April Plant Of The Month

Posted on April 2, 2016 by michael

For April we’d like to introduce you Paeonia japonica or Mountain Peony.

This choice woodland species from Japan thrives in the dappled shade in contrast with other species of Peonies that require full sun. It has delicate,clusters of ovate leaves and simple single white, cup-shaped flowers that hover above its stems during springtime.

It requires shade with dappled morning sun or bright light but never direct sun.

As a perennial, it also has a dormant period at the end of summer so it’s a good accent amongst other plants with a longer growth cycle while it is dormant. Peony japonica blends with favorites such as Ferns, Hellebores, Hosta and Trillium. However, it needs loose, fertile soil to grow well and will be overtaken by more vigorous plants so give it some breathing room.

It is captivating as a shade specimen or in a pot nestled among others in light shade. Pictured here in bud and bloom.

Not for the impatient, it is slow to establish, grows slowly and needs ideal conditions to thrive. A great plant for the connoisseur gardener!

To learn more about garden planning, landscape design, and easy plants for your garden, please contact us.

February Plant Of The Month

Posted on February 18, 2016 by michael

The Silver Dollar Lenten Rose is one of the first Hellebore to bloom during winter. Its muted emerald green foliage is mottled with soft yellow variegation and begins to emerge in late fall just a couple months after going dormant. Once the stems and leaves develop in late fall, flowers buds begin to appear at the end of the year. Each blossom consists of a profusion of intricate flowers clustered on large, arching, stems. The creamy moon yellow flowers bring out the same color in the foliage. Together they create an eye catching display at a time of year when most plants are not doing much.

In contrast to other Hellebore, it foliage is as interesting as its flowers and holds up throughout summer, even though it is technically a perennial. Because of it long life cycle, it can be a mainstay of an ornamental landscape. It prefers some indirect or morning sunlight to keep the foliage robust, large and brilliantly colored, but keep it out of deep shade or afternoon sun for best results. Like most Lenten Rose it is pest resistant and doesn’t need rich soil or much water once established.

Silver Dollar is a good companion with dark green or blue-toned conifers, burgundy foliage and any rich, deep green. Pure white and bright yellow are best avoided in direct vicinity as the tend to compete with the otherworldly lemon chiffon color of the flowers.

March Plant Of The Month

Posted on February 8, 2016 by michael

For March we’d like to introduce you to Tsuga canadensis ‘Abbott’s Pygmy’, also known as the Abbott’s Pygmy Miniature Canadian Hemlock.

This little dreamboat is in the same genus as the sky-high Canadian Hemlock, but, by contrast, miniature. It reaches only about 12 inches in diameter over several years. This is one Hemlock that will never outgrow its place in the garden.

Its form is an irregular, bun-shaped mound with tiny, shiny needles — like the rest of the genus, but smaller.

Abbott’s Pygmy is the jewel of a miniature garden, rock garden, or anywhere it can be viewed in close proximity. It thrives in humus rich soil with good drainage, but should not be allowed to dry out. Plant where it will be sheltered from afternoon sun.

To learn more about garden planning, landscape design, and stunning plants for winter landscapes, please contact us.

Conifers in Containers

Posted on October 20, 2015 by michael

The change of seasons presents opportunities for dramatic new container garden compositions. Dwarf conifers can be the perfect pick-me-up for sparse-looking containers.

You’ll find that conifers are durable and easy to grow. They need little care and most dwarf conifers grow so slowly that they can thrive for years before outgrowing their spaces.

Conifers come in an array of dramatic shapes, colors, and complex textures. Colors range from blue and green to yellow and even white variegation. There are dense, compact conifers shaped like globes or buns, ones with luxurious, fern-like foliage that curves and twists, and others with delicate needles that weep and drape. Some conifers look soft and fluffy while others sport stiff, sturdy needles. Whatever shapes or colors you choose, you’ll find that conifers really “pop” against winter skies and glow in the beams of accent lighting.

Dwarf conifers are readily available in most nurseries at this time of year, so now is a great time to update the pots on your patio.

Some of my favorite mini conifers include:

Chamacyparis obtusa ‘Minama’ – Minima Hinoki Cypress. A compact mound with rich, dark-green spray-like foliage dotted with grass-green new growth.

Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘White Pygmy’ – White Pygmy Dwarf False Cypress. A petite cushion of soft yellow-green sprays of needles.

Tsuga canadensis ‘Minuta’ – Minuta Canadian Hemlock. A tight-mounding cushion with a tiny version of the needles of the giant Canadian Hemlock.

Dwarf and mid-size conifers are also wonderful garden specimens that add evergreen structure to the winter garden and take center stage in the dormant season.

Contact us to learn more about garden planning, landscape design, and fall planting.

