It's January and although there are no flowers, there are still many beautiful examples of landscapes that are interesting year round. When choosing plants, it's easy to get caught up in showy pictures of flowering plants that don't depict the visuals you'll get for the majority of the year. Almost any landscape can benefit from the presence of flowers but time should be taken to consider all 4 seasons. This will ensure that there isn't a burst of interest in the spring leaving the rest of the year drab and boring.  

      Michigan summers can be hot. Most people don't want to have to do a lot of yard work in August. After the spring growth spurt, hedges can become unruly so should be used sparingly. Drought like conditions are not uncommon. Certain plants, especially non-native perennials, can need lots of water. This can be a pain without an irrigation system. Shade trees can make a yard much more enjoyable during the hottest part of the year by adding some much needed shade to parts of the yard that are used the most.  

         Winter is when evergreens shine. They're often the only color around come February. Many of them look great topped with fresh snow as well. Evergreen shrubs work well against foundations to add texture between homes and the ground once perennials have died back and deciduous plants have lost their leaves. There are options like junipers and birds nest spruce that need very little pruning compared to yews and box woods. Some shrubs like holly and barberries get bright red berries that look nice while simultaneously providing food for birds.  Ornamental grasses, red twigged dogwoods and birch trees are also favorites for providing winter interest. 

     If there is an area in your yard that needs grass seed planted, you might be wondering when the best time to put seed down is. In Michigan and the rest of the Midwest, seed can be planted from April through October. However, for a variety of reasons, the month of September is ideal.
     The turf grasses used in Michigan are cool season grasses. Common types include Kentucky Bluegrass, rye and fescue. These grasses germinate best when day time temperatures are between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, which typically happens by the second half of September. Ideal temperatures mean quicker germination and the sooner the grass fills in, the less time weeds have to take over. Although grass planted at the end of October will sprout, a hard frost when seedlings are small can have a negative effect. By planting in September the grass will have time to become established before it goes dormant for the winter. 
     Another benefit to planting in September over April of May is that there are less weed seeds for the grass to compete with. In the spring, the temperatures are right, but many weed seeds can be lying dormant from the year before. Most weeds sprout at higher temperatures than the previously stated grasses but far before the turf would have completely filled in. Because of this, a spring planted lawn will usually end up with more weeds than one started in the fall.
     Lastly, with fall comes more frequent rain than in the summer. Soil moisture is needed for about one week to get ryes and fescues to sprout and up to a month for bluegrass. After seeds sprout, watering is still needed on a regular basis for a few weeks. The rainy season means less time is spent watering with a hose or sprinklers, saving time and money. 
     If time is of the essence, you can get grass to grow from spring through fall. If you want a nice, full lawn without weeds, September is the time to do it. Not only will the final product be superior, but it will take less work. Next spring when others are starting their grass planting projects, your lawn will already be alive and thriving.  

     During every landscape job I've done this year, the customer specified that they preferred the landscape to be low maintenance. While the most hassle free landscapes are probably lawn or "natural state" landscapes, this is not what people are usually looking for. Unfortunately, anytime there are garden beds, there will be some maintenance that accompanies them. There are ways of designing landscapes to minimize the amount of time and money it takes for upkeep though.
​     One of these methods is positioning shrubs in ways that allow them to grow to there mature size without becoming crowded and choosing varieties that have visually pleasing natural growth habits.  Evergreen hedges made up of yews or boxwoods look great, but come July most people don't want to spend a weekend manicuring a yard full of hedges.
​     Another way of saving time on landscaping is choosing native and other low water needs plants. Native plants and plants from similar regions have adapted to our natural rain fall amounts. While plants like Annabelle Hydrangeas might be flopped over after a dry week, native flowers like Black Eyed Susans will continue to flower and thrive after weeks without a heavy rain.   

     A great option for low maintenance landscaping is the use of stones to create points of interest. While it might be more work to get a large rock into the garden, once it's in place, it's not going anywhere. Stones don't need to be watered or pruned. They are virtually maintenance free.
​      If you're starting a new garden or even changing an existing one, taking into consideration shape, size and water needs will allow your garden to mature into its space without much help. Utilizing more permanent garden elements can add some maintenance free focal points. With a little bit of planning and straying from some of the more traditional ideas of what a landscape should be, you can have more time to enjoy your summer.