Whether you’re looking for some extra protection in your backyard or simply want to add a bit of beauty, some of the best outdoor plants for protection will provide both. Among the best home security plants are the hawthorn. These are beautiful spring flowers that turn to bright red berries in the fall. Despite their beautiful appearance, hawthorns are also a very effective deterrent for burglars and nosy neighbors.
Wintergreen boxwood
The wintergreen boxwood is a great choice for many reasons, including its ability to thrive in containers. Its slow growth rate means that it will not quickly outgrow its container, and the wintergreen boxwood is also tolerant of partial shade or dappled shade in warmer climates. It is very easy to plant, and has a nice fibrous root system. It is the best outdoor plant for protection from deer and rabbits, so it is not suitable for areas where a high-traffic area is needed.
Boxwoods need protection from the harsh winter elements, but the wintergreen variety can withstand both conditions. It can be planted in both full sun and partial shade, and it is tolerant of salt spray and deer. It can be pruned from spring to fall, and it grows well in regular garden soil. It can survive drought, partial sunlight, and poor soil. Unlike lavender, wintergreen boxwood is disease resistant and pest resistant, making it an excellent choice for gardeners looking to protect their home from insects.
Planting wintergreen boxwood is very easy. Simply dig a hole and fill it with compost or manure. Make sure the soil is well-drained. You should also mulch the soil to retain moisture. Make sure to water the wintergreen boxwood every day or twice a week for the first couple of weeks. Once new growth begins to appear, you can reduce the frequency of supplemental watering to once a week.
Pruning a wintergreen boxwood is not necessary. If left unpruned, the tree will grow into a roughly round shape. But if you are particularly concerned about the appearance of your wintergreen boxwood, you can prune it in the spring and late fall. In either case, be sure to prune away dead branches, as they will not produce new growth until spring. The wintergreen boxwood has boxwood mites and psyllids, so you may want to watch out for them.
Golden bamboo
As one of the most popular indoor plants, golden bamboo requires little maintenance. The leaves emerge right below the cane. Pruning should be done as needed to remove dead branches. Unlike other bamboo varieties, golden bamboo foliage begins lower on the cane. As such, prune the plant to the base. Herbicides are most effective when applied to the wounded base of cut stems. Herbicides are also surprisingly effective at controlling weeds, although they rarely provide a comprehensive solution.
A golden bamboo plant can tolerate a range of soil types. While it does best in hot tropical climates, it will survive temperatures down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it won’t grow as rapidly if the soil is too cold. To keep your golden bamboo plant healthy and happy, consider a large container with drainage holes. The container should be about 10 inches deep and wide. A good soil should retain moisture and have drainage holes to allow excess water to drain.
Another consideration is its potential for spreading. Golden bamboo has a tendency to spread and displace native vegetation. In urban settings, it can also impact cockroaches and litter-feeding stream invertebrates. A three-foot barrier between the plants can be helpful. However, golden bamboo is an invasive plant and it’s best avoided in landscape plantings. The Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants recommends that homeowners dig a three-foot barrier between the two species.
In addition to its hardiness, golden bamboo is a great choice for border plants, privacy screens, and protection from prying eyes. It can also tolerate urban conditions and grows well in poor soil. Golden bamboo grows fast, and can create dense screens in a short amount of time. Its bright green leaves and yellow stems make it an attractive plant for both aesthetics and protection. It can be planted about three feet apart, and can be used as a visual screen or noise-reduction plant.
Creeping thyme
There are many reasons to grow creeping thyme in your garden. First, it’s edible. Creeping thyme has fragrant oval leaves covered in hair. These leaves also have edible flowers. The flowers are edible and are used to make tea and herbal remedies. Second, the plant’s scent is very appealing to bees. It can even be used to attract butterflies.
