Designer Garden Style for Less
Anyone can have a garden that looks professionally designed and executed by an expert - the trick is in the planning, uniformity of the theme, span focal points and good upkeep. Transforming your yard from a boring patch of grass to a restful, colorful sanctuary takes time and effort, but there are a few tips you can use to make sure that your results are beautiful, cohesive, and the envy of the neighborhood.
Decide on a theme for your garden, and stick with it. It's okay to be eclectic - it's the hallmark of the cottage style of gardening - but there should still be underlying connections between everything in your garden, from the type of flowers you plant to the decor. A few examples of garden design styles include Japanese gardens, formal gardens, rock gardens, butterfly gardens, and modern structured gardens. A simple search on the web lends a wealth of information about dozens of garden design ideas that can help you choose what's best for you. When choosing a theme, consider your lifestyle: are you an avid gardener already, or a beginner? Do you have children? Are you a busy professional, or perhaps retired with limited mobility? These factors should play a part in the plants you choose, since some require more upkeep than others. Checking out gardening books from the library or picking up a few magazines is a great starting point if you don''t have regular access to the internet. These sources will help you learn to identify plants, decor and other garden elements that complement each other.
Plan your garden out in advance. Preparation is one of the most vitally important parts of creating a garden. You should take note of important factors that exist in your garden which can affect your design: how much sunlight different areas get, what type of soil you have, etc. It's easy and inexpensive to get a soil testing kit from your local County Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service - they supply you with materials and instructions to take a proper sample, you mail it in, and a little while later you''ll learn valuable information about your soil that will help you determine whether you need use fertilizers or correct deficiencies. For more info on soil tests and what to look for, check out this page from 'You Bet Your Garden'. In addition to testing your soil, creating a simple scale drawing of how you''d like to lay out your garden can be really helpful once you actually start purchasing plants and decor. You can make sure that you can fit everything you want into the garden while keeping a controlled, pleasant look.
Strong focal points can make all the difference in turning a garden from just okay to stunning. Statuary, trellises, arbors, inviting seating areas and bird baths are just a few examples of eye-catching garden elements that will draw people in and make your garden feel complete. To combine good looks with the benefits of relaxing water sounds and increased presence of bird, butterflies and other wildlife in your garden, get yourself a garden fountain. Not only do they provide the benefits we just described, they also can help drown out traffic noise or other unpleasant sounds, truly making your garden a peaceful getaway. Garden fountains are available in a wide variety of colors, styles, materials and price points - so no matter how humble or grand your garden may be, you'll be able to find just the right one.
Nothing ruins the effect of a garden quite like out-of-control weeds, invasive vines overtaking your carefully planted flower bed, damage from insects, and other blights on your plants. This tip goes hand in hand with the importance of planning your garden out in advance - only take on what you can keep up. Spending hours planning, digging, planting, and watering only to have the whole thing overgrown within a few months isn't fun for any gardener. An easy way to make sure your plants don't get neglected is to simply spend time in your garden. Drink your morning coffee out there, or take a few minutes after work to unwind. You'll soon notice the work that needs to be done, and you''ll be more likely to actually do it. Just a few minutes a day weeding, watering and pruning can keep your garden looking beautiful for years to come.
