Who else wants to add color despite drought conditions?

Published on March 12, 2019 by Jackson Holliday

Whenever drought or water restriction hit, one of the first things commercial property owners notice is how brown and dry everything gets. Your property’s once lush landscape will quickly begin to fade. One way to add some color to your property’s landscape despite these drought conditions is the addition of native plants. The word “native” means that the plant is indigenous to the area and can thrive without human contributions. Below are five beautiful options that can enhance your property.

Prairie Coneflower

The prairie coneflower’s coloring ranges from yellow to red, which will surely brighten up any commercial property during the dry months. Prairie coneflowers can thrive in full sun exposure and only need light to moderate watering. In addition to their drought resilient ability, these flowers are also resistant to most diseases and pests that plague other garden plants.

Desert Four O’Clock

Desert four o’clock is one of the showiest drought resistant flowers. They produce an attractive magenta flower that will catch anyone’s eye. They require little to no additional water making them the perfect flower for your commercial property once a drought rolls around.

Tradescantia

These unique flowers offer something different to your landscape. Tradescantia flowers are usually blue or purple and only remain open during the day, closing during the night. They are very resilient and prosper in hardy conditions.

Gaillardia

If your commercial property’s landscape is in need for a cheerful flower this is surely the one. Gaillardia are marked with a flamboyant bright red and yellow coloring. They flourish in full sun and love well-drained soil, which is great for dry conditions.

Pink Muhly

This ornamental grass is a tough, hardy plant that is undaunted by drought conditions. It also, does amazing in conditions ranging from full sun to shade. If alone doesn’t sell you on the plant, the grass also changes coloring throughout the year. In the spring and early summer months, the grass begins as a green, then changes to a pinkish, burgundy grouping, and then finishes off the year as a wheat colored plant.

For recommendations or help planting flowers for your commercial landscape property click here: Contact Us

5 Perennials to Make Your Property Pop!

Published on March 12, 2019 by Jackson Holliday

Spring is the perfect time to add colorful flower beds to your commercial landscape property. Studies show a beautiful commercial landscape can raise your property value and attractiveness by as much as 20%. The addition of perennials is a cost effective investment. Perennials will bloom and return year after year cutting down on replanting. Below are five examples of perennials that we would recommend.

May Night Sage

This impressive perennial presents in tall spikes of indigo flowers with lush green foliage. The flower also has an exceptional hardiness to the cold and is the wonderful fit for any commercial landscape property in cooler climates. The May Night Sage blooms from late spring to early summer and matures to a height of 15 to 18 inches tall.

Blanket Flower

These beautiful flowers project a daisy-like feel with strong shades of wine red, orange and yellow. For the most part these flowers’ petals have a unique tubular shape. On the other hand, some of petals have frilled edges that also looked very stunning. The sizes of this plant will range from 10-12 inch high dwarfs to selections as tall as 24-30 inches.

Echinacea

Echinacea, better known as cone flowers, are colorful daisy-like flowers that bloom from mid-summer to early fall and can grow up to five feet tall. They thrive in areas with full sun and poor soil. These plants are drought resistant and do not require fertilization. You will see beautiful flowers return year after year with very little work if you choose this plant for your property.

Yarrow

Yarrow consists of flower heads full of small, tightly packed blossoms and aromatic leaves. This plant blooms from mid-summer to fall and typically grows to be two to four feet tall. It grows best when planted in well-drained soil with full sun. Yarrow is known for being durable and tolerates dry weather, so it is a perfect low-maintenance yet beautiful addition to any walkway.

Lavender Hidcote

Lavender Hidcote is a tall, purple flower known for its wonderful fragrance and its tendency to attract butterflies. It prefers hot, sunny and dry air and well-drained soil, making it the perfect choice for western climates. Lavender Hidcote does not require regular watering and will thrive on just 9-12 inches of rain per year. You can expect to see this plant bloom in mid to late summer.

For recommendations or help planting flowers for your commercial landscape property click here: Contact Us

The Five Best Perennials to Xeriscape a Walkway

Published on January 22, 2018 by Jackson Holliday

A perennial is a plant that persists for many growing seasons, unlike an annual which only lasts one growing season (for more information, check out our blog post on the difference between annuals and perennials). There is such a wide variety of perennial plants that it’s easy to incorporate them into any type of landscape, including a xeriscape. Xeriscaping is the practice of conserving water through landscaping. This trend is growing in popularity not only because it’s good for the environment, it also saves property owners money on water costs and requires less time needed for replanting. Paths and walkways are great places to plant drought-resistant perennials to ensure that everyone who visits your property enjoys beautiful landscaping especially as they enter buildings or along parking areas. Here are five of the best perennials to create a beautiful xeriscaped walkway.

Lavender Hidcote

Yarrow

Yarrow consists of flower heads full of small, tightly packed flowers and aromatic leaves. This plant blooms from mid-summer to fall and typically grows to be two to four feet tall. It grows best when planted in well-drained soil with full sun. Yarrow is known for being durable and tolerating dry spell, so it is a perfect low-maintenance yet beautiful addition to any walkway.

Echinacea

Echinacea, better known as coneflowers, are colorful daisy-like flowers that bloom from mid-summer to early fall and can grow up to five feet tall. They thrive in areas with full sun and poor soil. These plants are drought resistant and do not require fertilization. You will see beautiful flowers return year after year with very little work if you choose this plant for your property.

Hens and Chicks

Hens and Chicks are succulent plants that get their name from their rosette shape and their ability to produce multiple offspring. They come in a range of colors from green to beautiful pinks and reds. Hens and Chicks are best grown in poor soil with full sun and require very little water. Since these plants thrive in rocky soils, they are perfect for planting in the cracks of stone walkways. Just be sure you stepping stones are raised as these plants will not tolerate much foot traffic.

Lady’s Mantle

Lady’s Mantle is a clumping perennial that forms green foliage made up of soft, scallop-shaped leaves and yellow-green flowers which bloom in late spring to early summer. It makes for the perfect ground cover to define the boundaries of a walkway or outdoor path. Lady’s Mantle can tolerate full shade or full sun. It does not need to be watered often unless it is planted in full sun or during high temperatures, making it a relatively low-maintenance option.

What is the Difference Between Perennials and Annuals?

Published on January 18, 2018 by Jackson Holliday

What exactly is the difference between perennials and annuals? The dictionary defines them as:

Perennial: lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring.

Annual: occurring once every year.

Perennial flowers continue to grow year after year by remaining dormant through the winter. Annual flowers are planted in the spring and summer and die once the season is over.

Both types of flower have their advantages and disadvantages. Annuals are typically cheaper than perennials so they can be added for a beautiful display of color throughout the spring and summer seasons at a lower cost upfront. Perennials are sustainable; they last for years and withstand a variety of weather conditions. They require less maintenance than annuals since they don’t need to be replanted each year and they can even be divided to make more flowers after several growing seasons.

Terracare Associates recommends planting a combination of annuals and perennials to create the most beautiful landscapes. Attractive landscaping can add significant value to your property, so contact us today to make sure your property is in top shape for spring.