MN Landscape Design Tips from Gary Anderson Landscaping

Minnesota hosts a unique, highly variable climate, from the chilliness of winter to the extreme heat of summer. This presents a unique challenge for Minnesota landscape designers, who must balance these two factors, as well as the annual Spring wildfire season, when selecting foliage and other natural elements. Gary Anderson Landscaping always reminds our clients to think about the following when it comes to their landscape design:

Extensive woodlands

Minnesota is home to some of the country’s most beautiful trees, but they can often overshadow the rest of the landscaping in your backyard. The dense foliage blocks sunlight and since the woodlands are located mostly in the back of properties and are not maintained, it gives the area an unkempt appearance.

One of the easiest ways to address this is to dress the area up as a woodland garden. Perennials need less than four hours of sun per day, making them a perfect choice for such a dim area. Once you or your landscape designer has cleaned out the area, mulch should be laid to keep the area free of weeds, tree seeds and other unwanted plant life.

Native plants

Using Minnesota’s native plant life, like lady’s slipper orchids and wet ash swamp, is becoming more popular with homeowners. They can be used for gardening and landscaping, or to restore native plant communities. These plants offer a low-closet landscaping alternative, and habitat for natural wildlife. They can also be used to make unique garden designs, like an evergreen shaded garden, suburban garden or wet meadow garden. This is a great choice for the homeowner who wants his or her property to have a rustic look.

Sunlit areas

Every homeowner has an area that seems to just take the brunt of summer heat. It’s the portion where nothing grows, except turf and maybe some brown grass and nearly dead plants.

The best way to address this area is to plant perennials and shrubs that can withstand the constant sunlight. Boulders can provide the plants with a nice backdrop, and they won’t be affected by the sun. You’ll want this area to be covered in mulch, so as to keep it free of unwanted intruders. A sun garden will provide an interesting and beautiful visual element to an area that got noticed before, but for all the wrong reasons.

If you have questions about Minnesota landscaping, contact the experts at Gary Anderson Landscaping by visiting www.GaryAndersonLandscaping.com.