Filling in the Gaps

Christina's landscape doesn't look bad, but she has lost a few plants over the years, and others have gotten too big. And she's ready to fix it up. Here are the plants we've discussed about using.

-Dwarf Burford Holly is one of the most dependable shrubs to use for a medium sized hedge. It does well in full sun or light shade. It will have red berries in the winter.

-Dwarf Yaupon Holly is probably the most popular dwarf plant used from Texas to North Carolina. It's winter hardy and not bothered by pest.

Depending on how you want it to look, you can shear it so it retains it's individual shape (center photo above). Or you can let the plants grow together to form a low hedge (picture on right above).

For a border around a flower bed, or along a driveway or street, the best plant in my opinion is Liriope. Here are the two best varieties.

-Big Blue Liriope (aka Green Liriope) is probably the most commonly used. It's very hardy and does produce purple flower spikes in the summer. If you site is blistering hot in the summer this is the one I'd use.

-Variegated Liriope is another favorite border plant. It does great in a semi-shady location, and it also produces purple flower spikes. In the center picture the plants are spaced out more than the plants in the picture on the right. Spacing is up to you.

So you have a spot where you think a vine would be just perfect, there are several things you need to think about when shopping.

-You can buy vines that are already on a trellis. These are called Espaliers, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Most are only about 4' tall, so if you want it to cover a wall, you need a bigger trellis. Most nurseries and box stores sell trellises. Depending on how fast you want to cover the wall, you might choose to grow it yourself. It just takes time and patience.

Other things to consider:

-First most vines go dormant in the fall, which means all the leaves fall off.

-Second, some vines are very aggressive. Some vines like Wisteria, grapes, and Passionflower will spread 60' if you let them. That's why I stick to the the two varieties listed below:

-Star Jasmine (aka Confederated Jasmine) is evergreen and in the spring it produces fragrant white flowers.

-Tangerine Beauty Crossvine is also evergreen and will cover up with tangerine colored flowers in the spring...but they really don't have much of a fragrance. but they will pop flowers on and off all summer.

If you looking for a plant that will provide needed privacy, there are quite a few plants that will do the job. Below are several. Let's start with these two:

-Pride of Houston Yaupon Holly are in the first two photos.

One is grown as a multi-trunk specimen. It's lower limbs are trimmed so it's trunks are showing.

-In the second photo the same plant variety is not trimmed, so it is full to the ground.

You can do it either way. It's up to you.

-The last photo is Japanese Blueberry. This variety has bigger leaves and will get 15' or more if you don't shear it. But, it's a great screening plant. (and-no...it does not produce blueberries).