Island Landscaping Ideas

Create your own island paradise, right in your own backyard.tropical island, paradise island image by Mikhail Basov from Fotolia.com

If you think about Hawaii or another island paradise as your perfect vacation getaway, then bring a piece of the islands home with you. Turn your backyard into your own private getaway by using landscaping ideas you might find on tropical islands. It doesn't take a lot of time or effort, and when you finish, you'll be ready to invite your friends over for a fun luau that works with your new backyard theme.

Create a Garden

Island retreats are known for their calming effect. Achieve the same look in your home by creating a garden. One clever idea is to create a mum garden in your backyard, as mums are popular flowers in Hawaii and other island getaways. Grow mums of different shades, including pink, white and yellow. Alternatively, create a garden of trees, using different shapes and sizes, including flowering and non-flowering trees. Lay out the trees to create an overhang, which also creates a space perfect for small groups and gatherings. As it takes years for the trees to grow to the right height, consider building or investing in a pergola. Weave flowers along the roof of the pergola or attach ivy or another climbing plant.

A wide range of bright colors distinguish island retreats, and you can achieve the same look in your own yard. Create a separate area of your yard for the grill and other outdoor cooking items, then add an area around that space for seating, using splashy, tropical prints for the cushions. Plant brightly colored flowers of the same shades potted in ceramic planters around the seating. Additionally, use flowering shrubs around the perimeter of your yard, to set it off from neighboring areas. Tropical flowers popular with gardeners include bird of paradise, ginger, orchids, lilies, tulips and mums.

Water is an important feature in island getaways, and an easy thing to carry over into your own landscape. Start with an in-ground swimming pool, then layer on different elements. Use white planters or pale terra cotta pots around the pool, to let the plants and flowers shine. Add a few flowing plants, such as ivy, and then top off with brighter flowers, like hibiscus or lilies. Use lounge chairs and other seating in similar shades around the edges of your swimming pool. You can even add shrubs and larger plants, to provide some privacy to your swimming area.