| Many of us flip through garden magazines, all the | | | | ,Calendula ,Marigold ,Cosmos ,Sweet Alyssum ,Bee |
| while thinking that it takes years, a professional, | | | | Balm ,Poppies ,Nasturtium |
| or tons of money to landscape the gardens | | | | Dont forget if you decide to sow into containers, |
| featured in the glossy pictures. This isnt | | | | there are many inexpensive containers such as |
| necessarily true. You can design a breathtaking | | | | yogurt containers, milk jugs, egg cartons, and |
| garden and be the envy of the neighborhood by | | | | plastic ice cream buckets. You can also call your |
| following some of the following tips. | | | | city and see if they have free mulch available. |
| Know What You Like and What Works | | | | Dont hesitate to strike up conversations with |
| Drive around your neighborhood and see whats | | | | your neighbors while youre out for a walk. You |
| out there that grows well in your zone. You can | | | | never know, the topic of gardening may come up |
| jot down what you see on index cards, so they | | | | and they might be more than happy to offer you |
| are organized and handy. Start gathering page | | | | some seeds or divisions. |
| clippings from magazines and collect some | | | | Design Away |
| pictures of the designs that interest you. This can | | | | Now youre ready to design. You can sketch out |
| help you decide what garden style you like. Youll | | | | your idea beforehand. Keep the following in mind |
| have an easy reference for plants and placement | | | | as you design. |
| too. | | | | Scale- Judge the size of the area and choose |
| Select Location and Color | | | | plants that arent going to be too large, too wide, |
| Next, look at your notes and clippings and choose | | | | or too small for the area. Keep in mind the plants |
| the color scheme youd like to have in your | | | | size when its met its mature growth. |
| garden. Don't forget to keep in mind if youre | | | | Balance-Dont place your plants where one area is |
| designing and planting in shade, sun, or partial | | | | too compacted with plants and another area is |
| shade or partial sun. Are you looking for | | | | too airy. Try and achieve a good balance of small, |
| something bright and vibrant or something more | | | | medium, and large plants. Balance offers visual |
| calming and soothing? Consider starting with a | | | | stability. It can be created with space between |
| foundation of shrubs and accenting with some | | | | plantings or the visual weight of your design. This |
| perennials, bulbs, ornamental grasses, and annuals | | | | can be created with lines so that your garden is |
| for more seasonal color. | | | | pleasing to look at from all angles. |
| Perhaps, you want all flowers. Decide on a shape | | | | Focal Point- Your focal point will be the area that |
| that compliments your house style. Straight styles | | | | your eye is drawn to first. This can be your |
| give a more formal appearance while curves give | | | | prized flowers, tree, or shrub. |
| a more informal feel. If you dont feel confident | | | | Rhythm- This is visual flow. The eye wanders |
| selecting colors, you can use a color wheel to help | | | | throughout the entire garden design, but comes |
| pick contrasting and complimenting colors. | | | | back to the focal point. It can be achieved with |
| Budget and Create a Plan | | | | repetition and contrast. |
| Decide how much you are able to and want to | | | | Harmony-Unity- This is when plants have a way |
| spend on your new garden. Do you want to start | | | | of appearing connected and a part of one |
| with a foundation and add to it gradually? If so, | | | | another. This can be achieved with color, texture, |
| start with purchasing your most expensive plants | | | | groupings. Unity is lost when your plants look too |
| and shrubs first. Use these as a focal point for | | | | separate or your color choice makes one plant |
| your garden. Start watching for sales and discount | | | | look lost amongst the rest. |
| plants at garden centers and nurseries. Tell | | | | Color- Color impacts the entire design process. |
| everyone you know that youre starting a garden | | | | Use a color wheel if you dont feel confident |
| and would love it if they could give you divisions | | | | selecting colors that go well together. |
| of their perennials or seeds they have saved | | | | If all of this is too confusing and overwhelming, |
| from their garden. Let family and friends know | | | | check out some garden catalogs. Many have |
| that you have a wish list of plants that would be | | | | suggested designs. Its also best to place your |
| the perfect gift idea. | | | | containers out and arrange and rearrange where |
| If you have access online, do a search for seed | | | | you want to plant them before you start digging. |
| swaps. Many gardeners love to help a new | | | | Accessorize (homemade garden art) |
| gardener. Many are willing to send seeds for the | | | | To add some interest and whimsy to your |
| cost of postage or will trade for something else | | | | garden, consider some homemade items or trash |
| that you may have that they are looking for. A | | | | to treasure works of art. Ideas such as making |
| great resource for free items is free cycle Look | | | | your own stepping stones, garden markers, terra |
| for a group in your area, join the group, and post | | | | cotta bird baths or toad houses, painted rocks |
| letting the group know that you would be | | | | and pavers, and fun wind chimes are simple |
| interested in garden plants and seeds. | | | | projects that can add a lot of interest to your |
| You may get lucky and find that a member of | | | | garden area. Look around for unique items you |
| the group has already offered some plants up for | | | | could add to your garden such as milk cans, |
| grabs. Dont forget to ask your local garden club | | | | wooden chairs, ladders, tricycles, wagons, trunks, |
| when they are having their sales too. You can | | | | roofing shingles, mailboxes, or even dressers. The |
| also start some plants from seed yourself. Many | | | | sky is the limit on what you can create. Use your |
| seeds are very easy to direct sow and a little can | | | | imagination. |
| go a long way. | | | | There you have it and you didnt have to hire a |
| Heres a partial list of easy to grow seeds: | | | | pro, spend thousands of dollars, or take years to |
| Candytuft, Asters, 4oclocks ,Sunflowers ,Pansies | | | | achieve a pretty garden. You wont be a new |
| ,Violas ,Impatiens ,Dianthus ,Larkspur ,Salvia | | | | gardener for long. Soon, it will be you sharing |
| ,Cupid's Dart ,Morning Glories ,Moonflowers ,Zinnias | | | | starts, cuttings, seeds, divisions, and tips. |