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  1. Garden & Outdoor
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Side Garden Ideas and Designs

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Nixon Gardens
Nixon Gardens
Jan Enright CreationsJan Enright Creations
Wes Stearns
Design ideas for a traditional side garden in Charlotte.
Contemporary Woodland
Contemporary Woodland
Julie Moir Messervy Design Studio (JMMDS)Julie Moir Messervy Design Studio (JMMDS)
JMMDS utilized large stones, an array of foliage textures and tones, and dynamic bluestone placement to transform this side yard into a verdant and refreshing walking experience. The green, purple and white plant palette includes: Anemone hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’ (Windflower), Anemone tomentosa ‘Robustissima’ (Grapeleaf Windflower), Aster ‘Wood’s Purple’ (New York Aster), Helleborus foetidus (Bear’s Foot Lenten Rose), Heuchera ‘Citronelle’ (Coral Bells), Heuchera americana ‘Dale’ (Dale’s Strain Heuchera), Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’ (Coral Bells), Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ (Plantain Lily), Hosta ‘August Moon’ (Plantain Lily), Iris cristata (Crested Iris), Lamiastrum ‘Herman’s Pride’ (Yellow Archangel), Phlox stolonifera ‘Sherwood Purple’ (Creeping Phlox), Polygonatum commutatum (Giant Solomon’s Seal), Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas Fern), Pulmonaria ‘Mrs. Moon’ (Lungwort). Photo: Bill Sumner.
Lakefront Cottage
Lakefront Cottage
Blue Ridge, Inc.Blue Ridge, Inc.
Steven F. Fox Photography
Inspiration for a classic side driveway garden in Grand Rapids.
Riggs Residence
Riggs Residence
David Johnston ArchitectsDavid Johnston Architects
Inspiration for a classic side garden in Denver with a water feature.
Golf & Putting greens
Golf & Putting greens
SYNLawn Okanagan LtdSYNLawn Okanagan Ltd
Design ideas for a large traditional side full sun garden for summer in Vancouver with a water feature, an outdoor sport court and natural stone paving.
Hillcrest Custom Home - Victoria Oak Bay
Hillcrest Custom Home - Victoria Oak Bay
Mike Knight ConstructionMike Knight Construction
Contemporary side garden in Vancouver with a vegetable patch.
Cunius
Cunius
Macht ArchitectureMacht Architecture
Photo of a large rustic side garden for summer in Philadelphia with gravel.
Sustainable Long Island Residence
Sustainable Long Island Residence
Narofsky Architecture + ways2designNarofsky Architecture + ways2design
Inspiration for a large traditional side partial sun garden in New York with natural stone paving.
Mountain Lodge, Planting
Mountain Lodge, Planting
Wagner HodgsonWagner Hodgson
Situated on a 100 acre site, this landscape for a private residence draws it's inspiration from the classic mountain lodges of the northeast. Rich sweeping drifts of native perennials, grasses and shrubs create a relaxed, elegant composition that ground the home and define a variety of spaces for family gathering, entertaining and quiet reflection. Large caliper trees were planted to compliment the surrounding mature trees, providing a sense of permanence and timelessness. An existing pond was augmented and expanded for swimming with a 'diving rock' hand selected and perched at one end. The south-facing terrace is defined by large slabs of stone and a grand outdoor fireplace that gives way to views of the neighboring ski trails. Image Credit: Westphalen Photography
Montecito Residence 2
Montecito Residence 2
Lindsey Adams Construction Inc.Lindsey Adams Construction Inc.
Photo of a mediterranean side garden in Santa Barbara.
Assorted Landscapes
Assorted Landscapes
Wright Landscape Services IncWright Landscape Services Inc
Design ideas for a contemporary side private garden in Toronto with decorative stones.
Brenda Barger Landscape Design, Inc.
Brenda Barger Landscape Design, Inc.
Brenda Barger Landscape Design, Inc.Brenda Barger Landscape Design, Inc.
Contemporary side garden in Austin.
oceanside
oceanside
HOMES BY KIMBERLY LTD.HOMES BY KIMBERLY LTD.
homesbykimberly
Inspiration for a contemporary side garden steps in Other.
Portland Landscaping Outdoor Living
Portland Landscaping Outdoor Living
Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior DesignParadise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design
This is an example of a classic side fully shaded garden for summer in Portland with gravel.
Hillcrest Custom Home - Victoria Oak Bay
Hillcrest Custom Home - Victoria Oak Bay
Mike Knight ConstructionMike Knight Construction
Inspiration for a contemporary side garden steps in Vancouver.

