October 2003
by Durant Ashmore, Certified Nurseryman
Photos courtesy: Images By BA
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October is an excellent time to be planting South Carolina grown nursery plants because roots grow all winter and the plants will be better established to face our summer heat. Keep in mind in South Carolina that plants can be planted all year round.
Rules to remember.
If your house faces the South or West and is not shaded by trees, you require sun-loving plants.
A focal point should be established and in most cases, this is the front door.
The tallest plants are usually at the ends of the house, serving to frame the residence.
Low growing plants are used in front of windows and porches to prevent blocking.
Take the time to visit local nurseries to choose plants best suited for your site.
Tall evergreen growing plants which may be appropriate for the corners of houses
| cleyera | sasanqua | camellia |
| tea olive | holly | wax myrtle |
| arborvitae | anise | English laurel |
| loropetalum | banana shrub | pittosporum |
| ligustrum | podocarpus | evergreen viburnam |
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| Sasanqua |
Loropetalum |
Ligustrum |
Plants which are useful to emphasize a focal point
| mugo pine | dwarf hinoki cypress | curly leaf ligustrum | gardenia |
| tree form ligustrum |
weeping Japanese maple | boxwood | dwarf Alberta spruce |
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| Boxwood | D.
Hinko Cypress |
Mugo
Pine |
Dwarf plants to be
used in front of windows and other locations
| dwarf nandina | gumpo azaleas | dwarf holly | dwarf gardenia | dwarf pittosporum |
| dwarf barberry | dwarf abelia | juniper | dwarf euonymous | Indian Hawthorn |
Most of these plants
only grow up to three feet tall at maturity.
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| Barberry | Euonymous |
Daisy Gardenia |
Plants to use en
masse for front foundations
| Nandina | otto luyken laurel | holly | gardenia | abelia |
| azalea | barberry | boxwood | euonymous | juniper |
| yew | dwarf yeddo | hawthorn | viburnam | Indian hawthorn |
Most of these plants
only grow up to four to six feet tall at maturity.
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The South Carolina
Nursery and Landscape Association has many experts who can assist you
with choosing the right plant for the right spot. Be sure to consult
with one of our qualified members as you go through the process of
getting your residential landscape in shape. A list of these individuals who reside
nearest to you can be found in the membership
section on this web site. You may also view past articles here.
Next month, we will
be highlighting plants for shady locations.