garden
"The main objective was to create a place to be in nature, to birdwatch and relax," Haynes says. It was also to be a spot where the couple could enjoy meals together and with guests for most of the year. A shade sail overhead offers protection from the sun, and the fountain on the left provides the tranquil sounds of gurgling water. The patio floor and hearth are both made of flagstone. The view into the garden reveals an exquisite plant collection. Aspen trees sport soft greenish-yellow leaves and beautifully textured light bark, a blue spruce adds blue-green needles, and Japanese maples add intricately shaped plum leaves. The wide range of color, texture and shapes provided by these three species stand out against the stucco backdrop.
Forget the lattice overhead and add exotic flair with softly draped panels that evoke the feeling of a luxurious tent. The rug underfoot adds to the ambience, as do the pillows. There's shade, but enough light filters through to keep the space from feeling too closed in and dark. Design tip: Recreating this look is fairly simple — you just need supports for the cloth and long sheets of fabric. However, be sure to attach the fabric firmly to the supports or it may blow away to land on other parts of your garden.
A meditation spot such as this can serve multiple purposes: a sitting place, a dining area, a perch with a view and, with the furniture moved, a lovely spot for yoga on a peaceful afternoon. Design tip: Even if you don't have a great view, you can easily tuck a small pavilion into a corner of your garden.
Best Little Garden Shed OK, so the shed costs more than 19.95 but you can have the plans for that price. The details on this garden shed really make it. I love the roof line and the barn door. The windows are also huge to let in plenty of light. Makes me wish my back yard... more » $19.95 | familyhomeplans.com
What originated in Japan hundreds of years ago, the kusari doi, or "chain gutter," is a simple way to carry rain to the ground in an aesthetically pleasing manner. The Japanese have used these chains on temples and homes over the years with the sole purpose of embracing the beauty of a rain-filled day.
Native plants that can tolerate both occasional flooding and dry periods are great choices for rain gardens. Your city and state cooperative extensions are likely to have great resources available to help you design your rain garden. The Seattle Public Utilities Rainwise Program is one of many great resources.
Rain gardens fill with water during and after storms. The water percolates into the soil and dissipates through a process called evapotranspiration, a combination of evaporation and the release of moisture from plants. Still, it is a good idea to plan for water discharge into an area away from buildings. Seasonal pools like this one are a good solution, and they're a valuable habitat for amphibians and other wildlife. These ponds dry up in the summer, so they don't encourage mosquitoes.
Garden Mosaics by Becky Paton - $19.95 » If you like these mosaic patterns, you may be interested in a book on the subject. I bought this one on ceramic tile mosaics, by Becky Paton, a few years ago on a whim and overlooked its beauty at the time. Taking a second look, I noticed that it has a lot of great mosaic projects along with supplies and materials lists.
Maybe this is stretching the idea of a mosaic a tad — but then again, maybe not. Make sure you have a friend to help if you do a flagstone patio of this scale (those stones are heavy!). Actually, make sure you have a friend helping no matter how big the stones are, and tell them to bring some wine. And knee pads.
Beautifully organic in composition and color, this gorgeous pattern has no frills and no fuss. Because the design isn't symmetrical, you won't feel nervous about messing it up. That emerald green color reminds me of a mermaid.
If you really have no time but still want to try a mosaic in your own yard, you can always squeeze one like this onto your existing patio. I think this would be fun to do with marbles or letterpress type too.
The scale of this pattern is pretty incredible, and the colors complement the house nicely. I also like that the home just feels like an artist lives there. The mosaic is definitely a nice touch.
Skirted by a charming wooden pergola, this extensive patio is broken up nicely by a collection of stones patterned into snail shell forms.
Stone raised beds are a good substitute for traditional wooden-framed raised beds. The levels actually save a little space, while still allowing you to grow a variety of plants, just like a standard container garden. A timed irrigation system could easily be installed in this area, completely eliminating any need for watering by hand.
If you have the space, raised garden beds are another type of container garden that can bypass the irritating poor-soil problem that plagues many novice gardeners. Building a raised bed can be much easier than mulching your entire backyard or digging through packed clay.
These wooden plant boxes contain a variety of dwarf shrubs and other slow-growing plants. Not only are these plants fairly durable, but their slow growth rate means you'll rarely need to do any trimming.
3. Plant a container garden. Although grasses are much easier to maintain, if you really want flowers to brighten up your backyard, perennials are a safe bet. Although annuals do tend to do well in container gardens, they need to be replanted each year. Container gardens are great because they allow for a ton of versatility. You can mix various types of plants together (as long as they have the same water and sun needs) and avoid the issues that come with poor soil. Here a combination of herbs create a rich palette of texture and color.
Ground cover can take shape in many forms, including flowers, shrubs, and creepers. Fuss-free options include wild ginger, creeping junipers, ground cover roses, and — like in the photo above — daylilies and white astilbe. Pay attention to exposure for these before planting. Just because they're easy to grow and maintain doesn't mean it's a free-for-all.
A self-sustaining meadow is the ultimate natural and low-maintenance garden. Before going crazy with wild grasses and flowers, plant a thick ground cover. This tends to work particularly well in weedy areas, since it prevents weed growth. But be sure to start the ground cover in weed-free soil first, otherwise the plant will have to compete while it's adjusting to its new home. In the late fall, after the flowers and grasses have spread their seeds, the meadow can usually be mowed down entirely, allowing it to grow back throughout the following year. Don't forget to compost!
