Deciduous Trees and Shrubs in Landscaping

Deciduous trees and shrubs, though they lose their foliage in winter, can create incredibly rich displays of color and texture throughout the rest of the year. Since the deciduous label encompasses so many different plant groups, however, homeowners have a significant amount of work to do even after they choose deciduous plants as their main landscaping tool. A fundamental concern should be learning as much about the local climate and soil as possible. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plant Hardiness Zones may be used to determine whether certain trees and shrubs will thrive in the local area's climate. Soil concerns are also critical: does the local soil contain elevated levels of sand or clay? Will plants and trees have access to drainage? What sort of natural waterways are situated in the path of the landscaping, and will additional drainage be required when dealing with periods of heavy rainfall? Gathering this data prior to planting will help ensure that all trees, shrubs, and plants in the landscape develop to their fullest.

Homeowners with a specific autumnal color palette in mind will need to conduct research to ensure their landscape matches their intent, as not all deciduous foliage passes through the same color spectrum before falling to the ground. Some trees? leaves turn faster than others, while still others simply fall without much of a color change at all. Dropped leaves and other foliage may prove a hazard to gutters, but the leaves themselves can also be gathered, stored, and tilled back into the soil as compost. In this way, pronounced deciduous foliage around the property can give way to rich soil for gardens and flowerbeds.

From summer through autumn deciduous foliage may rule the landscape, but what of the winter? When foliage falls, homeowners are deprived of both shade and natural windbreaks. Blustery winter winds can lead to increased soil erosion and damage the health of all nearby plants. To help with these problems, homeowners are encouraged to consider the benefits of woody evergreens. Dense evergreen shrubs provide year-round privacy and shelter from wind. Many varieties also have the added benefit of being able to be pruned into decorative shapes. Fast-growing groundcovers may be used to combat soil erosion, as soil will clump around their root systems. Homeowners are advised to seek a balance between quick groundcover growth and overall coverage, since many fast-growing groundcovers are quite aggressive and can be difficult to contain once planted.

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