Step 1 – Define your goal for the project
Step 2 – Establish a budget for the project
Step 3 – Prioritize Continue reading 3 Steps to Ensure a Successful Landscaping Project
Plants I Like to Incorporate into a Woodland Setting
One of my favorite types of designs to work on are woodland gardens. Clients with a wooded landscape may have concerns about deer and shade. Fortunately, there are numerous plant options with deer resistance and shade tolerance. Read on to learn about a few plants that I like to incorporate into a woodland setting.
Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Radiance’)
Continue reading Plants I Like to Incorporate into a Woodland Setting
Adding Statuary to a Garden
Like a lot of design elements, statuary in a garden can be dramatic and interesting or just seem misplaced and odd depending on how it is incorporated into the overall design of the space. One lesson that I learned in design school is that any statuary elements, including fountains, potted plants, etc. should add to a space that already has a strong planting composition, rather than be the element that makes the composition work. In other words, these elements can be the icing on the cake, but the cake had better be pretty good on its own. Read on to learn more about adding statuary to a garden.
My baby giraffe
Low Growing Plants that Work Well on Slopes
I get a lot of calls from clients who are stumped on what to do with their sloped yards. There are a variety of plants that I use to resolve erosion issues and ensure less maintenance. Read on to learn about low growing plants that work well on slopes.
Cotoneaster dammeri ‘Coral Beauty’ (Bearberry)
Continue reading Low Growing Plants that Work Well on Slopes
3 Things You Can Do Now to Get Ready for Spring
Step 1 – Make a Landscape Design Plan
Step 2 – Plant: Winter is a great time!
Step 3 – Prepare
Clients often ask us what they can do during the winter to get their yard ready for spring, summer and fall. Our answer – tons of things!
- First, create a landscape design plan. Winter is a great time to think about the seasons ahead and work on planning your landscape – consider hiring a designer to create a scaled drawing.
- Second, plant! Winter is absolutely a great time to work on a planting installation. While some perennials may be unavailable the vast majority of our plants do great when planted in the winter.
- Third, prepare. Not ready to start planting? There are still things you can do to move your project forward. Start saving so you have funds available for future projects. Get outside and make notes about your winter garden – what do you like and what isn’t working? Browse garden magazines for inspiration.
Ready to get started? Contact Bright Leaf Landscaping at 919-619-4460 to schedule a landscape design consultation or fill out our online contact form. Design and installation are our expertise, and we are always happy to meet with new clients to discuss potential projects!
Putting the Right Plant in the Right Place
Whether you do it yourself or hire a company like ours, landscaping design and installation is an investment of your time and money into your property. Done well it can be a wise investment – with the payout being increased beauty and higher property values. Read on to learn about common landscaping mistakes and how to avoid them.
Put the Right Plant…
Checking in on the 3 New Cultivars I Added to my Garden in 2017
Last summer some large Leyland Cypress trees came down on my neighbor’s property resulting in a lot more light in my front yard, as well as some additional space to fill with plants! As 2017 comes to a close, I’m revisiting some of the plants I decided to add to this space – Teddy Bear Magnolia, Magic Carpet Spirea, and Ruby Slippers Hydrangea.
The Teddy Bear Magnolia was the definite winner for me. This is a plant that I’ve been aware of for several years but for some reason had never used. Little Gem is another dwarf Magnolia cultivar, and for whatever reason it seems to be more readily available in the nursery trade. In any case, I’m now a Teddy Bear fan! In addition to large glossy leaves with velvety undersides this dwarf tree surprised me with its relatively quick growth rate. Typically when you pick a dwarf cultivar for smaller size, you also get a very slow growth rate, so I was pleasantly surprised when this tree put on over a 1.5 feet of growth in 1 year.
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Teddy Bear’ – Teddy Bear Magnolia in my yard
Continue reading Checking in on the 3 New Cultivars I Added to my Garden in 2017
Colorful Choices for Evergreen Shrubs
Many of my clients are a little confused when I suggest evergreen shrubs. They automatically think the plant is just a plain green shrub. In fact, evergreen plants are simply those that do not lose leaves in the winter. Read on to learn about some colorful choices for evergreen shrubs.
Encore Azaleas
Continue reading Colorful Choices for Evergreen Shrubs
My Favorite Ferns in NC Gardens and Why
I tend to incorporate ferns into designs for shady sites, especially for properties with deer. My favorites happen to be cold-hardy in NC, plus range in size, color, and texture. Read on to learn about my favorite ferns and why I like them.
Dryopteris erythrosora – Autumn Fern
Continue reading My Favorite Ferns in NC Gardens and Why
Flowering Variegated Plant Options
Variegated plants are great way to add interest to your landscape and tie in to the color scheme of your garden. Read on to learn about flowering variegated plant options that will provide a bonus pop of color.
Hypericum moserianum ‘Tricolor’