2. Go for the natural look. The less it's supposed to look groomed means less upkeep for you. As always, you want to look for plants that are easier to maintain naturally, in that they require little soil, fertilization, watering, or a certain type of exposure. Try not to choose something that's going to grow or spread quickly. Many natural grasses require little pruning and care. Look for non-invasive varieties suited to your climate.
Flagstone pavers are used here as a form of ground cover around an outdoor firepit. For a splash of color, the landscape architect planted a beautiful perennial creeping thyme between several of the stones.
If you're looking for a bit more green, moss or clover can be a great grass alternative. Both grow fairly quickly but don't need to be mowed. They are insect-resistant, don't need fertilizer, and rarely need water. Honestly, once you know that, why would you ever choose grass?
1. Try xeriscaping. A fancy term for low-water landscaping, xeriscaping is all about using plants that can withstand extremely dry (or drought) conditions. Even if you don't live in the desert, a well-planned xeriscape can save you a significant chunk of change and time when it comes to maintaining your garden. Of course, succulents are a natural and obvious choice for this. There are hundreds of varieties, they're beautiful, easy to plant, and even easier to take care of. This vertical garden brilliantly landscaped with succulents offers an unexpected splash of green in an otherwise stark outdoor area.
If succulents aren't your thing, many green shrubs make for clean, easy-to-maintain outdoor planters. Boxwoods, for example, require afternoon shade and need to be pruned but require watering only every seven to 10 days — more often if you're having a scorcher.
If you're really worried about your outdoor plants, a crate like this one does double duty. It looks great hanging on your wall, and you can always pull it down and take it with you. For succulents that do double duty, consider planting edible succulents. Yuccas, aloe vera, prickly pear and night-blooming cereus
Remember, many succulents thrive on neglect. Always err on the side of underwatering, not overwatering. If they look a little limp, then it's time to water. Note: Some succulents are frost tender and may need a cover in cold weather.
Succulents tend to need less water than most other outdoor plants. But be wary when using terra-cotta pots — they tend to dry out most quickly. To see if your plants need to be watered, place your finger a centimeter or two below the soil. If it's moist, no water is needed. More fuss-free ways to garden
Aloe, scilla, gasteria and haworthia are a few examples of succulents that thrive in the hot, bright summer sun. If you're looking to increase the beauty of your outdoor scape, consider planting flowering Autumn Joy — which not only is pretty in its own right but also attracts butterflies.
For extra-hot outdoor conditions, extended vacations or people who just can't seem to keep a plant alive, succulents are a fantastic choice. Most survive quite well in full sun and require at least one to two hours per day of full sun. For larger planters or spaces that call for a taller plant, consider using American aloe or Parry Agave.
Bougainvillea is another great choice to pair with flowering fruit trees.
If your garden is a little more relaxed than classic, a little more desert than woodland, you might want to try grasses. Muhly grass (shown) is an excellent choice for a wallop of color.
You might want to try one of my favorites, a pink rugosa rose, for a rugged, tough plant that will grow in harsh conditions.
Try grouping pinks to create the most stunning of surrounds for your outdoor entertaining area. To get this look, try crepe myrtle, weigela or camellias.
Other new favorites include the purple weigelas (pronounced why-JEE-lah), like Wine & Roses (Weigela florida Wine & Roses, zones 4 to 8), shown here, named for its pink spring flowers that make for a bold combo with purple leaves. Wine & Roses often colors up in a particularly interesting purple that almost veers into chocolate brown, a fascinating color not often seen in plants. Give it sun for best color and average soil, and it will grow to around 5 feet tall and 6 feet wide.
When I think of purple shrubs that have stood the test of time, purple sand cherry (Prunus x cistena, zones 2 to 8) is the first that comes to mind. This little purple shrub has been around the block a time or two, and though it's relatively short-lived (10 years or less), it still packs a wallop. Shining red-purple foliage is accented by fragrant pink flowers in spring. Prune it after it blooms. True to its name, sand cherry prefers well-drained soil, and like most of the others, colors best in full to part sun.
How about a purple that's completely different? 'Red Majestic' contorted filbert (Corylus avellana 'Red Majestic', zones 4 to 8) is a new twist, pun intended, on an old favorite that's typically green. This contorted shrub looks just as great without its leaves, and its twisty branches add an air of mystery to any winter garden. During the season, it starts a deep, glossy wine-purple, then it fades a bit by fall. Don't be surprised if its leaves begin to contort too! Give it average soil and moisture, and full to part sun. Contorted filbert grows 8 to 10 feet high and wide. If you find noncontorted shoots sprouting from the base, cut them to the ground.
Purple smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria cultivars, zones 4 to 8) is as common a site on the East Coast as the West, and though this low-water beauty will grow into a tree, it's often cut to the ground in late winter, a practice that prompts it to send up tall new stems with bigger leaves. (Don't cut it down if you'd prefer its smoke-like flowers.) Smoke tree grows 15 feet high and 20 feet wide, but it's usually pruned to be much smaller. Popular purple cultivars include 'Royal Purple', 'Velvet Cloak', and the more reddish 'Grace'. All prefer full to part sun.
Old, beat-up wooden ladders are such a popular decorating item these days that they can be hard to find. But if you have one taking up space in the garage, consider putting it to good use as a plant stand. It's not easy getting height in the garden. This does the trick.
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