Whether you have a large estate or a small postage-stamp yard, a little planning can enhance the beauty of your garden. To make your garden more appealing, you should have an understanding of some of the basic design principles. That doesn't mean, however, that you have to follow every one. This is your garden, and you want it to reflect your own personality.
First of all, there are two basic styles: the formal garden and the informal. The traditional formal garden consists of geometrically shaped planting beds, perfectly clipped hedges and shrubs, walkways, and walls. They are neat, orderly, and elegant. There is usually a focal point in the center. They also take a lot of hard work, especially keeping those hedges clipped.
The informal garden copies Mother Nature, and it is much easier to care for. If you forget to weed it or water it for a while, it doesn't show up as readily as it would in a more formal design. There are several types of informal gardens-a wildlife meadow is an open area planted with wild flowers and not mowed. That sounds great! Who among us would not like to avoid cutting grass! The truth is wildflower meadows often look unkempt, and they are not exactly suitable for your front yard. If you have a large field, however, the wildflower meadow can be striking! Mow the area once a year in the fall after the plants have produced seeds or in the spring before growth begins. Most wildflower mixes are designed for certain areas or conditions. The packet label will describe the planting conditions needed and give a list of the flowers it contains. Also, you may want to consult your local wildflower society.
A wooded area makes an attractive garden. Underplant your trees with shade-loving flowers and bulbs. Put in a mulch-covered walkway and add a bench or two. Think how pleasant it would be to sit there in the early evening and enjoy the warm summer breezes and listen to the birds singing.
The most popular garden is the flowerbed. This can be round, curved, or shaped any way you want it. It usually contains mixtures of bulbs, annuals, perennials, and small shrubs. You can have any types of flowers you want and in any color patterns. If your land is uneven, you may even have walls separating parts of your garden. A patio can also be added to your garden to provide a private hideaway or entertainment area. The possibilities are numerous.
Unity is a very important element of your garden. This can be achieved by repetition of plant groups, textures, height, size, color schemes. Create a theme for your garden. If you wish to attract butterflies, for instance, use plants and decorations that will attract butterflies.
Keep your designs simple, especially if you are a beginning gardener. You can always add more later. You want to have a design that is easy to care for and will look good all year, especially if the garden is in the front yard. Long-blooming perennials like coreopsis, daylily, and scabiosa will provide color from spring through fall. The foliage is attractive even when the plants are not in bloom. Yews and maidengrass are attractive during winter while the bulbs are sleeping.
You need a sense of equality in your garden. There are two basic types of balance, symmetrical and asymmetrical. Symmetrical balance is like a mirror image or a reflection. Design elements are evenly spaced and duplicated throughout the garden. The elements can be shapes, forms, plant heights, plant groupings, colors, and themes. Asymmetrical balance, on the other hand, is more complex. While some elements remain constant, others are more random. It may be more abstract or free form. This type of balance is not dependent on the shape of your garden.
Another major element of your garden is color. Color adds dimension and interest. Bright colors like reds, yellows, oranges, seem close to you, while cool colors like greens, blues, and pastels move away. It is better to use grays, whites, and blacks in the background and bright colors in the foreground. Color may also be used to make certain areas stand out. A group of bright yellow daisies in a bed of white iris will certainly catch your eye.
Don't forget about transition in your landscape. You don't want a lot of abrupt or radical changes in your design. Transition can be achieved by the gradual change in different textures, forms, sizes, colors-- for instance: a stair-step effect from large trees to medium trees to shrubs to bedding plants. Transition can make a small garden seem large, or it can create a focal point.
Lines give structure to your landscape. Straight lines are forceful and direct while curvy lines are more natural, and they can relate to the shape of your beds, walkways, and entryways. Think how your traffic will flow. How will your guests get to your door? You need walkways that are wide enough to walk comfortably and yet be esthetically pleasing. A garden path should be inviting to both you and your guests. It can meander through the trees or take you to a special place, such as a certain flower bed, a gold fish pond, or a hidden playhouse.
Before you plant your garden, however, there are several things you need to do. Check your soil. When you squeeze some in your hand, does it crumble or is it a hard ball? For clay soil, you need to add organic matter-compost, manure, peat moss, or humus. Sand added to clay without the organic matter will create a concrete-like substance. Mix the sand with the compost first. With sandy or high-silt soil bend topsoil with compost or peat moss. If your soil is too alkaline, add peat moss or oak leaf mold to the soil to lower the ph. Some plants, however, such as azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, and blueberries need acid soil.
Remember, when you are planning your garden:
Prepare your soil-add organic matter before planting
Be maintenance-minded-select plants that don't demand daily care
Stage the seasons-choose plants, evergreens, and structural objects to maintain interest all year
Measure up-Consider the size of the place with which you have to work
Shop smart-save money whenever possible
Always remember, too, that this is your landscape and your garden, and you want it to fit your personality and your lifestyle. Plan your garden for you and your family.
