I think placing a few landscaping plants around your home would be a great idea. If you agree, read on. If you don’t agree, click to another page. What you would read here is not going to change your mind.

But first, a few words of warning. On your first visit to your local garden center you will be overwhelmed. The selection is greater than you ever could have thought. You are going to need a little guidance. At least I did.

Before you start trying to narrow your selections, think about your goals for your landscaping plants. Are you trying to make your home look better? Are you trying to create more privacy? Are you trying to do both?

If privacy is your goal, I have two ideas for you. Both are cheap and both are easy. Does this sound good so far?

Idea number one is a hedge or shrub type of plant. You can drop a few of those in the ground wherever you want to block the view. You can get a lot of plant for your money. Better yet, those plants require hardly any care.

Idea number two is ivy vine. You hardly even have to dig a hole for that stuff. All you need is a fence and the ivy vine will do all of the work. It also is very hardy and looks good in all seasons.

The ivy has the advantage of being cheaper to buy. It also grows faster. However, you are going to have to have the fence. Actually, instead of having a fence you can put up a net. Ivy will climb up that also. Just give it a little time.

If you prefer the beauty of flowering plants, you must think about your weather. Those tropical flowers look so colorful and pretty at your garden store. But they are not going to look so nice in the winter in most of the country. In some climates they may not be able to survive. Ask before you buy.

If your home sees four seasons each year, I recommend a hardy flowering plant. Two good examples are Impatiens and Chrysanthemums.

You are going to have to water both flowers, but you will not have to do it every day. Both do require some sun and some shade. Another good benefit of these two types of flowers is that they come in many colors.

You certainly do not have to limit yourself to these two choices. Just go to any nearby garden center and tell the people what you are trying to do. Ask for their advice. You will be amazed at how much they know. Best of all, they love helping you use landscaping plants to bring your dreams to life.