But the gardening world has its share of tricks or treats, too.
For instance, eucalyptus trees are often "tricks." These huge, fast-growing, brittle-stemmed Australian natives are usually associated with windy, stormy weather. That's because falling eucalyptus branches take out power lines, fall across roads or generally make nuisances of themselves. This isn't to say that eucalyptuses don't have benefits. They make nice windbreaks on large lots. It's just when you next-door neighbor plants one 25 feet from your house that problems arise.
Why not plant a tree that's a "treat" instead? Myoporums are fast growing, smallish trees that offer attractive dark green leaves. Crape myrtles will bloom all summer as a small patio tree.
Another often-maligned plant that can be classified as a "trick" is pampas grass.Its primary feature are long feathery white plumes that are attractive in their own right. It's when those plumes get dirty, turn brown and start to blow everywhere in the wind that problems start. Plus the blades of pampas grass are razor sharp.
Consider, instead, a "treat" like fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum). This is also an ornamental grass, but with smaller clumps that are more manageable, don't easily go to seed and plumes that aren't as likely to get blown by wind.
Other "tricks and treats" to consider include:
-- Replace ivy, which is a magnet for snails and even mice, with another groundcover - any groundcover.
-- Replace agapanthus, which are more common than junipers these days, with a prettier, more drought-resistant plant. Possibilities include raphiolepis, mahonia, manzanita or ceanothus.
-- Replace allergy-causing acacias with another flowering tree, such as crape myrtle.
Finally there's "tricks or treats" that are more subtle. For instance, even though we get fog in the summer, don't plant San Francisco Fog tomatoes. Stick with mainstays like Early Girls, Beefsteak or Red Cherry.
Tulips are a great spring-blooming bulb. But try daffodils instead. Daffodils do fine when left in the ground after blooming and get bigger with age. You won't have a "one hit wonder" with daffodils the way you'll have with tulips.
So there you have it. Now you can enjoy Halloween as much as the kids do.
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