You Can’t Kill It: Flowers

We discussed perennials a couple weeks ago, but this week we’re focusing on annuals – for those of us who like to mix it up year after year.

Zinnia

You can find Zinnias in nearly any color (except blue), and in a variety of heights. They work well in pots, planters, or in the ground, and can be planted in direct sunlight.

Marigolds

They’re super tough to kill, and they’ll brighten up any garden, planter or pot all summer long – because they just keep blooming. Some varieties of marigolds will grow as tall as 5 feet, but most variations are more compact.

Begonias

These tough cookies are often found in hanging baskets or in garden beds. Begonias will grow in sun or shade, and with just a little water, they will continue to grow and bloom through summer.

Snapdragons

A childhood favorite for many, snapdragons will bring butterflies to your garden at little labor-cost to you. In healthy environments, Snapdragons will grow tall and lush, making them strong and able to stand up to harsh weather conditions in the spring and fall.

Photo Cred: enkivillage.com 

Cosmos

Don’t have the best soil in your garden? Never fear. Cosmos are here! Cosmos flowers grow from seeds and can tolerate drought once they are up and growing (so all you have to do is water them to that point).

So now you have a list of annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees that you cannot kill. Which ones will you plant this year?

You Can’t Kill It: Perennials

We left off last week with a list of our favorite shrubs that even if you tried very hard, you’d have a difficult time killing. To compliment your favorite shrub choice, we’ve compiled a list of some beautiful perennials that you will have a hard time destroying.

Ostrich Fern

Named after its appearance, which highly resembles the feathery tail of an ostrich, the Ostrich Fern spreads aggressively, making it perfect for spaces in need of ground cover.

Hosta

Perfect in dry soil, the hosta is a classic perennial that will turn any garden from drab into fab. Every year you’ll be rewarded with a fuller, more lush plant that yields white flowers in the peak of summer. For a little dimension, we recommend selecting the “Gold Standard” Hosta variety, as it boasts light green leaves with darker green edges.

Perry’s Blue Siberian Iris

A stunning purple flower that lasts as long as four weeks is what you can expect from this perennial. Perfect in full sun or part shade, the Perry’s Blue Siberian Iris will grow and bloom in just about any soil type. Dry soil? You’ll just have a shorter stem. Often paired with the Shasta Daisy, this flower is very hard to kill.

Shasta Daisy

She’s a classic, this beauty. The Shasta Daisy lives well in nearly any condition in any garden or yard. They require minimal water and only need your attention when blooms die off. Clipping spent blooms will extend the life of the daisy for months.

Photo Cred: ufseeds.com

Lily of the Valley

It’s true. This beautiful perennial can live a long, prosperous life in your garden. Ideal in mostly-shaded areas, Lily of the Valley perennials will bloom and make for lovely flowers in a vase.

If you’re in need of some shade for Lily of the Valley, stay tuned for next week’s blog on trees that you cannot kill.  

Low maintenance plants

Even if there’s still snow on the ground, it’s still technically spring, so we are getting in the gardening mood here at Faber Homes! Whether you’re a new family with us, current resident, or thinking about building a new Faber Home, landscaping is probably on your checklist. Curb appeal is not only nice for passerbys, but everyone wants an attractive home on the (inside and) outside. You certainly don’t want to be “that house” with the overgrown, weed-infested lawn.

Don’t have time for a full blown landscaping job this year? No worries. Here are some plants to start you out that are low maintenance and beautiful.  

Photo Cred: homecurbappeal.com

Trees

Velvet Cloak Smoke Tree. Best planted in full sun in the spring or early fall, this small tree has deep purple leaves and can grow to 10-15 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide.

Winter King Hawthorn. If you’re looking to add some shade to your yard, this small flowering tree is perfect. This deciduous tree can grow to a height of 15-20 feet and span a width of 18-20 feet, and its beautiful white cluster flowers bloom in May and then give way to red fruits in the late fall.

