The Kitchen Garden
Who says that herbs and vegetable plants have to be boring? While many people think that an attractive backyard is all about introducing colourful flowers, you can combine a better lifestyle with stunning landscape design.
Popular herb plant choices include rosemary, basil, oregano and mint. You can mix it up with edible plants, such as pansies, sunflowers, dandelions and daisies.
Few people realise that they can eat all those flowers, so it’s ideal for creating a unique – and useful – garden.
Using specialist landscaping practices such as raised planters and tailoring plant types to the sunlight position they’ll need to flourish in will guarantee your garden looks incredible and encourages plant growth.
Vertical Planters
Nothing screams style like vertical planters. They’re ideal if you’re limited on space but want to incorporate some colour into your garden. Vine style plants grow vertically, and they can make a big difference to the aesthetics of your garden.
For example, you can use a fence to incorporate some greenery without impacting the surface of your garden. Your shed can also act as a vertical garden or use the side of your house to enhance the aesthetic appeal.
While some people think green walls will make their gardens look smaller, they’re ideal for minimal gardens because they don’t restrict any surface space.
Rose Garden
What could be more quintessentially British than a rose garden? The colourful flowers are symbolic of romance, passion, serenity and happiness, so, understandably, so many people want them in the garden.
If you think rose gardens are difficult to maintain, you can find new shrub versions, which are easy to manage and will withstand challenging conditions. Better still, there’s so much you can do with a rose garden.
Keep things simple with well-placed planters, or use red roses around the decking for romantic al fresco dining. You can also incorporate archways into your outdoor space, making the perfect transitional pathway from your back door to the garden.
If you want to go for natural roses, choose red, pink and white tones. Specialist gardeners also cultivate roses to convey purple, orange and even green tones.
Shaded Gardens
In an ideal world, we’d all have gardens that attract natural sunlight – but that isn’t the case. If you’re cursed with a shady garden, then think of it as a potential opportunity to get creative.
While many plants do well in the sunlight, some thrive in the shade. The most popular shade-loving plants include:
Lobelia Plants: These plants are ideal for hanging baskets and containers because they have a cascade effect. Available in purple, white or blue, you can enjoy these plants all year round.
Caladium: Let’s face it, most leaves are dull – but Caladium adds a unique kind of beauty to your garden. Imagine reddish heart shapes with a green outline, and you’ll understand why these leaves can enhance the aesthetics of your garden.
Begonia: Begonias make for a colourful addition to your property, and they come in shades including orange and pink. These plants will flourish throughout the year until the frost comes – but they’re easy to maintain and look incredible.
If you have a shady garden but aren’t sure how to make it stand out, the team here at Floral & Hardy can help you design the perfect plan that incorporates shade-loving plants. Our garden layout services can turn a drab backyard into a stunning haven.
Fragrance Infusion
Some flowers are great for aesthetics, while others please both the eyes and nose. Fragrant plants such as lavender can be excellent during the spring and summer seasons because the pleasant smell promotes relaxation.
Other popular plants include hyacinth, wisteria, freesia, and honeysuckle. If you decide to create a fragrant garden, it’s essential to sample each plant type and ensure they won’t counteract each other.
Some people prefer to split fragrant plants into different areas so they can enjoy each flower’s unique scent.
Patio Gardens
You might have a patio garden, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. While some people add potted plants to their backyard, many forget that you can use raised planters on your patio.
If you’re thinking about building a new patio, leave space for planting, and you won’t need to worry about buying plant pots and worrying about the wind knocking them over.
Incorporating a patio garden is an ideal opportunity to use perennial plants. These plants hardly require any care and maintenance, so they’re perfect if you want an attractive garden but don’t want to spend time pruning, watering and cutting flowers.
Water Feature With Plants
Water features provide gardens with tranquillity and can also attract wildlife, so it’s only natural that you probably want to include one in your outdoor space. Whether it’s a giant water fountain or small ornamental features, you can enhance the design of your garden by having plants around the feature.
Plants work well with ponds, and even if it’s a few simple lily pads, your garden will still look stunning.
Add Tropical Plants
Nothing screams exotic and mysterious like some well placed tropical plants. Bursting with rich green leaves and stunning colours, you can recreate your favourite exotic destinations in the comfort of your garden.
The best tropical plants to grow in the UK include:
- Fatsia
- Horse Tails
- Arum Lilies
- Bear’s Breeches
Final Thoughts
Finding the right flowers for your garden doesn’t have to be difficult. If you know the general layout you’d like to incorporate, then there’s nothing stopping you from designing a long-lasting space that embodies your personality.
Any garden can become a stunning reflection of your personality, and the right plants will last long-term. All you need to do now is find the right flowers and get to work!
Floral & Hardy is committed to bringing you the freshest gardening tips and news so you can make the most of your outdoor space. Check out our latest post on Japan’s Gold Medal Gardens.
