Sprucing Up Your Yard This Spring

SPRUCING UP YOUR YARD THIS SPRING

With Spring fast approaching, you may be starting to think of ways you can enhance the look of your yard.  Color is typically the first thing that people think of, but drought-tolerant greenery is another way to add depth and character.  Here are a few plants you may want to consider:


Easy care plants that add big color:

English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is ideal to add a delightful fragrance and wisps of purple along walkways or in a rock bed

Lion’s Tail (Leonotis leonurus) is a deep orange color, resembling a fuzzy ball that blooms in the fall.  These grow to a tall 4 feet in height

‘Denver Daisy’ Rudbeckia hirta are a hearty blossom, bright golden petals and a brown center.  These are a great addition to your indoor bouquet 

‘Purple Pixie’ Loropetalum are a year-round, weeping burgundy leaf with a pink flower that blooms in spring

‘Rozanne’ Geranium is a non-stop splash of color that, if left alone, will meander through your garden beds, adding violet-blue flowers from spring until fall

‘Santa Barbara’ Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia leucantha) tops out at 2 to 3 feet.  When paired with the lion’s tail add spectacular color to your garden in late summer, early fall


How about adding a Butterfly Garden.  Here are four tips to ensure your success:

Pick the Right Plants
The most important thing is to grow plants that are rich in nectar for butterflies to sip on, like coneflower, aster and verbena.

Ample Sunshine
When they’re not drinking nectar, butterflies are known to find a nice warm spot to soak up the sun.

A Touch of Mud
While a water feature isn’t necessary, butterflies will appreciate a patch of mud where they can extract minerals from the soil.

Skip the Chemicals
Insecticides and herbicides are a surefire way to harm these little creatures, so leave the chemicals for another time.


Why not bring some green trees inside your home to liven it up a little?  How about one of these:

Weeping Fig typically don’t get taller than six feet and require minimal direct sunlight, although indirect light is vital to keeping them healthy.

Yucca is a hearty plant that does well with either direct or indirect sunlight and requires relatively little water to survive.

Banana Palm adds some fun character to a room.  They do require regular watering and direct sunlight, but if you put in the effort, you’ll be rewarded with a stunning display of nature at it’s finest.

Olive Trees require plenty of direct sunlight each day.  You can make your home reminiscent of a Tuscan getaway with this iconic plant.

If you’re new to gardening or feel like you don’t have a green thumb, be sure to always check the instructions to ensure your choices are consistent with the amount of sun or shade you’ll be planting them in.





Here are some popular nurseries and garden centers to get started:

Talini's Nursery - 5601 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento
Plant Daddy Co - 3319 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento
Exotic Plants - 1525 Fulton Ave, Sacramento
Propagate - 1700 I St, Sacramento
SiteOne Landscape - 6901 Bradshaw Rd, Sacramento


Don’t forget the garden gloves.
Happy Planting!