Sep
Gardening - Combining Colors & Textures
Gardening allows us to express ourselves through plants & flowers. Your garden tells a lot about you… Neat & tidy pastel flowers give a different impression than wildly mixed flowers. Following are tips for combining colors & textures to create an attractive garden.
Color Combinations
Gardens look attractive because of the way the plants are mixed together. View your garden section by section to learn how each area flows into the next. Keep in mind that plants are generally forgiving if relocated to another section.
Certain color combinations are naturally easy on the eyes. Examples of complimentary colors include orange & purple, yellow & blue, red & green. To create a color-themed garden, select plants with similar colors. For a dramatic appearance, use a splash of burgundy, orange & purple flowers mixed with foliage, or variegated foliage with white, pale yellow & blue flowers. In shade, consider different shades of green.
If you live in an area that is prone to drought, attempt drought-adaptable pastels. An easy blend includes the gold variegated Iris pallida (Aurea Variegata), Yarrow (Moonshine), Catmint (Walker’s Low), Helianthemum (Wisley Pink), Columbine (Denver Gold), Delphinium (Summer Skies) & Rose (Flower Carpet White). This is a fragrant seasonal mix requiring frequent watering at first but one which can be weaned to more of a droughty diet over time.
To create a bolder appearance, attempt Crocosmia (Lucifer), Dahlia (Bishop of Llandalf), orange Sneezeweed, purple Sedum (Atropurpureum), Whirled Loosestrife, textured Bronze Fennel, scarlet Helianthemum, Yarrow (Paprika), self-seeding Poppies mixed with airy Knautia macedonica. Soft blue, lime & silver contrasts well with this combination.
Textures
Add texture to your garden in a shady spot by combining lacy Lady Fern, Golden Sedge, rounded Red-Leaved Bergenia, darkly-variegated Foamflower, Hosta (Halcyon or Patriot) & delicate Golden Licorice plant. This textured combination will create a low tapestry of plants rather than a tall border.
A tip for the economical gardener: Buy mixed flats. Most nurseries offer mixed flats ranging from 10 to 32 plants per tray.
Always begin your gardening project by visualizing the way the plants & flowers will work together. Learning the art of plant combinations helps ensure that each season of color will look its best.
Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com. At MyGuidesUSA.com (http://www.myguidesusa.com), you will find valuable tips & resources for handling life’s major events. Right. Whether you are planning a wedding, purchasing your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you will find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com. Find lawn & garden tips & resources at http://www.myguidesusa.com/lawnandgarden
