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Garden Design Tips from Better Homes and Gardens
 Great-looking
garden design doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming. If you
don’t forget about the basics, it’s easy to create a professional
look like you see in gardening magazines.
Better Homes and Gardens magazine editor Justin Hancock reveals his
time saving tips and money saving tricks for backyard beauty:
Add Instant Impact Easily
Hancock says one quick and easy way to achieve instant impact in the
garden is to plant en masse, filling-up flowerbeds and bolstering
borders with super-sized color-bearing shrubs like azaleas, shrub
roses and hydrangeas.
“Planting several of the same variety of a plant in one area is a
fool-proof way to create a big impact, even if you have a little
space,” says Hancock. “And it’s less intimidating to work with one
color instead of having to mix several different shades.”
Do opt for repeat blooming shrubs. Planting long season bloomers
eliminates the necessity to plant annuals to maintain continuous
color in the landscape.
Water Wisely and Feed Well
“No matter what kinds of plants you grow, your garden will look its
best if you keep your plants healthy,” says Hancock. “Regular
maintenance -- watering and feeding your plants appropriately will
also save you time and money,” he says. Keeping plants healthy and
hydrated is your best defense against poor performance.
Do save time and money fertilizing. Look for a long lasting, slow
release plant food like Dynamite All Purpose fertilizer. Dynamite’s
slow release formula will do the work for you. It releases just the
right amount of nutrients that plants need for a full nine months,
eliminating the need to feed more than once a growing season. And
because it features a release technology awarded the Gulf Guardian
Award by the Environmental Protection Agency, home gardeners can
rest assured they are fertilizing well without harming Mother
Nature, as this particular fertilizer reduces nutrient run-off and
keeps our waters clean.
Minimize Your Lawn; Maximize Your Style
Today’s style conscious home gardeners are trading in their
square-shaped lawns for a more curvaceous, stylized look that
ultimately saves time and money.
“Most gardeners I know want to cut down on how much time they spend
mowing the lawn and how much money they spend watering it,” says
Hancock. To accomplish this, Hancock says to think outside the
planting box, “Get rid of lawn in areas where it’s tough to mow or
the grass struggles. Replace it with easy-care perennials and
groundcovers.”
Or replace grass with hardscape elements and free flowing flowerbeds
to create an outdoor space that adds dramatic visual interest and
unique style.
“One thing that’s great about free-flowing beds is that it isn’t a
science -- you can create shapes that look great to you. You’ll end
up with a personal look with loads of impact -- and less upkeep.”
Incorporate Art in the Garden
Garden planning is a lot like interior design. Every great indoor
room incorporates decorative accessories that add interest and a
finishing touch to the overall look. You can apply interior design
elements to your outdoor design as well.
Do add architectural elements of surprise within gardenscapes in the
form of garden art.
“Using architectural salvage is hot right now. Decorate your beds
and borders with accessories such as an old metal gate you plant
sweet peas on or using an old chair or table to put containers on,”
he says. Design elements like these will add a powerful punch and a
touch of panache to an otherwise traditional garden setting.
Hancock says that garden art doesn’t have to be high end or brand
new. Look for unique artifacts in your own garage, at a yard sale,
or a flea market.
For inspiration designing your outdoor room, visit www.bhg.com,
www.sideplanting.com and
www.florikan.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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