As you start to create your own garden, you will need to think about the design as well as the plants you would like to grow. Quality design and attention to detail are essential elements for a garden.
It’s a good idea to consider the sun’s angle during the day, specifically finding what spots get a lot of sun and for how long it generally lasts. The light will guide you to determine the garden’s main focal points and what will work best in these particular spots.
You will most likely need a range of full-sun tolerant plants together with full-shade specimens. These plants love plenty of sun exposure and offer you lots of colour with a variety of great scents.
A garden designed well can go with themes of colour that could even resemble a Monet impressionistic painting, or work in a dramatic, more unified display. You may also need to think about dominant tones found in petunias and marigolds for an impressive collection.
It’s best to try to map out the colour scheme ahead of time so that when you begin planting you a have a plan, rather than aimlessly planting.
The shaded plants can add a spot of colour to your garden where needed. It is important to aim to have every part of your garden visually interesting. For example, you can get astilbe, which is available in all the colours of the rainbow almost.
This plumed plant can be fantastic for shaded areas. Pair these with white flowering hostas for a rich filled in effect. Hostas also offer a surprising amount of colour from their leaves in a dark blue tone or a golden tint.
Another essential element is to try to have a number of different heights for visual interest. Lush Ferns could be used to compliment beautiful tall lilies. One place to get inspiration for this is looking through garden centre catalogues which may offer dramatic pairings perfect for your garden, or think about interesting accents such as elegant lawn ornaments or rocks to tuck into a display.
The essential final element is to have discipline. A garden unfortunately won’t take care of itself, and you can dedicate as much time as possible just to be in the space and see what is actually going on, what plants need some attention and which ones need more pruning or water.
Spending time in your garden not only can be relaxing, but it can also give you a new appreciation of the plants that work well together in your personal space.
As you lose yourself with the love of nature, you will find the subtler things to enjoy about your garden. Trying to stick to the essentials of discipline and good design can help towards a versatile, beautiful display. Your hard work will eventually can pay off with lots of beautiful flowers in your own unique arrangement.
Photo credit: antonychammond
This is a guest post by Michael Turner, interior design enthusiast and UK blogger who is currently doing research on behalf of a roman blinds supplier.
