Botanica Atlanta - Landscape Design, Construction & Maintenance

It doesn’t really matter what else is going on in the world, or the size of the national debt or how our daily stress ordinarily weighs us down. When gardeners’ early favorites are in bloom, worries seem to fade into the landscape and hope comes as fresh to our hearts as the first spring grass to our nose.  Three early favorites are tulip magnolia, lady banksia rose and phlox.

Tulip magnolia (Magnolia soulangiana) is a deciduous magnolia used not nearly enough in the Georgia landscape as an ornamental tree.  The tulip magnolia is suited for sunny, high visibility locations in the garden, such as to mark a mailbox, front walk, or garden patio or thoughtfully positioned in a scene viewed from the family room bay window.

Photo courtesy of habitas.org.uk

Lady Banks' rose (Rosa banksiae) is a climbing rose with miniature yellow blooms as pale as butter.  It is perfect for a trellis or iron fence.  This rose is virtually care-free, so long as the soil is generally moist and well drained.  Pests and fungus are not generally as prevalent on climbing roses and Lady Banks' is quite cooperative. Other than tying up her stems, and pruning if/as desired, she makes few demands.  Low maintenance tip: Site Lady Banks' by entry ways or other high-visibility spots close to gutter downspout outflows and/or shade her roots to reduce the need for watering.

 Photo courtesy of Cloud Conrad

Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) - A shot of magenta phlox is sort of like an espresso for the eyes in the early spring, when not much else is blooming and if it is, it’s usually of a pale color.  Creeping phlox grows in full sun to partial shade, with a height of about 4” and a spread of 1 – 2 feet.  Creeping phlox also comes in white, pink and purple.

Photo courtesy of greenwoodnursery.com

Between now and Memorial Day is the ideal time to plant new shrubs and ornamental trees this growing season.  If it isn’t in the ground by the end of May, you should wait until the fall to add these beauties to your Georgia landscape to maximize your investment in plant material.

 Author: Cloud Q Conrad