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The drawback of a moss lawn is that live mosses for landscaping are not as readily available as grass seed, and a moss lawn is more expensive to install than a lawn. However, the initial investment pays off because once a moss lawn is established, it requires much less upkeep and maintenance. All things considered, a moss lawn is more sustainable than turfgrass. Before choosing, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of moss lawns when compared to turfgrass lawns....

The dormant bulb-like corms should be planted mid- to late- summer for fall blooms. This plant has a slow growth rate, sometimes taking years to germinate and flower. Autumn crocuses are toxic to humans and animals. Some gardeners plant them in the middle of a border, where their foliage will be hidden by other plants and where the sometimes floppy flowers can lean on neighboring plants for support. A small amount of moisture during the summer is necessary to trigger root growth and get the bulbs going....

Bee balm is usually planted in the spring or fall from container-grown nursery plants. It is a fast-growing perennial that often reaches full height and flowering maturity in its first season. Though not considered invasive, it is part of the mint family and spreads rather aggressively. It will need to be supervised unless you want it to spread. While pollinators love the nectar and songbirds snack on the seed heads, bee balm also makes a tasty tea or garnish, smells lovely in potpourri, and repels mosquitos when the leaves are crushed....

Unlike most zucchini varieties, Black Forest doesn’t bush out at its base. So it can be contained in a fairly large pot and trained to grow up a trellis or stake. It’s planted in the spring after the threat of frost has passed and grows quickly, reaching maturity in around 50 to 60 days. Selecting a Planting Site Pick a spot that gets lots of light and has well-draining soil....

Light In hot climates, browallia should be grown in partial or dappled shade. It prefers afternoon shade. In cooler locations, it can tolerate full sun. Soil Browallia needs rich soil high in organic matter with good drainage. Acidic to slightly alkaline soil is best. Water Make sure the soil does not dry out and keep it evenly moist but not soggy. Too much water will result in mainly foliage and few flowers....

Best planted in the fall or spring from a container-grown nursery plant, burning bush grows at a moderate pace, adding about a foot of growth per year. If properly maintained, it will survive for decades. This plant contains alkaloid compounds that are mildly toxic. Plant burning bush in the spring from a potted nursery specimen at the same depth it was growing in its container. When used in shrub borders or as screening plants, give the shrubs plenty of space (5 to 6 feet), as they will quickly spread to create thickets....

Cardinal climber is often planted near a trellis or other structure that it can climb; it can also be used as a dense ground-cover. The delicate, lacy leaves form a peek-a-boo screen rather than blocking the view entirely. This makes them great for training over an arbor or trellis. They are also a good choice for softening a wall and adding an airy feeling. Cardinal climber can also be grown in containers....

Among tomato-growing aficionados, this variety is known as a “semi determinate” plant, because after reaching its full height of 3-4 feet, it continues to produce fruit until frost (unlike determinate tomatoes that have a “bush” habit and finite fruiting period/single crop, or indeterminate tomato plants that continue to sprawl and produce fruit throughout their growth season (like cherry tomatoes) Because they produce such an abundance of large fruits, these plants definitely need cages or stakes to keep them upright....

Common milkweed grows quickly to two to four feet in height. It has a narrow vertical growth habit and thick, long, oblong green leaves that grow to about eight inches. Plant seedlings in the early spring after the danger of frost has passed and direct-sow seeds in the ground in the late fall. Once established, milkweed spreads rapidly by self-seeding if seed pods are not removed. In late spring to mid-summer, fragrant clusters of pink-purple flowers appear....

A versatile and popular shrub, creeping juniper is often used on rocky slopes where other plants struggle to survive, and it can help to prevent soil erosion. This drought-tolerant species is also commonly used in dry regions where xeriscaping is popular. It thrives even in hot-summer climates, isn’t too picky about its soil, isn’t bothered by many pests or diseases, and is unlikely to be eaten by deer or rabbits....

Start seeds indoors in the winter, then move the seedlings outdoors after the final frost in spring. Although cup and saucer vine takes awhile to start blooming, its foliage will quickly create a screen, grow over an arbor, or cover an unsightly fence. The plant has plentiful bright green leaves that are oblong in shape. The cup-shaped flowers are pale green as they start to open, but then turn purple or white as they mature....

‘Mops’ and other short mugo pines can function effectively as a low hedge or ground cover as well as foundation plantings or as evergreens for rock gardens. They can also be used as specimen plants in a mixed border. Some cultivars are used as bonsai specimens. As with many shrubs, spring is a traditional planting time, as this gives the plant plenty of time to settle in and develop new roots before the winter cold arrives....

When your Godetia achieves some height, pinch out the center of the plant to encourage more blooms and keep the plant to a compact size. Because Godetia can be plagued by powdery mildew, be sure to provide adequate spacing between the plants. Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that can be reduced when air circulation is increased. The plant can also be affected by aphids and mites; if you see either of these pests on the leaves, spray them with neem oil....

The slow-growing ‘Halcyon’ cultivar is one of the best and most popular in its group. It is an erect plant growing to about 14 inches tall with heavily textured. spear-shaped blue-green leaves. The texture of the leaves resembles that of seersucker fabric. Unlike some other plants with blueish-green foliage, this one retains its color well without fading in the heat of summer. ‘Halcyon’ sends up pale lilac-blue flowers on 26-inch stalks in mid- to late-summer....

Completely different in form, the ivory silk lilac stands as a single-trunked small tree or large shrub with white flowers that have very little fragrance which bloom in the summer months. The cultivar lends itself to uses that the straight species is lacking. For this reason, it deserves to be considered when you need a showy ornamental tree capable of adapting to a few uses in a landscape design....

Barberry is considered a mildly toxic plant for humans, causing digestive upset if plant parts are consumed and dermatitis reactions if the plant is handled. While it is not included on official lists of plants toxic to pets, this may be because the thorny stems make consumption very unlikely. The berberine contained by the plant parts is known to cause cardiac symptoms if consumed in large quantity, so it is wise to not grow this plant if you have pets prone to chewing on painfully thorny stems....

Kohlrabi reaches harvest maturity 45 to 60 days after the seeds germinate. Ideally, you should plant it so it comes to harvest before average daytime temperatures exceed 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If you plan to harvest it as a fall crop, you can plant the seeds about 90 days before the expected first frost date. Plant kohlrabi seeds directly in the garden after the last hard freeze in spring, or plant in fall with enough time to harvest before the first hard freeze....

Leeks have a slow to moderate growth rate and should be planted in the early spring. They also can be planted in the fall in some areas. Be careful about where you plant them though, as they do have chemical compounds that are toxic to pets. In climates with mild winters (generally zone 7 and above), you also can plant in the fall. Selecting a Planting Site Pick a sunny spot that has rich, well-drained soil for your leeks....

If this plant is grown in an ideal setting it’s likely to do well without much maintenance, other than controlling the moisture level. But you should expect to remove and replace aging plants as they begin to falter after a few years. Light Full shade is a recipe for disaster when it comes to Scotch moss. Providing it isn’t going to suffer intense afternoon heat, it does best in sun....

Silver squill has silvery, lance-shaped leaves with green leopard spots and silver spots and purple on the underside. On mature plants, teardrop-shaped bulbs form above the ground. Silver squill has the ability to store moisture in its stems during times of drought. In the spring, it grows small green flowers on pink stems emerge from the rosette-shaped foliage. Silver squill is toxic to humans and pets. Since the entire plant only grows to be about 6 to 10 inches tall, silver squills are easy to grow both inside and outdoors in areas with limited space....