landscaping – Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Durham County

by Ann Barnes, EMGV

If Master Gardeners had a mantra, it might be “Right plant, right place”. Following this rule helps plants to thrive, can decrease diseases and pests, and may cut down on the time you spend in watering, pruning, and doing other kinds of yard maintenance.

Before you can choose the right plant, we need to take a good look at the “place”. Yes, gardeners need to do a little homework. Look at the area you wish to plant. How much sun does the area get per day? Is the soil rich in organic material, or high in clay or rocks? (Remember, you can add organic material less desirable soil to improve it.) After a rain, does the area drain well or stay moist for a long time? Will plants have a wind break from a house, fence, or hedge? Are there tree roots that will compete with your new plants for water or moisture? Do you have deer, rabbits, or other animals that may forage in your yard? Don’t forget to take measurements of your space and do a soil test!

Next, think about what the function of your landscape will be. Do you want everything to be “easy care”, or do you enjoy spending time tending your plants? Are children and pets going to be playing in the space? Will the new plants need to hide an unattractive view, provide shade, or create privacy? Do you want colorful blooms or soothing shades of green?

Once you’ve answered these questions, you can begin searching for the “right plant(s)”. Although it is tempting to go to the garden center and buy all the plants that catch your eye, look for plants that fit your place. Most plants will have a tag showing the Latin name, common name, mature height and width, light requirements, and other growing conditions. If tags are missing, ask a friendly nursery employee or search the internet for more information.

When you find plants that you like, look at the mature height and width of each kind. When you plant, space everything far enough apart to accommodate mature sizes of your plants. One common landscaping mistake is planting a cute little shrub in front of your home without taking its full size into account. In ten years, you may find that the shrub is extending over your front steps, blocking your windows, and crowding everything in its path. If you have to prune multiple times per year just so you can get to the door, you do not have the right plant in the right place. Some small perennials may spread quickly or reseed prolifically, and those will also need to be tended frequently if not given enough space. The right plant for each place will need room to grow.

Next, look at light, water, and soil requirements. If you have shade, choose plants that grow best in shade, and if you have sun, pick sun loving plants. Drought tolerant plants are well suited for dry areas but may not grow well in a wet spot. Group plants together by their growing needs – put plants that need more moisture near one another so you can water more efficiently, for example, and keep the “heavy feeders” together so that you can fertilize only the plants that need it.

Finally, think about how the plants you choose will look when planted near each other. Make sure contrast between leaf shapes, sizes, colors, and flowers are pleasing to you. Some gardeners prefer to stick to a color scheme and to repeat plants throughout a landscape, while others crave variety. Choose plants that you like, since you will be seeing them each day.

Many readers of this blog already have an established landscape. It is still worthwhile to observe your property to answer the above questions. If a plant in your yard is not thriving or is a maintenance problem, you may discover that it is not in the right place. If that is the case, simply moving the plant could be the solution. If transplanting isn’t feasible, you will need to decide if it is possible to compensate for the problem – by watering more or less, amending the soil, pruning, or otherwise altering your “place” to suit your plant. However, this won’t always be possible, and it is OK to remove a plant if it isn’t working in your landscape. Don’t be afraid to change your landscape as your plants grow or your tastes change.

lorapetalum — The Lorapetalums in this garden were spaced far apart to allow for the mature size of each plant. Unfortunately, they liked the space TOO well and grew larger than expected! All shrubs in this garden have been replaced since this photo was taken in 2008. Don’t be afraid to make changes when the unexpected happens. *Photo: Ann Barnes*

https://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/handbook/Right_Plant-Right_Place_vSept09.pdf

https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/right-plant-right-place-plant-selection-guide-for-managed-landscapes

https://web.extension.illinois.edu/hkmw/downloads/65468.pdf

http://www.mastergardenersmecklenburg.org/right-plant-right-place.html

by Andrea Laine, EMGV

Moss is boss. Anyone who attended moss landscaper Annie Martin’s presentation at the Durham Garden Forum in January would likely agree. Her enthusiasm for growing moss is infectious.

outcropwithmossfb

I entered the presentation rather neutral on the Bryophyte family; I have not encouraged nor discouraged moss in my lawn and gardens. After hearing the presentation, I realized there was a lot I had not understood about moss and believe is worth sharing with other gardeners. The following information was obtained from multiple sources.

How moss grows
Moss belongs to the Bryophyte family and some are 450 million years old. They are non-vascular plants yet still produce photosynthesis, therefore requiring sunlight, water and nutrients to live. They absorb water and nutrients through their leaves.

Moss do not have roots; rhizoids anchor the plant to a porous surface. There are two types of moss each with their own set of characteristics: acrocarpous and pleurocarpous. Moss will grow anywhere that is porous enough to hold moisture:

Soil
Decaying trees
Rocks
Streams and waterfalls
Asphalt pavement
Concrete walls
Doormats
An old leather shoe.

Steep hillsides that are hard to mow are great places for moss. Mosses help remediate soggy spots and minimize water runoff.

Moss is one alternative for areas where gardeners desire a very low-growing ground cover. Moss thrives in shady areas unsuited to lawn growth, as well as in moist, acidic soils, providing a low-maintenance, attractive alternative to turf.

Reproduction
Depending upon the type of moss, it will reproduce by spores or by branching/fragmentation. Success for either way requires moisture.

Among a moss colony there will be male and female members. Raindrops hitting the male plants scatter the sperm to female plants. Fertilization results in spores which are analogous to a flowering plant’s seeds. Spores are housed in capsules at the tip of a tall, stalk-like form called the sporophyte (see photos below). As the spores ripen they are dispersed from the capsule and if they land on a moist and porous surface a new plant can grow.

Mosses will also send out new shoots in the spring (branching) and can reproduce by fragmentation whereby wind, water, or a human being separates a piece from the whole and provides it a moist and porous surface on which to grow.

Caring for moss
Moss is practically care-free. It will grow in nutrient poor soil, in all types of climates and habitats, in sun or shade depending on the species. Moss hydrates quickly with frequent yet brief watering sessions. Ms. Martin suggested 3 times per day for 3 minutes. As with turf grasses, it is important to remove debris so as not to inhibit photosynthesis. Debris is best removed by blowing or sweeping . Avoid raking as it can dislodge moss.

A moss garden can deliver many shades and textures of green, practically year-round. Moss do not go dormant during cold weather but may yellow, temporarily, during seasonal transitions. It is not susceptible to disease. And while deer may trample it, they are unlikely to eat it.

Many choices
There are more than 20,000 species of moss which will grow in sun or shade depending upon the species. mossmix-by-annie-martin

According to Ms. Martin, species that generally grow well are:

Ceratodon purpureus
Climacium americanum
Entodon seductrix
Hedwigia ciliata
Hypnum imponens
Leucobrynum glaucoma
Sphagnum palustre
Thuidium delicatulum

In conclusion, I am likely to maintain my ‘let it be’ attitude toward the patches of moss that have colonized the shady, undisturbed areas and rocks on my wooded property with one exception. Having learned that bees view mosses as hydration stations, I will try to remember to water the moss every now and then, especially during dry periods.

Of note

For local inspiration, visit the Kathleen Smith Moss Garden in the Asiatic Arboretum at Duke Gardens.
On March 18 the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Orange County is offering an educational program about the basic biology of mosses.
There is a bryophyte herbarium at Duke University.

mosscarpetwendy Mosses can be planted with annuals, perennials and bulbs. (Photo by Wendy Diaz.)