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Vegetation
 By choosing plants that are well matched to Georgia"s environment, along with other factors (soil type, pH, and climate), your landscape can be colorful, water-wise, and low maintenance. Thus, learning about a plant’s preferences and then matching those preferences to local conditions will greatly improve their performance, your happiness, and the envy of your neighbors (not that I’m trying to promote envy or jealousy, you understand). This is what is meant when garden experts recommend using “regionally appropriate” plants.
The general rule for watering established plants is to water deeply (a long time) as opposed to watering the surface (a short time). Deep watering encourages the development of deep root systems, which leads to healthy plants. Annuals and perennials need water to a depth of six to twelve inches. However, watering should be slow rather than fast to prevent erosion and to allow the water to soak into the ground. The easiest way to water deeply is with drip irrigation, soaker hoses, or rainbird sprinklers.
Don’t plant trees near your foundation, near walkways or driveways, or near swimming pools and spas. I can guarantee you that you will have problems. However, few of the stores tell you just how large they can get.
A good selection of regionally appropriate plants can provide year-round blossoms—excitement for both you and nature’s creatures.
Figure 1. The best type of foundation landscaping. |
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.Figure 2 . A high water-use yard
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Figure 3. Crepe myrtle; Lagerstroemia indica
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Reference books
Following are some very good books. .Many of them are available at our local bookstores, such as Borders and Barnes & Noble, and many are also available used on the Internet.
- The World Encyclopedia of Cacti & Succulents, by Miles Anderson, ISBN 1-84038-491-3
- The Complete Book of Cacti & Succulents, by Terry Hewitt, ISBN 0-7894-1657-3
- Landscape Plants for Dry Regions, by Warren Jones and Charles Sacamano, ISBN 1-55561-190-7
- Tough Plants for California Gardens: Low Care, No Care, Tried and True Winners, by Felder Rushing, ISBN 1-5918-6189-6
- Tough Plants for Tough Places, by Gary Vergine and Michael Jefferson-Brown, ISBN 0-8092-2932-3
- Xeriscape Plant Guide, by Denver Water, ISBN 1-55591-253-2
- Xeriscaping: Planning and Planting Low-Water Gardens, by Mark Rumary, ISBN 0-8069-4231-2
- Trees and Shrubs for Flowers, by Glyn Church; ISBN 1-55297-630-0
- Trees and Shrubs for Foliage, by Glyn Church, ISBN 1-55297-628-9
- Trees and Shrubs for Fragrance, by Glyn Church, ISBN 1-55297-632-7
If you have any questions about any type of plant, xeriscaping, and appropriate landscaping for the Atlanta climate, simply contact me.
Thank you for using The Upscale Home Inspections Service.
www.upscaleinspections.com
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