Our homes, parks, and buildings would be much less hospitable without the purposeful design of landscapers molding the flora, or plants, into works of natural art. This is floriculture.
Why Is Floriculture Important?
“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike,” said the famed American naturalist John Muir.
Muir is right. Natural beauty is truly as important to human flourishing as is bread. That is why it is crucial for a home to have flowers and grass, bushes and shrubs, mosses and trees. This biodiversity creates a home where one can meaningfully work, rest, and play.
The Beauty of Design
Landscaping service providers offer a professional eye and expertise when approaching a property needing a touch of exterior design.
Lawn Design
-
- A beautiful lawn is key to effective floriculture, especially in the temperate, southeast United States.
- Types of grass are extremely important to consider and all grass varieties may not work for your yard. For example, if you are living in the northeast US you may want to consider using Kentucky Bluegrass, known for its drought resistance and ability to withstand cooler annual temperatures. However, if you are living in the southeast US you should use a Bermuda grass or zoysia for their resilience during the hot summer months.
- A key aspect of lawn design is how frequently it will be cut, how low-to-the-ground it will be, and whether or not their will be any pattern cut into the grass.
Flower Bed and Garden Design
-
- There is so much room for creativity for a landscaper creating a flower bed or garden. Flowering plants bring an aspect of brightness and vitality to any natural area. Some of the best flowering plants to grow in the Southeast are: Hardy Hibiscus, Crested Iris, and Loropetalums.
- A seasoned landscape gardener will know where to place which plants and why.
The Practicality of Floriculture
Flowering Plants Attract Helpful Insects
- Milkweed, Pansies, Verbena, and Goldenrod all provide food for butterflies.
- Marigold, Chives, Cilantro, and Calendula attract ladybugs which are beneficial predators helping to control the population of harmful insects.
- Marigolds also deter bees and mosquitos!
- Lavender, Coneflower, and Sunflower help to draw in bees that are some of the most effective pollinators known.
Cooler Homes
- Holly Trees, Crepe Myrtles, and Dogwoods are trees that can help to shade your home and walkways from the sweltering summer sun.
- Azaleas, Hydrangeas, Boxwoods, and Gardenias are all beautiful shrubs that can act as a buffer between your house and outdoor living area and a much warmer sidewalk or street.
Floriculture Helps Prevent Erosion
- The root systems of trees, bushes, shrubs, and flowering plants all hold topsoil in place and help the soil to better absorb water from excessive rainfall.
- Water is not the only agent of erosion. Wind also can significantly alter your property’s soil profile. The trunk, stems, leaves, and flowers cut wind so that it reaches the soil surface with less force. The root system also holds soil to the ground.
