Landscaping - Gardening - Lawn Care

Structure

20. Nearly every garden needs a garden path. It directs people through the garden, making it a journey instead of a destination. Make it long and curving and at least 3 feet wide. It doesn't have to be fancy -- grass or wood chips will do.

21. Look up. A good garden has a variety of heights. Trees naturally provide a soaring vertical element, but nearly every garden benefits from trellises, arbors, bamboo tepees, or other structures that bring flowers up to eye level and prevent the garden from hugging the ground too tightly.

22. Don't be skimpy. If you're going to make a flower bed or border, make it big enough to include a variety of plants that will have interest in every season. Go for borders that are 6 or even 9 feet deep and three times that long. Scatter pavers or stepping-stones on the soil to give you a convenient place to stand while tending the garden.

23. Have at least one window box. Big on charm, small on price -- not to mention easy to care for -- window boxes add a new dimension to your garden and loads of character. If you already have window boxes, consider putting some on your second story. Very European.

24. Recycle. Use found or leftover materials as garden inspirations. Leftover branches from a pruning project can be used as a tepee to support morning-glories. Old wood weathering behind the garage can be crafted into a rustic bench. Local fieldstone can be gathered and turned into a path.

Maintenance

25. Don't try too much at first. A small garden that's well-tended is better and has more impact than a large garden that's out of control.

26. Prune wisely. Don't worry about pruning all your shrubs into tight little balls and boxes. Let them grow out for a softer, more natural look.

27. Install edging of some sort in your flowerbed. Preferably, the edging should be of an attractive, natural material, such as wood, salvaged brick, or stone. It will keep out grass and weeds, and, even when your garden is a little messy, the edging will give it structure and make it seem a bit neater.

The Big Picture

28. Find or create a vista. This doesn't have to be a sweeping view of a mountain range. Maybe you have a nice tree at the end of the yard. Make sure there's a clear sight line to it, and maybe play it up with a small statue or water feature beneath.

29. Create a background. This gives a garden a sense of enclosure and shows off flower beds and other plantings to their best advantage. The background can be a hedge, a nice fence (not chain-link), shrubs, or small trees.

30. Mask the uglies. If you have a chain-link fence or a falling-down garage, plant it with perennial vines, or front it with a hedge. Transform a dreary and cracked concrete patio by building up a low wood frame around it and covering it with gravel. Or cover it with a woven-grass mat and attractive outdoor furniture.

Better Homes and Gardens

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