Shrubbery

Japanese Barberry. If you’re looking for a quick-growing shrub, the Barberry is perfect. Be sure to watch the plant’s growth, as it can take an area over very quickly (and trim those spent flower stalks as it grows to prevent seedlings). Best planted in the spring in full sun, this plant can grow to 3-4 feet tall by 3-4 feet wide, making it a very suitable solution for quick landscaping.

Elijah Blue. This evergreen ornamental grass has a blue-gray foliage and sprouts blue-green flowers if planted in the spring. Each gathering can grow 8-12 inches high and the same in width. These grasses are beautiful and can even be used to cover less than attractive yard requirements such as power boxes and other utilities.

Flowering Plants

Peony. Known for its large fragrant flowers, the peony should be planted in full sun to light afternoon shade. These plants can grow up to 30+ inches tall and can span 25-35 inches wide. They’re best planted in the spring, so grab some seeds soon!

Endless Summer Hydrangea. This flowering plan is as beautiful as it sounds. Endless Summer Hydrangea begins its season with lime green flowers which then change to pink during the summer. Each grouping will grow to 8-10 feet high and the same in width, so be sure you’re planting this beauty in an area that can accommodate such growth, as it will happen quickly.

Best Winter Houseplants

Don’t feel like tending to outdoor winter plants this season? No worries. There’s plenty of flowering plants that do well in your home. Here are some of our favorites.

Lavender. A famous plant and go-to herb for aromatherapy, soaps and other yummy things, lavender is one of the best indoor plants to grow in the winter. Lavender will grow from a seed if you wish to start from scratch, or you can pick up a young plant. Clearly, the benefit of a young plant is that you get to instantly enjoy the fragrance and pretty purple-blue flowers. You’ll want to place your lavender plant in your home’s sunniest window.

Jasmine. Originating in Asia, jasmine is very simple to care for if you keep your home’s temperature in the high 60’s to low 70’s. Make sure to place this starry-flowering plant in an east or south-facing window and don’t let the soil dry out. Also, jasmine will climb a trellis, so stake one in the pot if you’d like!

Citrus. Yes – really! You don’t need to live in Florida to enjoy citrus fruits such as grapefruit, lemon, or oranges. All you need is a very bright spot in your house, and follow these easy directions from HGTV on how to properly care for your citrus plants.

Geraniums. Are you a fan of lemon, lime, rose, ginger, or even chocolate? Who isn’t? Geraniums are available in all of these fragrances, but did you know the fragrance comes not from flowers but from their hairy leaves? Your local nursery can tell you which they have in stock and which would work best for your home.

What’s your favorite indoor plant for the winter?

Cost Efficient Landscaping

Landscaping is a daunting task. You know you want flowers, perhaps some shrubs, and maybe even a spot for a garden. But how expensive is it to get the job done? Obviously, it depends on the project, but there are steps you can take to minimize your trips to the store, and maximize your budget.

First, it’s important to start with a plan. Sketch out your landscape design on engineering paper and know exactly what you need and where you’re going to put each item. 

 Once you’ve figured out your ideal design, go and talk to an expert. A landscape architect will run between $50 and $100 per hour, but it may be worth the investment if you’re inexperienced. If this isn’t your first landscaping job, the experts at your local big box home project store can help you price everything out and make recommendations based on your home. It’s also helpful to bring the site plan for your home so you can put everything into perspective.

When you’re set to start making final purchases, do a little research. Sometimes big box stores won’t carry the items you’re looking for, or if they’re not “in season” you may be paying too much. Items such as lumber for decks is often cheaper during winter months, so be patient if you can afford to be.

Shopping online is also another option for saving money.  Shopping is a little more convenient online, and a bit less stressful when you’re able to search for the exact items you need. Just be mindful of shipping costs and weigh those costs against making the trek to a wholesaler or store for the same item.

Dividing up your projects will also allow you the time you need to do the proper research and plan out your investments. This will also allow you to make adjustments to your plans if you need to, before you go out and buy supplies.

As a last bit of advice, be sure to thoroughly check the quality of all products you receive and don’t be afraid to ask about money-back guarantees. Happy landscaping!