A Little Planning Can Lead to Backyard Bliss ; Consider the Use to Help Create the Perfect Landscape

Considering extensive landscaping for your home this year? John Scott of Knollwood Garden Center and Landscaping in Beavercreek advises you to plan -- not the actual design of the landscape, that should be done by the professionals for your approval -- but think about what you normally do in the summer.

"Think about the important dates -- a big party or gathering," he said, adding as an example that his family always hosts a birthday party in June and another big gathering in late August. "Pick out some plants that are blooming at that time of year," he said.

Scott also suggested thinking about the amount of involvement that you want in your landscaping: Are you an active gardener who enjoys pruning and dead-heading plants, or are you someone who wants very little maintenance?

"Think about places you have been that have special meaning," Scott said, adding that many people want to try to recreate pleasant memories of travel or childhood in their landscaping.

The color scheme of the home is also a factor to take into consideration.

Container gardens offer a choice for those who either want a simpler, lower-cost, or lower-maintenance system.

"The container garden world is just getting larger and larger," Scott said.

"Container gardening is really on the upswing because it is so simple and easy to take care of," said Ron Bailey of Sunshine Kennels and Garden Center in Union.

Strategically placed containers can be home to decorative grasses, flowers or small vegetable plants.

The containers can, of course, be repositioned for a different look and can be brought into the garage on nights where frost is a theat.

"People grow everything from tomatoes to little herb gardens," Bailey said. "We do butterfly gardens in containers. We put in a number of different butterfly-attracting plants, and then we put in parsley for the butterflies to lay their eggs on."

Bailey explained that the black swallowtail butterfly will lay eggs on the parsley and the larvae, when hatched, will eat the parsley.

Water features are also popular items for landscaping, and Bailey said that rock bubblers are selling well.

"They are quite popular because they are low-maintenance," he said. He explained that a rock has a hole drilled through it to create a fountain that creates a bubbling sound.

Scott said that any problem areas that are not evident (poor drainage, for instance) should be pointed out to a landscape designer, as well as any desires for the perfect landscape. The designer should then work with you to create that dream.

Dare to dream

- Knollwood Garden Center and Landscaping: (937) 426-0861 www.knollwoodgardens.com

- Sunshine Kennels and Garden Center: (937) 836-1244 www.sunshine- kennels.net

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