A good landscaping idea is one that anyone can use. There are tons of landscaping ideas out there; sometimes it's hard to know where to get started. I suggest starting with the basics: trees. Trees are everywhere and they provide beauty, shade and other benefits you might not have thought of. This article will focus on one of the most popular trees: the evergreen.



Evergreens are always fantastic and they look as beautiful in the winter as they do in the summer. There's nothing more depressing than having a bunch of leaveless trees in the yard. Evergreen trees really live up to their name and they will do a great job of keeping your yard interesting and attractive no matter what time of the year it is.

There are different types of evergreen trees. Here are a few examples and some tips on how and where to use them.

Tall and narrow evergreen trees like Pyramidal Arborvitaes and Hetz Junipers add height and drama to the landscape. There are best used beside a building or home with two or more stories. You can use them in the yard or garden to creat a sweeping up toward the sky effect. They are also great for hiding utility poles from view.

Large evergreen trees like Native Spruce, Hemlock, Pine and Fir should be kep slighty away form buildings. Pruning these types of evergreens while they are young will cause them to grow thicker and more full. They can be used for blocking unsightly views, as noise and wind blockers and as nice large hedges. Large evergreen trees are said to help create an atmosphere of calm.

Broad growing evergreen trees such as Techney and Nigra Arborvitaes, mid size Junipers, Muhgo Pines and Capitata Yews are quite versatile. They can all be used as specimen plants alone or in groupings. They are great when used as hedges. These broad evergreens can all be used to improve the landscaping around fairly large buildings.

Dwarf and Intermediate evergreen shrubs are excellent when used as foundation plantings. Most of the dwarf and Intermediate evergreens are compact and dense growing. They fit well as accents in perennial gardens. Dwarf Alberta Spruce, Emerald Green Arborvitae and Holmstrup Arborvitae are often used in this way. There are several very compact growing Arborvitae and Chamacyparis that can be used as tiny specimen and hedges in and around the perennial garden. Hetz and Little Giant Cedar grow two and three feet tall. Their natural round shape and size adds a touch of whimsy to to flower and evergreen shrub gardens