Fall in Wisconsin is a bittersweet season. The initial dread of the upcoming winter months can lead to a reluctance to embrace the beauty in the fall landscape. This is a huge missed opportunity! September and October can (and should) be two of our most spectacular months outdoors. Another reason fall color can be neglected is that most nursery purchases in Wisconsin are made in May and June. This tends to lead to heavy favoritism toward the beautiful plants that are at their showiest between Mother’s Day & the 4th of July. Only the fall shopper (or the serious gardener) sees the spectacular late season plants. Don’t miss out! When you come visit us in May, ask us about fall color – while we only get to enjoy it for a few months, we can help you plan for it year-round. A Few Notes About “Fall Color” Color varies from climate to climate, and in Wisconsin it varies from year to year Ideal conditions for best fall color are COOL, but not frozen. Sunny, clear, and dry conditions can produce more vibrant reds, oranges, and rich purples. A wet summer and/or wet fall can lead to bland, dull, more fungal discoloration, and bronzes. Additionally, early frosts can cause bland colors because leaves are damaged before they have a chance to undergo fall pigment changes. Our Favorites for Fall in Southeast Wisconsin: Perennials Yellow Foliage: (after the flowers have finished) Amsonia, Balloon Flower, Daylilies, some Iris, some Solomon’s Seal Orange/Red Foliage: Angelina Sedum, Brookside & Rozanne Geranium (Cranesbill), Bergenia Purple/Deep Maroon Foliage: Hillside Black Beauty Snakeroot, some Coral Bell varieties Shrubs Viburnum , some Spirea varieties (especially the “Double Play” series), Diervilla (which is both native and underappreciated) Chokeberries – brilliant red berries and fiery scarlet foliage in fall, a very popular choice Blueberries – glossy oval leaves turn an outstanding orange in the fall (only plant IF your soil is acidic enough, or you supplement with acid-loving plant foods) Sumac – true red. This is the spectacular “fire engine red” plant seen alongside our interstates and county highways Burning Bush – a very showy shrub that turns a luminous florescent pink in the fall. It is one of the classics and is the first on many people’s lists. However, we are seeing some hardiness problems and dieback every time we have a hard winter. Also, some varieties are no longer suggested for planting because they’re invasive. Use with some discretion. Ornamental Trees Serviceberry – native, and offers an outstanding brick red/orange color in the fall Callery Pear – beautiful, striking deep purple color in the fall. There are some potential concerns about the invasiveness of these trees, so consider this selection with some discretion. Fringetree – narrow leaves turn a golden yellow in the fall. Ginkgo – bright, sunshine yellow AND unusual leaf shape. Shade Trees Honeylocust – select varieties turn gold in the fall. Poplars/Aspen – though not as stunning as they are in Colorado, here in WI they still turn a nice yellow when we have good clear weather. Scarlet Oak – shiny, bright scarlet leaves in the fall. Sugar Maple – some varieties are especially showy. Sugar Maples are the ones that can truly turn all three fall colors: yellow, orange and red on the same tree. Freemanii Maple s – including: Autumn Blaze, Autumn Fantasy, etc. Fall foliage is a striking orange-red. Fruits (that are pretty and visible in fall) Holly – fruits ripen in the winter, providing a nice contrast of red berries and glossy green leaves. Winterberry (our native “holly”) – although the leaves drop in the fall, the red fruit can persist long into winter. Brilliant Red Chokeberry – glossy green leaves turn scarlet red in the fall, and has brilliant red berries that are retained for an extended time Sumacs – in addition to their true red fall color, they also produce reddish fruits American Beautyberry – large clusters of purple berries that ripen in September through October and attract many wild bird species. Source: https://pialasnursery.com/beyond-burning-bush-fall-scaping-for-gorgeous-late-season-landscapes/
When you need inspiration for using plants in your garden for maximum impact, try a few of these easy landscaping ideas. They'll help you to use basic design concepts to create a gorgeous outdoor space you can enjoy when relaxing in your backyard, sitting on your front porch, or driving up to your house after a busy day. Create Swaths of Color One easy landscape idea that's simple to implement is to grow big swaths of the same plant for bold interest and contrast with another. Repeat Colors and Textures Planting one of everything gives your garden a hodgepodge look. Avoid that by reusing the same colors, shapes, or plant varieties all around your landscape. Make Plants Do Double Duty If your yard has limited space, it's important to make the most of it! One easy landscape idea that makes the best use of plants is to take advantage of those that serve more than one purpose. For example, plants that offer privacy from the neighbor on the other side while also providing an attractive backdrop. Contrast Bold Colors One of the most basic, easy landscaping ideas is to create contrasts. Also, consider color; when you pair rich burgundy-purple with chartreuse, the gold hues become brighter, and the purple tones become richer and darker. Together, the colors are much more effective than when used alone. Mix Materials You can easily add a level of interest to your yard by incorporating a variety of plants and hardscape materials. For example, the