Wytheville Redevelopment & Housing Authority
The Landlord Gazette
                                   The Great Outdoors

With warm weather upon us, it’s the perfect time to get outside and start planting.  With a little work, you
can turn any yard into the great outdoors!  Here are some landscaping ideas and tips that will give your
family pleasure and privacy.  

  • Start with a basic plan.  Decide what areas of your yard you will focus on, and draw a sketch of what
    you want before heading to the greenhouse.

  • Plant perennials.  They will come back each year--bigger and fuller.  Hosta, day lilies, peony,
    hollyhock, and bleeding hearts will add greenery and color throughout the warm months.

  • Use annuals to fill in and add color.  Marigolds, petunias, impatiens, and vinca will brighten up any
    area.

  • In large flower beds, plant the tallest plants in the middle and work toward the outside with smaller
    plants.  This way all plants can be seen.

  • Paint your concrete.  You can turn ordinary gray into almost any fabulous color or pattern.

  • Use birdhouses, vintage gardening tools, old baskets, statuary, etc. to show off your personal style.

  • Pots of plants are the perfect solution to any area.  They will dress up an entry, add color and
    greenery to any corner, and pretty up your porches and patios.   

  • Mulch around all plants.  It provides protection and holds water for the plants.
ISSUE 59
MAY 2012
                                      Plant It Right

Planting a tree can add beauty and privacy to your yard.  Follow these simple steps to ensure your trees
grow and flourish.
1.  Dig a hole two to three times as wide as the root ball.  Handle the root ball carefully while placing it in   
the hole.
2.  Backfill around the root ball, lightly packing the soil as you go.  Frequently check the trunk to ensure   
that it remains straight.
3.  Stake the tree by driving a stake into the root ball and tying it off loosely.  Large trees may need two or
three stakes placed several feet from the trunk.
4.  Water the tree soon after planting it and everyday for several weeks afterward.
5.  Add a three inch layer of mulch to keep out weeds and reduce water loss.

A FEW TIPS…
  • Do not fertilize the newly planted tree until the following year.  Giving fertilizer
     to a new tree can be harmful.  
  • Only prune newly planted trees to remove broken, dead or diseased limbs.  
     Otherwise leave them until after their first growing season.  


                                                                                                                                                              Information provided by www.bhg.com  
Wytheville Redevelopment
and Housing Authority
170 Hedgefield Lane
Wytheville, VA 24382
Phone: 276-228-6515
Fax: 276-228-8606
bonniembrewer@earthlink.net