Mass Appeal

Posted on July 27, 2015 by michael

Mass planting — using just one variety of plant — is an effective garden design tool, with many applications. You can used mass plantings to:

Create a relaxed atmosphere. This is especially true when you group plants that have a softening effect, such as large grasses. This aesthetic works at any scale, from an intimate courtyard garden to a grand estate landscape.
Make an unobtrusive backdrop for featured plants, hide undesirable views, or soften the front of a fence or building. Consider a hedgerow of large grasses as a more casual alternative to a formal clipped hedge.
At the edge of a patio or walkway, employ mass plantings to define space and create a clean look. Formal or informal, the grouped plants provide structure and a place for the eye to stop before a more complex planting.
Use informal mass plantings to set off focal features such as statuary, a water feature, or a colorful arrangement of more ornamental plantings and flowers.

Ready to add a mass planting to your landscape? Contact us for design consultation and to learn more about the best plants for your Pacific Northwest garden.

Landscape Design with Succulents brings new life to the summer garden

Posted on August 19, 2014 by michael

By definition, Succulent plants are plants that have some parts that are more than normally thickened or fleshy usually to retain water in acrid climates or soil conditions. This means, universally, they store water and are drought tolerant.

Sedum is a genus of over 400 leaf Succulents including hardy perennial bushes that that can grow as tall as four feet. These low maintenance gems provide an array of foliage and flower variations. Nearly indestructible and virtually disease resistant, the species that thrive in the Pacific Northwest do best in full sun, in average to poor soil with good drainage, and little or no supplemental water. At this time of year, Succulents are a great way to refresh pots and add to perennial borders or annual plantings that need a boost. Tender varieties that will not make it though the winter in this climate (mostly due to soggy winters causing them to rot), lend a dramatic and almost desert or tropical feel during the warmer months of the Pacific Northwest. Varieties like ‘Metallica’ (pictured) grow to several inches across offering great scale and a wonderful spectrum of color variation.

With hundreds of varieties to choose from, the possibilities are endless!

Michael Muro Garden Design offers garden planning and comprehensive landscape design in Washington State.

Water thoroughly and keep your garden healthy

Posted on August 23, 2013 by michael

Especially this year, our typically dry July, August and September quickly erase any reserves stored below the surface of the soil. Fine-tuning watering techniques can not only conserve water but also create healthier plants.

Keys to watering:

My answer is to water deeply and less frequently. This can be accomplished most easily with either a drip or soaker irrigation system. The drip system can be set to water individual plants, shrubs, or trees. The water requirements of different plants can be met by using different sized emitters, and by placing several emitters on large shrubs or trees.
A soaker system will water the whole garden evenly and can be hidden underneath mulch.
Hand watering is also an option, but make sure that the water is penetrating deeply.
The final way to irrigate is with an old-fashioned sprinkler head. Make sure that the spray hits all areas and that you leave it on long enough to water deeply.

Tips for watering:

Getting water to the bottom of the root zone promotes drought tolerance by keeping the roots deep in the soil, instead of on the surface where they can dry out quickly. Water should soak in deep enough so all roots are thoroughly wet. The first few times you water, test to see how deep it goes. After a few tries, you’ll know how long the water needs to run.
Always water during the cooler part of the day to lessen evaporation. Nighttime or early morning is best.
Make sure you mulch.
Plant densly enough so plant roots are not overheated by the sun.

As your garden matures and plants become well established, you’ll be able to cut back the frequency of watering.

Michael Muro Garden Design offers garden planning and comprehensive landscape design in Washington State.

Waterwise landscape design

Posted on June 5, 2013 by michael

Even with the likelihood of a drought in the Pacific Northwest again this year, there is no need to be resigned to wilted, brittle and brown plants this summer. There are many ways to keep a garden looking lush during summer, while conserving water. First, by analyzing the site environment, we can select the right plants for the existing conditions. The most successful plantings will be those that thrive in existing conditions. The less that has to be done to alter those conditions, the more successful the landscape plantings will be.

Water less often and more deeply. This encourages plants to develop deeper roots and draw from water stored deep below the surface of the soil. Shallow watering equals shallow roots and drier conditions for plants. After heavy rains or a deep watering, mulch garden beds to help seal in moisture and insulate roots from heat, resulting in less need for water. Prune back overgrown perennials and shrubs — fewer leaves mean less plant mass to support and less need for water. Never allow plants to wilt. Stressed plant are more susceptible to disease and insect infestation. These simple steps will keep plants healthy and therefore better looking, no matter what the weather does.

A drought tolerant garden requires thoughtful planning.

I like to draw from a palette offering an array of interesting flowers, leaf types and growth habits. I recently designed a garden that cascaded above a rock retaining wall using a combination of Artichoke, Barberry, Blue Oat Grass, Rock Rose and trailing Rosemary — all plants that not only survive, but thrive, in Northwest landscapes. Well drained soil, direct sun and conditions on the dry side are perfect! Once established, they will thrive with little or no watering.

Typically, most drought tolerant plants fall into the lower maintenance category. Many thrive in dry summer conditions and tolerate wet winters, making them excellent choices for the changeable Pacific Northwest climate.

Here’s to summer around the corner and an easy care, beautiful garden!

Cordially,

Michael Muro