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The Only Twenty
By Wes Bray, Lawns & Gardens Plus
Wes and Paula Bray, owners of Lawns and Gardens Plus of Virginia Beach, Virginia have had great success in establishing and maintaining a plethora of lawns, gardens and landscapes in their 34 years in business.
At a recent Virginia Turfgrass Council event, Wes shared his knowledge and experience in establishing and maintaining beautiful oceanfront landscapes. The presentation, titled “The Only Twenty” highlighted the limited palette of plants that can be used in landscapes close to or next to the ocean. The "Only Twenty" concept applies not just to Virginia Beach, but also to coastal North Carolina and likely the entire Eastern Shore of Virginia and Maryland.
Wes explains that while the Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina shoreline is in the transition zone and technically you can grow anything, you can’t necessarily grow it well. Here Wes shares the incredible landscapes that can be created from “The Only Twenty” plants that thrive in this area.
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The Only 20 Plant List
JUNIPER
Hollywood, Shore, Blue rug
CRAPE MYRTLE
HOLLY
Yaupon, American, Burford
ORNAMENTAL GRASSES
Pampas, Fountain, Miscanthus, Muhly
HYDRANGEA
Paniculata, Macrophylla
EUONYMUS
RIVER BIRCH
PIERIS
INDIAN HAWTHORNE
LIVE OAK
WINDMILL PALM
CAMELLIA
LIGUSTRUM
FATSIA
PITTOSPORUM
ITALIAN CYPRESS
MAGNOLIA
VITEX
ROSE
TURFGRASS
Fescue, Bermuda
ASSORTED PERENNIALS
Lantana, Hemerocallis, Rudbeckia, Daisy, Coneflower, Nepeta ,Hibiscus, Echinacea, Perovskia, Acanthus
“These plants will thrive at the oceanfront if placed in the right cultural environment-- shade, sun, irrigated, non-irrigated, etc.,” Wes says. “Regular maintenance is very important: pruning, trimming, fertilizing, insect controls, removing blown in sand. We schedule monthly maintenance (or more frequent) to monitor conditions.”