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March is the time that most of us in the warmer zones can start thinking about scratching the ground and hoping that by the end of March, at least in zone 6, we will be having our last frost. In 2007 we got a big surprise after all of our orchards and many of our grapevines and other flowers and early vegetables received 6 nights of killing frost. This ruined many a vineyard in Kentucky and for us it meant no peaches, pears, apples, cherries or grapes at all. We hope that we will recover and see fruit come forth this season.
Spring is the time many gardeners brains go into overdrive. They think of all kinds of things they want to do and this is a good time to consider mapping out your foundation gardens. Foundation gardens are shrubs, flowers and/or trees that look really good next to the foundation of your home.
If you do not know where your utilities come into your home, then this is also the time to contact your utility companies to find out what you need to know about planting next to incoming pipes, underground wires, water mains or gas mains.
I suggest you lay out your foundation garden design on paper such as graft paper. This is the time you can drag out that old garden hose that leaks and use it to lay out the curves and designs for your foundation garden. I also suggest that you use curves instead of straight lines as it adds more charm to your design. Usually your walkways will parallel your foundation garden.
When you are designing for the shade side of your home, then all your foundation plants must not only be for your zone, but for the shade and when you are designing for the sunny side of your home, then all your foundation plants again must be for your zone and also be able to take lots of sun. It also helps that you group the ones that need the most water together as opposed to the ones that don’t like a lot of water. This is also an issue that one might take into consideration in the event you live in an area that puts on water bans during a drought season. There is nothing more discouraging than spending a lot of time and money and seeing it all die off.
Plants play roles in your foundation garden. Bulbs in the spring are greatly decorative and give a gardening boost to blast away those winter blues and Evergreens or thick pines will be great wind breakers. Leafy trees will provide shade. However, they do not do well next to the foundation of your home.
Remember whatever you plant will in most cases grow and that fact has to be taken into consideration when you space out your foundation garden. If a small shrub looks lost when you put it into the ground keep in mind that it will quickly grow. If the label says growth spread is 5 ft. then you want to put it about 3 ft from the foundation and it may look puny the day you plant that small shrub or even odd, just do it and leave it. Also if the label says it will grow to 6-8 ft tall, then you do not want to plant it in front of a window because when it grows you most likely will not be able to see out of that window.
Most foundation plants, such as shrubs and trees, “flesh” out in about 3 to 4 seasons so you will need patience while waiting.
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Author Bio Box: Arlene Wright Correll
 For more gardening or cooking information click http://www.learn-america.com/
To see Arlene’s Gardens and to read her gardening diaries or click on Arlene’s Books where you can download or buy her gardening & cook books. Arlene says, “All my royalties from the sale of my books go to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and I thank you for visiting my site.”
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