If you reside in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, one investment you should consider is keeping your
landscape healthy and robust. Whether you have lived in New England your whole life or are a recent
transplant to this beautiful region, it’s important to know how to keep your property looking its very
best. The very first thing to do in creating a beautiful and worry-free foundation in your landscape is to
choose unfailing plants.
No matter where you live, landscaping is an art and takes a little bit of forethought and planning.
Landscaping in Cape Cod is no different but having a great yard doesn’t have to be a daunting task. If
you want a yard that is both hardy and eye-catching, your choice of plants matters.
The plants that you incorporate in your design are referred to as the softscape. Your softscape may
include trees, flowers, shrubs, and grass. But people have different preferences, and your
maintenance needs might factor into the plants that you choose. If you plan on doing your own
landscaping maintenance, you may want to choose plants that are easy to care for and do not need
copious amounts of TLC.
You can help your garden, your wallet, and your back stay healthy by picking these native and
foolproof plants for your Cape Cod landscaping.
1. Daylilies
Perennials are exceptional and unfailing plants you can grow in your landscape. Their ability to
rebloom every year is what makes them such a beautiful and easy choice. Daylilies are the number
one option for many property owners in Cape Cod.
Daylilies are low maintenance once they are planted. There are a wide variety of daylilies you can
incorporate in your design. Stella d’Oro is a top choice for many landscape owners in the region. Its
bold, yellow colors add a stunning pop to your softscape. You can also get creative by choosing other
varieties of daylilies.
2. Arrowwood Viburnum
This dense and hardy shrub is a grand addition to your yard. It generally grows up to 5 to 9 feet tall
and wide. One great thing about this shrub is that while the leaves are a healthy shade of green in the
warmer months, those leaves turn red to reddish-purple during the fall, adding a beautiful splash of
fall colors to your landscaping. This shrub also provides small flowers and ornamental fruit.
Arrowwood is very easy to grow and is adaptable to various conditions. Maintenance needs for this
plant are very low, generally only needing light pruning.
3. Sweet Fern
The sweet fern is a plant that will thrive where so many others cannot. It is a low growing plant that
prefers ample sunshine and can grow in less-than-ideal soil conditions. Sweet fern will continue to
grow and spread on its own every spring, so you will want to consider containing it or you will need to
pull new growth out if you want to keep the plant within specific bounds.
One benefit of this plant is the aroma that it emits, as noted by its name. Sweet fern can even be
made into tea once the leaves are dried. Some people also claim that the smell that the sweet fern
gives off helps to repel pesky bugs such as flies and mosquitos.
4. Hostas
If you have tried every landscaping plant in your garden and nothing seems to thrive, fret no more.
Hostas are the best option to satisfy your landscaping passion. These perennial plants don’t need
much help to grow and will only need a little bit of cleanup in the fall or winter when the flowers and
leaves die off for the season.
Hostas come in a wide variety and are great for perennial gardening, thanks to their beautiful look.
They are low plants that will spread once they grow and feature broad leaves with either pale green,
blue or multi-colored varieties.
5. Lavender
Lavender is a very hardy plant that offers beautiful shades of purple and a pleasant aroma. There are
many different variations of lavender, so it is a plant that comes in different heights and the scent
does vary based on the type. Another great thing about lavender is that once it is established, it does
not have to be watered regularly.
Lavender is well known for its relaxing scent. You can harvest the lavender flowers for drying or
cooking purposes once the buds are open. This plant is not only lovely to look at, but also can be
utilized in ways other than landscaping.
Landscaping in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is more than just picking out colors that suit your
aesthetics. You also need to consider water, sun and soil needs of your plants. Choosing hardy plants
that thrive in less than optimal conditions might be the best bet for your softscape. If stuck, it’s best to
seek help from experienced, well-trained, and licensed landscaping professionals. Reach out to Gade
Masonry & Landscaping to discuss your landscape design!