Regional Landscaping
Exactly which plants will thrive in your landscape depends on the region in which you live and its climate. We say climate to indicate a thorough consideration of sunshine, rainfall and annual high and low averages. The following passages describe six major regions of the United States: Northeast, Northwest, Midwest, West, Southeast and Southwest.
The states that make up the Northeast region are: Illinois, Indiana, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Michigan, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and District of Columbia. These regions experience anything between mild to severe conditions in winter. Northeasterners must choose plants that are hardy enough to live through winter. Plants like conifers, evergreen shrubs and winterberry holly are popular choices in the Northeast. The crimson berries of the latter tree attract birds, making for a fine and enjoyable addition.
The Southeast region includes the states of Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Southeast states tend to see plenty of sunshine. In the summer, they are warm and humid. Further south, the winter months see variable weather patterns. Canna lilies and evergreens are popular in the Carolinas, whereas Florida is more prone to wild tropical color. Florida is home to many exotic orchid plants, which love intermediate to warm climates. In areas of the Southeast that suffer most from winter chills, such as North Carolina, landscapers can plant trees to break the wind and prevent drafts from entering homes. This can potentially be a money-saving technique against the rising cost of heating! The Southeast region allows landscapers to explore options for plants that couldn't survive in any other region of the United States.
The Midwest is the largest region in the United States, as is made up of a northern and southern half. The northern half comprises Montana, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota. The southern half: Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas, Colorado, Missouri, New Mexico, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. The region tends to be at the mercy of dry spells and unforgiving winds. The effects of hot sun and heavy wind can be diminished to some extent by trees, wall-covering vines, and shrubs. It may be possible to reduce heating and cooling bills by these methods.
The Northwest region is composed of Oregon, Washington State, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. This region is cool and moist in the winter. Mountainous areas in the region see snowfall. The summers, conversely, are dry and warm. The air is cooled a bit by breezes from the Pacific Ocean. The Northwest region is home to immaculate maples, spruces, pines, junipers, dogwoods, and willows. A pond, waterfall, or water garden will bode well in the Northwest landscape and make for a fabulous focal point. Rock gardens, also, have seen recent popularity in the region.
The Southwest region of the United States is made up of Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and California. The climate is hot and dry with summer highs surpassing 100 degrees. This can limit a landscaper's options. Shade is a trusty friend - and vital necessity - in the Southwest. An arbor or a shade-house makes an attractive and much needed addition to your Southwest landscape.
Finally, we have the California-dominated West Coast region of the United States. California's climate embodies a broad spectrum of weather. California landscapers can select plants and design styles from anywhere in the country. A technique that comes highly recommended for landscape design in California is the rock garden. Dig a bit, and wedge the rocks into the ground so that they are partly visible. This will give the impression that the rocks have been there for years - that you found them that way! Above all, you want your landscape to appear natural, and not like a lot of store bought goods that you arranged to look a certain way. Employ stones native to California. Whether a landscape is in Northern or Southern California will decide what stones and plants are to be used in the landscape design.