natural feel of lawn and cut flagstones makes an eye-catching contrast against smooth beach pebbles and gravel. The color of the flagstone mimics the beach pebbles and ties the two together; it's an easy landscaping idea and also a good example of using repetition. Play with Geometry Take advantage of lines, shapes, and angles when reviewing your gardening ideas and laying out your yard to add drama and impact. Frame Your Garden with Hedges and Fences Add interest to your yard with structures. For example, use low fences or hedges to divide spaces and give each space or room its unique identity. Plus, the structures add interest all year long. Make The Most of Trees and Shrubs Trees and shrubs are some of the most critical players in a well-designed landscape. It's easy to use them to make an impact, especially if you select varieties that have colorful foliage. Go a step further with some creative pruning. Place Garden Beds In Your Lawn It's easy to plant all your beds and borders along the perimeter of your property, but adding an island bed that floats in your lawn is an easy landscaping idea for a good-looking yard. Make island beds extra effective by adding height to the center. Plus, you need to walk around the planting to see what's behind it, so it adds a bit of mystery. Plant Shades of Green Using a variety of shades of green helps add depth to your plantings. Bright chartreuse greens (seen in these 'Frisia' honey locust trees) catch the eye and stand out in the landscape, especially compared to the darker, richer tones often found in evergreens. Blue-greens add a softness and almost always harmonize well with other shades. Source: https://www.bhg.com/gardening/landscaping-projects/landscape-basics/easy-landscaping-ideas/ And as always, if you'd rather leave the design and installation to us, feel free to reach us at 920.462.7041 for YOUR free landscaping consultation!
f you don't have a green thumb, consider simple and easy-to-implement landscape design ideas, such as grass, gravel pathways, water features, statues, pergolas, outdoor kitchen areas, outdoor fireplaces, cozy fire pits, privacy berms, patios and much, much more!!! Call us today to schedule YOUR free consultation and help transform your yard into the yard of your DREAMS!!! 920.462.7041
Garden of Eden The wild, earthly, Garden-of-Eden vibe is going to be big for gardens this year. So how do you translate that aesthetic to your own backyard? For starters, try mixing in edible plants with the rest of your landscape—don't just contain them to raised beds. This trend is also all about nurturing nature by incorporating pollinator- and bird-friendly plants, using organic products, and being mindful of soil health.
Landscaping is comprised of five main elements: color, line, texture, form and shape. These elements all work together to form a beautiful landscape design. Understanding each element will help you make good landscaping decisions, so we’ve outlined the ways each element can be incorporated into a design: 1. Color While all of the elements of landscaping are important, color might be the most essential. Color can add dimension, visual interest, and seasonal variety to your landscaping throughout the year. Color doesn’t just apply to the flowering plants you choose; you can also use paving, retaining walls, fences and mulch to add color to your landscape design. 2. Line Line refers to both hardscape and softscape elements, but typically it refers to the more structural features in your garden. Flower beds, walkways, patio perimeters, hedges and arbours can all be used to add lines to your garden and can help to draw attention to certain areas. If you prefer a more formal look, opt for hard lines as curved lines tend to be less formal and more relaxed. 3. Texture In any good design, texture is key. Plants are the best way to accomplish this goal, as the leaves, bark, flowers and branches all add instant texture. However, aggregates, mulch, paving stones, retaining walls and other structural features can also add texture to your garden. Be sure to choose elements with different textures throughout your garden to add visual interest. 4. Form You can think of form as the shape of a plant or other structural object. If you have a formal garden, the forms will be more tailored and manicured, with clipped hedges and defined lines. Informal landscapes tend to have natural forms and rely less on heavy pruning and maintenance. 5. Scale One of the trickiest elements in landscaping design is scale. You want to have a good balance between the size of your garden elements and the size of your home, as well as surrounding homes and public areas. If you have a smaller home, consider choosing elements that are in proportion to the size of your home. A larger home may be able to incorporate larger elements. Understanding these landscaping elements will help you design a landscape that you love! For expert help, contact The Luxury Landscape Co, LLC, for all your design and landscaping needs!
Well, it's past Memorial Day and we're working up to the 4th of July ... here are recommendations of complementary varieties in Red, White and Blue to plants. Red Geranium Red geraniums are a great centerpiece for a fourth of July potted container because geraniums are a floral choice that keeps giving and giving. Geraniums, when deadheaded, can continue to bloom and bloom all summer long. Pair this flower with white alyssum which will also flower all summer, and purple or red salvia plants which add their own pop of color without dominating the combination.