Young ‘Winter King’ hawthorn contrast beautifully with two large evergreen trees

‘Sparkling Burgundy’ Camellia Gets Your Attention at Biltmore Estates in Asheville, NC

Young American holly (Ilex opaca) at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA

Cool autumn temperatures and increased rainfall make Autumn an ideal time to plant. Attractive landscaping adds value to your home and property. Selecting select deciduous trees and shrubs may reduce home winter heating bills and provide cooling shade in summer. Gardeners living in condos or townhouses should also consider a winter hardy evergreen or flowering shrub for their deck or patio.

Trees and shrubs are key landscape components that beautify over many decades. Select plants  that are cold and heat hardy where you live, their mature size versus available garden space to fill, and their ornamental features such as seasonal leaf color, flowering, ornamental fruits. Plan before you go to the garden center to make your purchase.

A few helpful tips when shopping for plants:

• Around a home foundations, plant low growing evergreen and/or flowering shrubs. Dwarf and semi-dwarf growing shrubs reduce the need to prune.
• Utilize vertically branched shrubs to define entrance ways or to soften corners (edges) of homes such as pyramidal yews, columnar junipers and hollies, and many other choices.
• Large densely branched conifers planted on the west or north sides around the property can shelter against prevailing winds and lower winter heating bills.
• Broadleaf evergreens, such as hollies, azaleas, and rhododendrons, produce colorful flowers or berries, and maintain their foliage year-round.
• Ground covers are low cost alternatives for stabilizing slopes and for seasonal flowering and fruits.
• Unique dwarf, weeping, or colorful leafy shrubs and trees are good accents planted in containers around patio and deck areas.