Bring Your Patio to Life With Plants
Nothing brings your patio to life than flowering plants and the vivid coloring of shrubs, bushes and grasses. More than this, plants and vegetation constantly change over the year as the seasons change, and with some simple planning you can ensure a constant kaleidoscope of color and interesting effects whole it is all completely natural.
Patios are usually a dynamic living space – they are heavily used for a variety of purposes which means that there form (or design) needs to take into account their function (or how you are going to use them). There will be occasions when you are looking for privacy and solitude, perhaps to enjoy the sun and your garden – in this case you will be looking for sunny exposure, or possibly some shade to enjoy a book. At other times you will be using the patio for family gatherings as you party or enjoy al fresco dining with the barbecue – in which case you may want privacy and shelter from the wind or prying eyes.
A great way to add color and variety, but at the same time retain flexibility and control over the patio space, is to use containers and potted plants. They are moveable and can be positioned to suit your needs and tastes, but at the same time they can also hold quite large plants and small shrubs. This gives you the flexibility to add color and shelter, or move them to suit your changing tastes or to give a more open aspect.
Whether you are planting in permanent beds, or using containers and pots, there are some groups of plants you should consider for their specific features.
Plants which are good for providing a barrier from the wind include the following:
· Bamboo – this adds a taste of the orient and the leaves provide excellent shade too. Bamboo is fast-growing and low maintenance but be warned, planting bamboo in a permanent bed will lead to the rapid spread of the plant – it grows very fast and spreads equally fast requiring control;
· Pampas grass – this is a tall growing grass which is simple to maintain and grow, it is also very decorative; and
· Nandina – this is also known as Heavenly Bamboo and also originates from the Far East, it is similar to bamboo but produces a deep reddish brown leaf.
Patios are also sun-traps and you need plants which can stand the sun and thrive – good candidates include:
· Sunflowers;
· Roses;
· Lupines; and
· Lilies.
Many amateurs forget the third dimension when they are designing their patio and garden generally – using plants and shrubs with varying heights will draw the viewer’s eye to different levels in the patio. You can use a small tree, such as a leylandii cypress or palm, to provide a tall focal point; these are known as “thrillers”. Intermediate plants and shrubs are known as “fillers”, and typical plants and bushes will include flowering maple, dusty miller, hyssop, coleus, basil, caladium, eucalyptus, cineraria, celosia and shiso. The smaller plants which typically trail are known as “spillers” and common plants include ivy geranium, vinca, verbena, black-eyed Susan, creeping Charlie, lobelia, nasturtium and alyssum. Finally, trellises and walls also feature in many patios and good climbing plants include clematis, morning glory, canary flower and sweet peas.
Jack Labens works for Empire Patio Covers, a leading provider of patio furniture covers such as patio chair covers and patio table covers. Empire Patio Covers can be found online at: EmpirePatioCovers.com or at their blog EmpirePatioCovers-Blog.com.
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