Spring is busy time for landscape companies in the Lower Mainland and it’s important to install new plants before summer heat arrives. Like today, for example. Sunny Sunday.
As projects pile up and weekdays get very busy we push some work to weekends. And planting new plants on a sunny Sunday is very pleasant work.
Dead space
Today was about defeating dead space. As plants die and seasons pile up, you get planted beds that are no longer planted. Then you get hit by the worst winter in the past thirty years. And that leads to some landscape editing since the dead and weak must get replaced.
Open bed spaces also invite weeds. I remember well those dead spots where we would cultivate out weeds, nothing got planted and back we went to pull more weeds. Planting something new makes more sense when budgets allow.
Occasionally, dead spaces remain because there are obstructions like cement covers and drains. Or cables. Or narrow driveways. Today one resident came to tell us not to plant too close to her narrow driveway because when they exit their car they hit the plants. And her kids step on them.
As always, our goal is a healthy, good looking landscape that inspires residents and passersby.
Landscape edit
Landscape editing came first. We had to remove dead and weak plants. Namely Arbutus unedo, Ceanothus thyrsiflorus and one mature and very leggy Lavender. Since these were winter damaged plants there was no hope of salvaging them. But sometimes, when editing happens plants get re-used. Sometimes on the same site and sometimes elsewhere. I joke about Craigslist but I have yet to put a plant up for sale on Craigslist.
New look
It’s extremely satisfying to fill up empty spaces with new plants. The resulting look should always be more inspirational.
We added Polystichum munitum, Berberis thunbergii and Sarcococca ruscifolia, Also used this week were Pieris japonica, Buxus micro Winter Gem and Spiraea bumalda Gold Flame.
In conclusion, fight dead space in your landscapes. Fill it with new plants and have some fun with it. Then sit back and enjoy the changes.
