Updated: Feb 22
As Californians, we are lucky to live in such a nice, warm climate. But sometimes, the winter days hit us harder than usual, and we need a little something to spice up our life – or yard!
With California’s Mediterranean climate we are lucky to be able to still have beautiful flowers all year round. Here are a few that can add more liveliness and color around your home.
Winter Jasmine
Yellow and elegant, winter jasmine is known in Chinese as “The flower that welcomes Spring”. A lively addition to your yard, winter jasmine can thrive in cold and hot temperatures making it the perfect perennial. Winter jasmine does best with regular watering, especially during those hot SoCal summers and a bit of trimming from time to time.
Hydrangeas
Seen all over Southern California, these flowers come in a multitude of colors and their beautiful form will surely add personality to your yard or garden. Hydrangeas are a lovely flower because of their easy care. This flower has two main requirements: morning sun and afternoon shade and a well-draining soil.
Pansies
Pansies are a delicate, low-maintenance flower that can add so much calm to the surroundings of your domicile. These dainty flowers enjoy the same amount of sunshine as the hydrangea and do well in Southern California winters because of the sunshine.
Pansies should be planted about a foot apart from each other. They are relatively low maintenance and can provide more character to your home.
Want the best results with these flowers for your yard? Contact us today!
Photo by Shannon Palmer
Three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on pollinators to reproduce. It is estimated that one out of every three bites of food we eat exists because of animal pollinators like bees, butterflies and moths, birds and bats, and beetles and other insects.
During a flower visit, a pollinator may brush against the flower’s reproductive
parts, unknowingly depositing pollen from a different flower. The plant then uses the pollen to produce a fruit or seed. Many plants cannot reproduce without pollen carried to them by foraging pollinators so it is a vital part of agriculture.
Planting flowers in your garden can not only provide beauty, but can also be a veritable smorgasbord for pollinators as they prefer a blooming buffet of nectar rich flowers. There are many to choose from that are heat and drought tolerant, fast growing and colorful. Many bloom all year long here in Southern California!
The serenity of sitting on your porch, or peering out your window and seeing the fluttering creatures enjoying your garden cannot be underestimated. Some of the best flowering plants to attract pollinators for Southern California can be found here: http://www.sunset.com/garden/flowers-plants/plants-pollination/view-all
Choosing what flowers you plant can actually help create an ecosystem in your own yard. At Pacific Vista Landscape Services, we are experts on all types of flowers. We are dedicated to maintaining the beauty and value of your garden and are here for all your landscaping needs!
It's springtime! Spring is a wonderful time to plant new flowers to add color to your garden. In some cases though, brightening up a shady part of your landscape can be a challenge. Take heart! There is a way to introduce that bright spot of colorful blooms and green plants to the shady parts of your landscape. All you need is a little knowledge of what to put in your garden.
How Shady is the Space?
Before planting your garden, take into consideration just how much shade or sun that space gets. Keep an eye on the area for a little while as the amount of sun exposure can influence how well certain plants do in that space. The categories for shade usually are described as:
Partial Shade: Different parts of the garden receive exposure to direct sun for part of the day and in shade for at least half a day (or three hours during the hottest part of the day).
Filtered or dappled shade: Sun is largely filtered through a tree canopy leaving dappled light on the plants below.
Light or open shade: This space is often bright with fairly even shade throughout the day. These shade spaces are open to the sky but are surrounded by walls, tall trees, or other shade structures.
Full or deep shade: These plants are in areas with little to no direct sunlight. Often beneath dense evergreen trees.
How Much Room Do You Have?
Take into consideration just how much room you have to plant your garden. Are you limited to urns or flower pots? Do you have a large amount of space to fill with flowers and greenery? This can determine the type of plant you can use as some plants will grow quickly and fill the space, while others will stay small and can be planted a bit closer together. Knowing exactly how much room you have to plant can also prevent multiple trips to the store if you under or overestimate just how many plants and flowers to buy.
Mulching
In a shady space, mulching your garden can be an important step. It can help retain moisture, keep the beds sheltered from cold, and add much needed nutrients to the soil. When mulching your beds, be sure to add 3-6 inches of an organic mulch while keeping it clear from the base of any tree trunks or stems. Don’t forget to replenish the mulch once a year.
Consider your Plants
Now that you’ve figured out your garden’s location, picked out your mulch, and observed how much shade the garden will receive you can now delve into what types of plants that will work with the space. Nurseries and home improvement stores can help guide you in knowing exactly what plants to use in the space you have. Of course, Pacific Vista Landscape is here to help. We can help you design your garden scape to make your spring gardens look fantastic!
Happy Planting!
