (by adding more boldly-textured varieties) or contrast (by choosing more finely-textured varieties). If there is a lot of space to fill, a more vigorous variety may be in order, such as fast-growing plants like Wave petunias. If the space is smaller, a more compact plant like a pansy or vinca could be the best choice. In any case, be aware of the cost of the installation; annual plantings give contractors great opportunities for repeat business even within one year due to seasonal change-outs of the same bed, but the best potential for profit comes from using varieties that fill the space most effectively and offer the most ease of installation.

LEARNING ABOUT NEW PLANTS. Even if you’ve found certain annuals you know provide reliable results, resist the urge to settle for what you’ve always done. Hundreds of new annual varieties, both flowers and foliage, are introduced every single year, and what’s new in the market today often includes varieties that offer much better performance, greater benefits and more interesting and unique colors than other varieties that may only be a few years old. But how do you wade through all the information about new plants to figure out what will work best for you?
 
1. Start with your grower. Your grower can be your best source of information about what’s new in the market. Oftentimes growers have already trialed many new varieties prior to their introduction and can provide excellent feedback about how they compare to what’s already available.
 2. Visit trials. Many universities, particularly state institutions, have summer field trials where they put new plants to the test. Some also offer fall and spring trials as well. Getting out and visiting trials (even though it takes time during your busiest season) can be the best way to get an up close and personal look at how new plants perform in your specific region.
 3. Visit trade shows. You can learn about new plants and find a supplier all in one place. Check with your local horticulture trade associations for a list of shows in your area.
 4. Check out garden centers. Most garden centers, particularly independently-owned stores, have avid “plant people” on staff who can tell you about new varieties. It also gives you a great opportunity to see what consumers are buying.
 5. Read magazines. In addition to trade magazines, pick up titles like Better Homes & Gardens, Garden Design and Southern Living at the newsstand. Consumer writers often have an advance look at new plants; besides, your clients, whether they’re commercial or residential, are probably reading these and other consumer-oriented magazines, too.
 6. Check online. Most plant breeders have Web sites where you can research new plants, and many also have landscape sections of their sites where the best “in-ground” performers are highlighted. Just typing “annuals for the landscape” into a search engine will yield useful information.

GETTING WHAT YOU WANT, WHEN YOU WANT IT. Ordering early has its benefits with annuals; it’s easier to get what you want if you plan ahead. In addition, because many annuals take only a few months for growers to produce, ordering in advance lets you request specific, “first choice” varieties and colors and still have time to grow them. If possible, meet with clients at the end of the season to talk about the next; it’s a great way to secure the business and plan ahead. Talk about what worked well and what needs improvement and get the commitment for the following year’s business.
 
Decide on quantity by looking at the “plants per square foot” recommendations for the plants you choose. Your grower can help you with this if the information isn’t readily available. Including your grower in the planning process means you may have an easier time getting what you want when the planting season starts.
 
The conditions of the planting site, as determined in your site analysis, play a big role in your plant selection. So does color, and the choices are almost limitless in annuals. You can find just about whatever you want for wherever you want, so pick a color palette and begin designs early. Make sure your grower has all this information as well; knowing that you generally need a red flower for sunny, dry conditions, for example, saves you and your grower a lot of time and energy when it comes to deciding on specific varieties.
 
Some growers require more lead time than others, so check with yours to be sure you know the schedule. A general recommendation for annuals is to order four to six months prior to the installation, if possible (for example, order spring bedding plants in the fall or winter), but it can easily vary depending on the grower and the plants. Give your grower time to provide consultation and source the particular varieties you want in the quantities you need.
 
Container size and type also plays a role in plant selection. Smaller plants (in traditional flats or 4-inch pots) will be easier to install with less root damage, and they also tend to be more economical. But if you need big color very quickly, talk with your grower about starting with a larger container size. In addition, there are options aside from traditional plastic, including biodegradable pots that can be directly planted into the ground, that can drastically reduce planting time as well as labor and cleanup costs.
 
Your grower supplier needs to know basic information, including the variety you want, the size of plant you want, and the delivery or pickup plans for the plants. Discuss your budget with your grower and, whenever possible, take advantage of the economies of consolidating orders. A strong relationship with your grower is often the best way to ensure the best plant material that’s available when you need it.

BE BRAVE: TRY NEW THINGS. Trying new things doesn’t only have to mean trying brand-new varieties. It could be as simple as trying something you’ve never used before. For example, in the Southeast, mums and pansies are landscape kings around the month of October. But there are so many choices for cool-season color now that it’s easy to augment those mums and pansies with some really unique, yet still reliable, plants. Plants like erysimum, linaria and diascia offer a totally new look. Look for award-winning varieties. New and different plants may make contractors uneasy at first, but remember that plant breeders have to be diligent about thoroughly trialing varieties before they’re introduced.
 
Wherever you put color in the landscape, it automatically becomes the focal point. Use that to your advantage to highlight entryways or pathways, particularly interesting architecture or compelling landscape features like fountains or uniquely colorful trees or shrubs. Remember, it’s the first place viewers’ eyes will go when they take in the planting – that’s why it’s so important to choose the right plants for the job.

The author is industry communications manager, Ball Horticultural Co., West Chicago, Ill. She can be reached at 630-231-3600, jatchison@ballhort.com or via www.balllandscape.com.