homes GREEN UP THE OUTSIDE If you're unsure what plants to choose and how to maintain garden beds, a few tips can help you get your yard game going. "Ideally you want to have color all year long with flowering shrubs or perennials," says Emily Mangus of Emily Mangus Interiors. Mangus suggests azaleas and peonies for the springtime, roses, lavender and hydrangeas for the summer, and camellias or hellebores for the fall and into winter. If you visit a garden center with a list in hand, along with some photos of the front of your house, you can get free assistance on sizes and spacing. Early spring is the perfect time to prune existing trees and shrubs. Smaller trees can be trimmed with an inexpensive pole pruner from a home improvement store, though very large trees should be left to the experts. 96 MARCH/APRIL 2020 TheRoanoker.com