4 Tips for Choosing an Outdoor Garden Theme
Gardening is a relaxing and enjoyable activity, but it can also be intimidating to get started. Choosing the perfect outdoor garden theme takes some careful thought and planning. After all, this will be the foundation of your garden’s overall look and feel. Here are four tips for choosing an outdoor garden theme.
Assess Your Landscape
Before you dive right in, take the time to assess your landscape. Know where your sunlight and shade spots are and determine whether these areas tend to be dry or soggy. This will help you decide which plants might do best in each area of your garden. Planning ahead can save you time, energy, and money down the road.
It’s also important to know your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone. This tells you which plants can thrive in your particular climate and will help you pick the most suitable ones for your garden.
Identify Your Gardening Style
You may be dreaming of a formal garden with perfectly trimmed hedges or even topiaries. But do you have the chops to maintain a garden like that? Or the money to pay someone else to do it? Is your yard even big enough for such a theme?
Perhaps you’re attracted to the more abundant, less organized cottage garden style. These gardens still take work, but they also require a tolerance for surprises and a willingness to dig things up, move things around, deadhead flowers, and prune shrubs. Consider what kind of gardening style best fits your tastes and lifestyle.
Think About Color and Structure
Consider what colors will be most pleasing in your garden and any structures that may support them. Structure is more than plant supports: it’s thinking about how your garden will look from season to season, which plants need annual pruning, and what the focal point of the garden may be.
Choose Themed Outdoor Garden Decor
Once you’ve settled on your outdoor garden theme, be it a country cottage, a peaceful Zen retreat, a haven for birds and butterflies, or a formal hedgerow and flowerbeds, it’s time to add the finishing touches. Outdoor decorative garden art can support and enhance your theme. Choose planters, figurines, art poles, birdbaths, or garden flags that carry your theme to every corner of your garden beds.
Strategically placed furniture, fountains, or even rustic decorations can add to the look and feel of your garden.
By following these tips for choosing an outdoor garden theme, you’ll be well on your way to creating a beautiful outdoor garden that fits your style and personal tastes. Have fun selecting plants and decor items, but most importantly, remember to enjoy the process! You’ll love seeing the results when everything comes together.
