How to Choose a Garden PlantGarden plants bring color and structure to outdoor spaces. Perennials, trees and other plants provide all-year-round interest to your garden.Many garden plants that are popular require sun to thrive. When choosing what to plant, think about the available space as well as the soil type and other garden aspects. Also, find out the best ways to begin seeds and how to transfer.ShrubsThere's a shrub for every garden, providing all year-round structure and a wide variety of colors, foliage and fruits. They can be used as a ground cover or as a backdrop for flowers or to create a hedge. They are also simple to care for and provide a natural setting for wildlife.Shrubs have multiple stems and are perennial woody plants. They do not die to the ground during winter, like most herbaceous plants will. They can be upright like forsythia and lilacs, or they can lay flat on the ground like the evergreen camellia. The height of a shrub is typically less than 13 feet. However there are some experts who limit it to 10 feet. Trees are taller than other shrubs.In general, they grow slower than trees and are generally more round. They can be shaped by annual pruning or left to develop naturally. They are ideal for small spaces where space is limited.Many plants produce stunning flowers such as camellias. They can add a touch of elegance to the winter garden. Their showy blossoms come in shades of white, pink or red. Spring brings colour to the garden thanks to the blooming azalea, flowering shadbush, and forsythia. Rhododendrons are available in scents and colors throughout the summer.Low-maintenance plants include holly juniper and Japanese boxwood that can be used as a hedge, or to add accents to the landscape. Inkberry trees, in particular, offer stunning deep green foliage. They also are a favorite of bees, which pollinate the flowers and produce a sweet form of honey known as gallberry honey.There are also plants that require little maintenance for their fragrance. These include chamomile and lavender. This herb is well-known for its calming properties. It is used to ease stress and anxiety and improve digestion. Mint is a low-maintenance plant that's popular for its medicinal properties and refreshing taste. Its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties are able to treat stomach upset. The leaves are made into tea to ease minor cuts and abrasions, and help ease indigestion.TreesTrees have been revered for a long time and have played a vital role in many cultures. They can live for hundreds of years and have a huge impact on the environment. They provide shade, shelter and food for wildlife and improve the appearance of homes and gardens. Choose a tree that will suit your home and location. Avoid trees that produce messy fruit and seed pods or have frequent shedding of twigs and branches.Like all plants, trees make their own food using a process called photosynthesis. gardening absorb carbon dioxide from air and water through their leaves and combine the two to form chlorophyll sugars and oxygen. This happens in special cells in the leaf known as stomates. The tree then transports these chemicals to the other parts of the plant through a system of tubes called xylem and phloem.The top part of a tree is known as its crown. It is made up of branches and leaves, and shades the roots from sun. The crown also absorbs energy from sunlight (photosynthesis) to keep cool and evaporate excess water through its leaves.The roots of trees are deep, which helps them to stay steady in the wind and snow. They also help to hold soil in place, assisting to reduce erosion. Trees are the backbone to our natural environment. They help to moderate climates by absorption and release of CO2 as well as filtering water and eliminating odors. They also absorb pollutants which reduces the amount of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, ozone and other harmful gases that are found in the air.Many tree species have distinct shapes. They may have wide, round crowns which create dense shade, or narrow oval crowns which are more airy and open. Certain species have a broad round crown, whereas others have an egg-shaped form. Examples include oaks, horse chestnuts, and maples. Some species sport an open-headed, slender appearance with a canopy that looks like an umbrella, for example hackberries, elms and the zelkovas.The three main categories of trees are gymnosperms, ferns like conifers and flowering plants, and angiosperms. Many of the same traits that distinguish gymnosperms and ferns from other woody species, like their cambium or tuberous root systems, are also found in the other categories.VinesVines can make a garden look more attractive by adding interest to shady areas as well as concealing ugly fences. They soften the appearance of a blank structure or wall and create a a beautiful frame for windows or entrances. They provide colour to the shade and add a waterfall of flowers to the edges of a steep bank or slope. They also disguise a utility area and block too-brisk breezes from seating areas.There are more than 30 types of vines. However they can be categorized into four main categories based on how they grow. Clematis and honeysuckle as well as wisteria are all twiners that work by wrapping around a support. Twiners are also divided into two groups which are those who twine clockwise and those who twine counterclockwise. Tendrils are used by those who use them that are modified leaves, to attach themselves to structures include creeping fig, Virginia creeper, and philodendron.Many of the same guidelines apply to planting woody vines as other ornamentals made of wood. Before choosing a plant take a look at the area of the plant including the light exposure and soil conditions. Vine growth requires regular pruning after it is established to maintain the desired appearance.It is recommended to prune at the same time as you fertilize. This will stop the accumulation of salts that are nutrient-rich and encourage vigorous growth.The amount of pruning needed is dependent on the species and the environment, as well as the level of energy you have. If you don't wish to spend too much of your weekends checking your trellises using loppers or herbicide, select an average-growing plant like Dutchman's pipe or crossvine. Consider a fast-growing, but hardy vine like American bittersweet. It produces bright red berries that retain their color throughout the winter landscape.Use tie-ups to train perennials such as clematis and sweet pea vines. They will stay in your garden for several years. Rubber ties are a good choice since they won't cut the stems when they expand. Tie annual vines such as runners beans, hyacinth bean or morning glory to the structure using string or yarn. You can also use wire or string to tie the vines to a teepee, if needed. Be careful not to overstrain them.ContainersContainers are an excellent way to bring color to your home landscape, without taking up the space of your patio or yard. Many plants can be grown in containers, such as shrubs or flowers, as well as vegetables. The most important thing is to know the requirements of the plant as well as the type of container that is required. A container could be anything that can hold soil and is sufficient to support the plant's roots as well as provide adequate drainage. This can include terracotta pots or wooden half-barrels. It could also include window containers, buckets, baskets or old cooking pots or even old garden equipment.Container plants require more frequent watering than plants planted in the ground. This is due to the small size of the root system as well as the drying effects of direct sunlight during summer afternoons. The containers should have enough drainage to prevent standing water, which could lead to disease and rot.The addition of an organic material, such as coco coir, peat, or compost in the bottom of the container can help retain moisture in the soil. The OM can also be an energy source. Regularly watering gardening in order to moisten all the soil and allowing the container to drain completely will allow the plants to flourish.The soil mixture for the container needs to be well-drained, especially during hot temperatures. It is beneficial to select a mixture that has some form of organic matter, like manure that has been rotted or shredded and some coarse, granular material, such as sand to improve drainage and maintain a consistent soil texture.A trellis can be useful for supporting vines in containers. This prevents them from becoming top-heavy, and falling over. It is a good idea to shield the containers from rain and wind as they could easily be blown over or drenched on and end up becoming muddy.It is recommended to fertilize regularly since the soil in a pot doesn't contain many nutrients. The best time to do this is during the initial stage of soil mixing. During this process 1 cup of a general purpose organic fertilizer, such as 5-3-4 or liquid fish emulsion needs to be added to the mix.