Christopher J. Starbuck, Associate Professor Division of Plant Sciences State Horticulture Extension Specialist

Pin It

Understand trees & shrubs

Trees and shrubs add beauty and value to residential and commercial properties. Well-placed plants can provide color, movement and interesting textures and also reduce energy costs. However, success with woody plants requires care in plant selection, planting and maintenance.

The right plant in the right place

To develop a good landscape plan, gardeners should select plants that are well suited to the climate and microclimate and avoid plants with characteristics that will create maintenance problems. Planting trees and shrubs that are appropriate for the site will ensure that the landscaping will develop quickly into an asset. In addition to aesthetic qualities, factors that should be considered in plant selection include cold hardiness, preferences for light and moisture, ultimate plant size and pest resistance.

The more you know about a plant, the better you can anticipate potential problems and find ways to reduce or eliminate them before, during or after planting. For example, while Douglas fir grows like a weed in Oregon, it struggles in the Midwest because of frequent droughts and high nighttime temperatures.

Pin It

Send To A Friend

Share