How to avoid landscape failures in spring

Landscape design and planting techniques are personal choices by homeowners, unless you are moving to a house that is already landscaped. Unfortunately, mistakes and missteps can happen when planting and during aftercare. And then, too much time passes, leaving the plants to grow and pose issues and dare I say become eyesores with eventual decline and possible plant death.

If improving your own planting plan is on your front burner this outdoor gardening season, then there are ways to change bad planting habits.

Plant placement

The most used landscape phrase by green industry professionals and gardeners in the know is “right plant, right place.” Saying it out loud does not make it so unless you take the meaning to heart (and mind). This means educating yourself about what the plant needs for light requirements, soil conditions, water requirements and, above all, size. (How tall will a tree eventually grow? How wide?)

The tag attached to a plant or tree is a wonderful tool and planting guide: study it, take a photo, file it. And guess what? Even though the tag says a plant matures to a certain height and width it won’t automatically stop growing when it reaches those dimensions.

Sure, the cute little shrub may look just perfect on planting day in front of your beautiful front door, but is it the right plant in the right place once it grows up and out?

Proper planting

Correct tree planting often determines its fate. Obvious signs of poor planting include seeing twine, wire baskets or burlap covering the root ball. If a tree is declining and eventually dies, there may be other causes besides improper planting. Under- and overwatering, soil conditions, pest infestation or poor location may be contributing factors. When a tree is eventually removed, it’s not difficult to see one or more of the causes of failure.

When trees are planted too deeply, they look like telephone posts from the ground up. There should be an obvious root flare visible when properly planted. Even if you hire out for planting, learn the correct method and monitor the actual planting. Trees can be pricey and a lifelong responsibility for care. Check with your local nurseries or the resources below for best planting practices.

Tree mulch should not be piled too high (often called volcano mulch), which doesn’t allow for proper air and water penetration. Also keep mulch directly away from the trunk so it’s not a place for insects to hide. Too much water close to the trunk may lead to rot.

Adding mulch for a finished look to landscape plantings and borders can be beautiful and healthy for cooling plant roots on hot days, while keeping weeds at bay. Mulch choices include shredded bark, chunk bark, bark chips and arborist chips. If you would rather use rock, there is pea gravel, river rock, cobble and stones.

Think twice about installing landscape fabric under mulch everywhere in a landscape. Weeds will return in a year or two and become more difficult to pull the longer they are left to grow in the fabric. Plus the soil underneath fabric becomes hard-packed and doesn’t allow plant roots to move deeper in the soil; they stay closer to the surface in desperate need and search for space, air and moisture.