After the last frost, creeping thyme is best planted outside after the soil has reached seventy degrees Fahrenheit. Seedlings should be planted eight to 12 inches apart in well-draining soil. Plant creeping thyme in a sunny spot where they will receive good light. To ensure proper plant health, mulch the soil once a year, or more frequently if the ground freezes in winter.
If you’re looking for an outdoor plant that thrives in flowerbeds, creeping thyme is an excellent choice. Its height can cover taller shrubs or grass. Thyme grows best in soil that has a pH level that veers toward the alkaline side. You can even add lime to a low-pH soil to keep it healthy.
This perennial thyme can grow in USDA hardiness zones two through nine, with some varieties doing better in warmer climates. While it may be difficult to grow from seed, it can be grown from cuttings. Although the results of this method aren’t as good as with seeds, there are gardeners who have grown the plant successfully. Creeping thyme prefers a sunny area with four hours of sun a day.
If you have a low-light area in your garden, consider thyme as a groundcover. The foliage forms a flat mat and releases fragrance when crushed. It also has lavender-pink flowers, which attract bees and pollinators. The mother of thyme, T. praecox, is one of 350 species in the Thymus genus. Thyme is native to temperate Mediterranean climates. Several species have been used in cooking and have culinary benefits.
Lily of the valley
Lily of the valley is a very attractive groundcover and grows six to twelve inches tall. It produces intriguing red seed pods. It is poisonous, so use proper care and precautions around it. While its beautiful flowers may be tempting, lily of the valley is poisonous. Ingestion of its flowers can cause cardiac distress or malfunction. Keep children and pets away from the plant. The plant can be invasive, so use caution when planting it.
Plant lily of the valley somewhere that receives plenty of sunlight. This plant can withstand temperatures of -11 Celsius. Ensure that the location is shaded and moist and water it regularly. It can be pruned by removing brown or yellow leaves. Divide the stolon regularly. Prune it in early spring. Lily of the valley can be transplanted to a different location when it starts to grow too large.
If you are starting a new plant from seed, use high-quality potting soil. You will need at least two inches of soil for each piece. Lily of the valley can be divided into smaller pieces or transplanted as a whole clump. Lily of the valley rhizomes are easy to transplant. Make sure you plant them deep enough to cover the buds. This plant will flower in late spring or early summer.
Lily of the valley is prone to several problems. Slugs and snails feed on the leaves and cause them to turn yellow. These pests eat the plant’s components, so it cannot thrive. To protect your lily of the valley plant, you should use a fungicide to kill off any infected plant material. If you use composted material for your garden, make sure to disinfect it before reusing it. Lily of the valley can also be attacked by gray mold.
Hawthorn
A mature hawthorn tree provides great privacy and wind protection in your yard. This beautiful evergreen is susceptible to several types of pests and diseases, including borers, caterpillars, lace bugs, mites, and aphids. Pruning your hawthorn tree regularly is an effective way to prevent these problems. However, you should be sure to wear sturdy gloves when pruning the tree, as the thorns can be sharp and piercing.
Native Americans prized hawthorn for many reasons. Their flowers and berries were prized for their medicinal qualities, while their large black thorns were used as fishing hooks, sewing awls, and lances for probing boils and blisters. They also made excellent weapons, and their wood was used for making long-lasting hot fuel. While this plant is not native to Florida, it makes for an attractive addition to the landscape.
Indian hawthorn is susceptible to leaf spot disease, which is caused by the fungus Entomosporium mespili. This disease attacks the leaves and limbs of hawthorns and spreads quickly from plant to plant. Symptoms of leaf spot include yellowing, dying leaves, and early leaf drop. The fungus can also cause limb and leaf dieback.
When picking hawthorn berries, remember to harvest them when they are in season. They are best picked in early May and have a slightly fishy odor. Trimethylamine is an active ingredient in these flowers that attracts pollinators. However, this smell disappears once they are dried. If you want to preserve the fruits and branches for later use, you can simply dry them out and place them in a basket or paper bag. It will not last long if the branches are not removed as they dry out.
