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A woodland garden design
PICK YOUR FAVORITE THEME. You will want to settle on a theme for your garden. Make sure it is something that will blend -- it doesn't have to actually match -- the style of your home. Themes can take the form of a subject like nautical designing with ropes and piers and maybe a lot of blue and white flowers, or a humorous design with playful sculptures, ornaments and outrageously shaped plants. Or they can be designed after locations like Mediterranean, Tropical, English or desert. They can also be formal, informal or native in theme. - 2
Horse sculptures create a great focal point on this ranch
DESIGN A FOCAL POINT. Make sure you have a variety of sizes, textures and shapes around your property. Then plan a focal point -- a particularly showy plant or group of plants, or a special garden feature like a fountain or sculpture as a central attraction in the garden. Do not put it in the middle of the garden, but place it where it will compliment other features of the house and garden and where you can create paths, gardens, lawns and other ways to lead your eye up to the focal point. - 3
This tree has plenty of room to grow
KEEP IN MIND LOCATION. This means you will want to plant things that do well in the right location. You will also want to locate those plants properly in the design of your landscape. First figure out the placement for the largest growing things, trees. Where do you want shade? Note where the sun rises and how the shadows move so the shade will not end up where you can't use it. And make sure you don't place the tree too close to structures where roots can become a future problem. Once you know where you want your tree(s), make sure you select a type of tree that will grow well in that location. Then move to shrubs and finally planter areas for garden and lawn. Remember not to block the views you like and to intentionally block those you don't. Look at your garden area from both inside your house and out to get an idea of views. And imagine your planting design at full grown-in size, not just how it will look when planted. When you shop for plants, keep in mind where they will be planted so you choose plants for shade, sun, moisture, dry, etc. appropriately. - 4
Formal garden in pink
DESIGN BY COLOR: Again look at your home. Choose colors in the same family of your house or, conversely, those that will contrast and stand out. Group your colors by families. You can have a warm garden in reds, oranges and yellows, a cool garden in blues, purples and pinks. Or you might want to use all brights or all pastels. A formal garden can be effective done all in one color, like all different plants that blossom in white or in red. Another effect is to use different gardens with different color themes. Try to limit your palette. Too many different color schemes in a limited space will appear busy and confusing. - 5
By using these four basic areas to guide you, you can design a wonderful plant landscape.
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