What can I plant around a light post that will look distinctive and have great curb appeal?
Vining plants are perfect for light posts. The purple, late-summer-blooming Jackman clematis (Clematis x jackmanii) is one of the most popular. Stay away from woody perennial vines such as wisteria. Their eventual weight is enough to topple the post. If you’re looking for something distinctive, consider the annual purple hyacinth or lablab bean (Dolichos lablab). It grows quickly, producing light-purple flowers and large, bright-purple seedpods. Other annual vines such as morning glory, sweet pea, and black-eyed Susan (Thunbergia alata) are more traditional, but just as lovely. If you want super-quick curb appeal, here’s a trick: Purchase a large, pre-planted mixed container that has both tall and mounding flowering plants. Transplant those plants around the light post just as they appear in the container. Instant color! Is spring or fall the best time to put in a new lawn in this area? J. Scott Ebdon, associate professor of turfgrass management at the University of Massachusetts at Am