Side Garden Ideas and Designs

A beautifully designed garden is as important as the emphasis we place on the designs of our interiors. After all, our grounds (however modest) frame our homes and contribute to first impressions not only of our houses, but also of the households within. Options for garden designs can be as elaborate or low maintenance as your lifestyle and preferences permit – consider both your aspirations for how it should look and how much time you can invest in garden maintenance. Consulting a gardener or landscape designer will ensure you have a garden that suits your lifestyle, the local climate and soil conditions. But don’t forget that with Houzz your first stop can be collecting images of garden ideas and designs you love in order to inspire your garden plans and potentially share them with a landscape gardening professional.

How do I come up with a front garden design?

The priority for a front garden is kerb appeal. Begin by considering the area immediately around and leading up to your front door. You may want to opt for front garden designs that blend well with the style of your home – for example, abundant foliage and flowerbeds will perfectly complement a period property, whereas man-made materials, geometric shapes and contrasting textures are great ideas for a contemporary garden design. Even if your front garden is a small space, keep it tidy – if you have more space, make the most of it with garden ideas and features such as a manicured lawn, gravel driveway, water feature or garden fencing. If you don’t have the time or commitment to devote to gardening, then neatly pruned hedges, statement paving, hanging baskets, garden benches and outdoor lighting are all decorative, low maintenance garden ideas for your front garden design.

How should I design my back garden?

Back gardens typically offer more space than front garden designs and serve a more recreational purpose, so it’s important to know how you want to spend time in your garden before you design it in order to build in the features that you will enjoy. If you love relaxing in the garden and dining al fresco, think about patios, decking, garden furniture and BBQs. For the more horticulturally-inclined, incorporate flower beds, greenhouses or vegetable garden designs. Your landscape gardening professional can help you install structures such as sheds, pergolas and gazebos that complement your garden design, and artfully-placed garden ideas such as lawn edging and lighting will add definition to your chosen design.

How do I create a low maintenance garden?

The great news is, gardens aren’t exclusively for the green-fingered. Whether you’re not horticulturally-inclined or simply don’t have the time for a bit of landscape gardening, you can still have a garden design that looks the way you want by making some smart design choices. While many of us favour low maintenance gardens like urban gardens, roof terraces and patio gardens, lovers of greenery don’t need to sacrifice grass for paving slabs. Whatever you want from your garden, there are a variety of gardening solutions that can be built in to make life easier. For example, labour intensive features such as vegetable patches, greenhouses and flower beds can be optimised with an automatic irrigation system. These can be offset with fuss-free garden ideas such as hard landscaping, including gravel, paving or decking, and hard-wearing evergreens that require minimal upkeep. You might even consider replacing your garden fencing with slow growing hedging, which can be maintained less regularly than wooden fence panels. If having a lawn is important, there are different types of grasses in varying degrees of durability and maintenance. You may choose to take a more relaxed approach to your lawn – “wild” garden designs can have great charm if the grasses and flowers are chosen carefully. If you prefer a manicured lawn, it’s a good idea to invest in a “mulching” lawn mower that will recycle clippings and remove the need for cleaning up. Finally, there isn’t a more low maintenance garden lawn than artificial grass which can look highly realistic and keep your garden looking green. Garden ornaments are a great way to add interest to your low maintenance garden design – go for smart garden ideas such as solar garden lights which are both decorative and functional. Find some of the most popular design ideas on Houzz.
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