Two rows of carefully selected trees, shrubs and their locations can reduce noise in half. Trees and shrubs buffer more sounds when they are planted close to the source of the noise. Plant them as close together as possible without overcrowding, and make the rows as long as possible. Select species that quickly grow upward instead of out.

Select a variety of plants to prevent disease from spreading rapidly through a row. For year-round noise reduction, use plants that produce dense foliage or use evergreens. Create the buffer from the ground up. Place the tallest varieties of trees and shrubs in the back row and shorter ones in front. Ordinances or restrictions may limit plant height within a neighborhood. Use the entire height available.

Select plants that require little maintenance and stay healthy throughout all four seasons. A few common plants used a buffers are magnolia, pine, cedar, juniper, cypress and laurel. The trees and shrubs can also act as a windbreak, food source and provide habitat for wildlife.

Check with the National Weather Service to determine the prevailing winds in your area. For example, the prevailing winds for most of the year may come out of the southwest. During the spring or fall, storms might frequently blow in from the northeast.

In such a case, wind barriers would be planted along the south and west borders of the property to protect it from prevailing winds. Closer to the dwelling, large trees coupled with tall hedges would be planted to protect the yard and the home from these stronger seasonal winds coming in during storms. These barriers would be planted along the north and east sides of the yard itself, with the large trees located inside the hedges.

With just a little planning and some questions at the local plant nurseries, the right species of trees and hedges to plant for these uses can be easily determined. It’s always worth the effort to provide protection from wind damage, and this is something that will improve a property’s overall resale value later.
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That is why, if you are particularly worried about the possibility for a break in, you might consider cutting back the hedges so at least you can see over them. You don’t want to give potential intruders anything to hide behind. However, if this is too much of a change to your beloved yard you can also consult your local law enforcement to see what they have to say on the matter. No one else will have a better idea on the matter or what you are up against than these folks, and they might be able to give you the insider info you need to make a decision about those hedges.

Wildlife will appear on the property once a favorable habitat is created. The basics to provide for a favorable habitat are food, water, cover and a safe spot to raise young. Most wildlife does well with native trees, shrubs, ground cover, vines and wildflowers and among these, shelter is created. A small pond can create a water source. Native plants are maintained well with minimal care. The native wildlife will also feel at ease with the native habitat.

Native plants thrive with the current soil, rainfall and temperature conditions. These native plants have developed a defense system to insects and disease. It is important to not use chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Native plants help preserve the local ecosystems. The plant selections should not be based on looks only, but practicality for the ecosystem and the wildlife that is going to be sustained.

Examples of trees include Pecan, Hickory, Oak, Persimmon and Cedar. Shrubbery can include Red Buckeye, Black Huckleberry, Sumac and Black Elder. Wildflowers include Wild Ginger, Milkweeds, Coneflower and Sunflower. Groundcover includes Partridgeberry, Wild Strawberry, Goldenseal and Fragrant Bedstraw. The trees and shrubs make wind barriers especially if they are planted together in a row.

Using native plants in your landscaping has many benefits because when they’re matched to your ecosystem, it makes them perfectly suited to the environment where they grow. They add beautiful color to large landscaping areas and increase the soils ability to accumulate water. Native plants help clean the air and reduce air pollution. They can also be used in a landscape area to attract wildlife. This can be done by layering plants to help them grow at different heights. Another benefit of using native plants in your landscaping area is it helps sustain native butterflies and native birds.

The best perennials and ornamentals for sunny areas are the daylilies. These flowers can grow and thrive in full sun areas of your yard and can actually be up to six feet tall. They are easy to care for and come in a variety of colors. The daylilies bloom from mid-summer to early fall but the blooms only last one day, hence the name of the plant. Another sunny area plant is the purple coneflower. These plants survive and thrive in full sun and in drought conditions. The purple coneflower grows to about two feet high and are known for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. They prefer well drained sandy soil and blooms through spring and summer. The garden peony is another flower that thrives in full sun areas. This plant blooms from May to mid-summer and needs to have at least six hours of full sun every day to bloom.

Paula Bowen

– Japanese Painted Fern

This deciduous fern variety is hardy enough to survive in cooler climates and is a mixture of silver, red, purple, green and blueish grey colors.

- Foam-flowers

This ground flower features delicate pink and white blossoms which bloom in the late spring or early summer.

- Foxglove

These unique pink blossoms are quite hardy. They grow well not only in shade but also in dry soil. Although technically biennials, if treated well they will last for many years.

- Bleeding Hearts

This perennial plant is another example of extremely unique-looking blossoms. They add interest to any shady garden but are great on their own.

- Coral Bells

These flowers come in many colors, including red, orange, almost-black, purple or green. They are the perfect “finishing touch” to any gardening scheme.