Every gardener has a problem, be it deer, excess shade, or uneven ground. Here are 10 basic problem-solving plants, useful to novice gardeners and experts alike.
Photo by Heather Edwards
1. Magnolias.
Photo by Britt Willoughby Dyer
Oddly enough, deer tend to avoid magnolias.
2. Lady's Mantle
Photo by Melanie Shaw via Flickr
Use this easy-going plant to brighten a shady spot.
3. Hostas
Photo by Gary Larude via Flickr
Another shade-loving hero.
4. Shrub Roses.
Photo courtesy of David Austin Roses
Shrub roses have long blooming seasons, and can be disease-resistant.
5. Heliotrope.
Photo by Carl Lewis via Flickr
Avoid costly annuals with a perfumed perennial.
6. Boxwood.
Photo courtesy of Sunset
Boxwood lends an instant air of order to even the most unruly garden.
7. Snowberry.
Photo courtesy of Old Blue Crow
Stop erosion on a slope: Snowberry will grow happily on a steep hillside.
8. Cranesbill.
Photo courtesy of Sunset
Cranesbill acts as ground cover without gobbling up space.
9. Periwinkle.
Photo courtesy of Sunset
Have a bare spot under a tree? Periwinkle will thrive where lesser ground covers fail.
10. Privets.
Photo by Judith Doyle via Flickr
Privets can protect more tender plants from being damaged by high winds.