As summer continues in full swing, you may be looking to add a variety of colorful plants to your landscape. These can come in the form of flowers, shrubs, ferns, and trees which are all ready to add interest to your landscape not just in summer, but all year round. For inspiration and education on the best plants for your unique landscape, here’s how a landscape supply and garden center can help you with a summer garden in Hudson Valley, NY.
Checking Your Soil Moisture and Sun Exposure Beforehand
Having a good idea of the natural conditions of your garden will help you in your search for more landscape color and interest. Moisture and sun exposure are two key elements of success when it comes to plants. Save yourself the frustration and choose the right plants for each location, with the help of your garden center experts.
Within the Hudson Valley climate region, some plants may have a hard time with different levels of soil moisture and exposure. The areas of highest moisture and lowest sun exposure will generally be the Northeast. Similarly, the Southeast parts of your landscape will have higher moisture, but see more sunlight. Moving to the Southwest, you’ll find that this is the driest and sunniest part of your landscape. Back up to the Northwest and you’ll see that this area is rather shady while remaining dry as well.
Before you visit the landscape supply and garden center, take some photos of the various parts of your proposed garden expansion and take note of sun exposure throughout the day. Also, you can check the soil moisture level by waiting a few days after a rain and digging a small hole 6 inches down to see how well the soil retains that moisture. Make sure to take notes and the more prepared you are, the more quickly the experts at the landscape supply and garden center can help you.
Choose Natives First
The plants you add to your landscape should be completely ready to withstand the extremes of the Hudson Valley climate. Those plants have been evolving in the area for millions of years and have evolved to thrive in the climate. Exotic imported plants, on the other hand, may be needy in both water consumption and maintenance since they must adapt quickly to a strange climate. Natives require little fertilization and infrequent watering during their life spans. Natives are host to native wildlife, birds, and pollinators, too. And, they are incredibly beautiful and varied additions to your landscape.
Adopting Healthy Plants
Starting plants from seeds can be a difficult process with uneven rates of success. The plants available at your local landscape supply and garden center have been nurtured in a healthy environment by professional gardeners so that you can adopt these plants and add them to your garden. There, they will have a much higher level of success in adapting and thriving.
Talking Seasonal Strategy With An Expert
For a bounty of summer color, you’ll need to get a good idea of the flowering times of individual plants. You don’t want everything to bloom at once. Furthermore, many plants live in a symbiotic relationship with other plants that can help protect them, for instance, during the heat of the summer or the long stretches of winter. An expert at your landscape supply and garden center will be able to point you in the right direction when it comes to seasonal color.
Related: HOW A PLANT NURSERY CAN HELP WITH A SUMMER LANDSCAPE IN THE HUDSON VALLEY, NY, AREA
