Real-Life Decision Making
Marge recently moved into a heritage home that she has spent a lot of time and money renovating and restoring. The house looks wonderful. Unfortunately, the backyard doesn't.
During renovations, the lawn, plants and shrubs were torn up and piled over with dirt. Marge would love to recreate a formal garden in the space. The only problem is that with all the work on the house, she has run short of money.
She has called the landscape architect and then you, the landscape contractor, to help her make some planting decisions. Marge isn't very interested in the outdoors, but realizes that something must be done to the backyard to help set off the house.
"I'll hire somebody to look after the garden in the spring," says Marge. "I don't care to go outside myself."
You look at the landscape architect's plans for the small formal garden. The plans look good, placing a large sculpture in the middle with gravel pathways cutting around it. Marge wants to know if you could suggest some cheap and low maintenance green plants to put in the stone planters along the pathways.
"This kind of decision actually takes some care," says Trish Fielkowich. She is a landscape contractor. "You don't want to pick something that won't grow, or that will require too much work for someone who isn't interested in maintenance of the garden. You also want something in their price range."
You think of two options. The first is to plant ivy. This would be very cheap. Marge brightens at this suggestion. However, you also know that ivy grows incredibly quickly.
The second option is a moderately expensive boxwood hedge. It is a much slower growing plant, but requires little pruning and long-term care.
Marge wants the least expensive plants, but she also wants a garden that requires little or no maintenance. Which option do you pick for her?