Garden Design

Some gardens feel calm and cohesive, while others, even those with beautiful plants, look cluttered or disconnected. The difference usually comes down to composition: the way plants relate to one another in color, form, scale, and placement. The good news is that you don’t need a degree in landscape architecture to use composition principles effectively.

Like a memorable film or beautifully staged room, a well-designed garden has the power to transport us, setting the mood, evoking memories, and even altering our perception of space and temperature. One of the most effective tools for creating these subtle illusions is color. Consider the color wheel as a handy design tool. When drawn between these colors, the line separates high-energy warm colors from calm, peaceful cool tones.

As climate change and other environmental concerns have moved to the forefront in recent years, sustainability has become a more crucial component of garden design. Whether creating a waterwise landscape, native garden, or wildlife-friendly yard, homeowners are incorporating more environmentally-friendly elements in their yards. This garden's owner points out that bats and other night creatures remain active here, a sign the lighting isn’t disrupting the garden’s ecosystem.

Designer: Mike Smith, Joy Creek. Photo: Janet Loughrey. Fall is an often-overlooked season in the garden, with many gardeners focused on spring and summer color. Yet there are many plants with late-season interest that thrive in the shorter, cooler days of fall, offering a glorious curtain call before the landscape goes dormant for the winter. When designing a fall border, think about layers of texture, structure and color from a variety of trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals.

What began as a health-focused garden makeover turned into a flourishing space full of life, love, and healing energy—for her family and beyond. Submitted by: Christina, Gig Harbor, WA, Zone 8b Years ago, while raising two little boys, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Even though I never used harsh or toxic products in my home or garden, I knew I needed to take that a few steps further.

Explore the inspiring stories of gardeners from around the world! Each submission showcases unique gardens, personal journeys, and the creativity that brings these spaces to life. Browse the stories to discover ideas and inspiration for your own garden. From Horse Farm to Habitat Ami Dushkowich got into gardening on her 12-acre horse farm about five years ago.

Photo by: Gala Oleksenko / Shutterstock One of the appeals of having a garden is attracting wildlife to your yard. Though wild rabbits are adorable and harmless looking, they can actually cause a lot of damage to your treasured garden plants. Rabbits are herbivores that feed primarily on grass, dandelions, clover, and leafy greens. They have a voracious appetite and reproduce quickly, making them a nuisance for gardeners, even in urban areas. Some garden plants are more rabbit-resistant than others.

Photo by: moutainpix / Shutterstock Gardeners who live in deer-prone areas know firsthand the damage that a hungry herd can cause to treasured garden plants. By taking preventative measures such as choosing plants that deer dislike, this damage can be reduced. Ground covers are less accessible to deer than taller plants that are easier to reach, with a dense compact habit that makes them more difficult to graze on.

Blue hydrangeas are a classic garden favorite, and it’s easy to see why. Their cool, calming tones, ranging from soft sky blue to deep sapphire, pop against green foliage and bring fresh color to shady borders and foundation beds. But not every hydrangea blooms blue. That depends on the type you’re growing and your soil. Blue hydrangeas bring a sense of tranquility and sophistication to the garden. Their cool tones pair beautifully with silver foliage, white flowers, and soft pastels.

Japanese garden statues. Photo: lovelypeace / Shutterstock. If you’ve ever visited a Japanese garden, you know the feeling of calm and quiet contemplation it inspires. Based on philosophical tenets of ancient Japanese culture, these traditional gardens take cues from the natural world while incorporating a human sense of order and discipline. Elements of stone, water, plants, and manmade structures are mindfully combined to create a beautiful space for peaceful meditation.