How to make a Garden that is Colourful
SMALL, BUT COLOURFUL ALL YEAR ROUND
The smallest gardens are often the most difficult to design.
There are so many possibilities, and such little space available.
It is really important to narrow down your focus, and decide exactly what is the most important thing you need from the garden.
This inner city garden, presented the owners with just such a challenge.
With next to no backyard, and surrounded by concrete, industry and similar small properties; it became obvious that this area needed to satisfy two criteria:
-To provide visual and psychological relief from an otherwise overbearing environment
-To provide a place where the owners could sit, even for only short periods, drink a cup of coffee and unwind a little.
Privacy Might Have Been a Problem
Front gardens are often not the place to sit and relax, being on show to everyone who walks down the street. In this case, that was not a problem. Neighbours living at close quarters all know each other, and think nothing of lingering together to relax and have a chat in any front garden. The front garden bed has been planted with slightly taller plants, to provide partial privacy. In this situation, that is not only all that is feasible, but also, all that is required.
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| Planting at the front gate in spring: annual Nicotina in full pink bloom, hollyhock in the background, iris to the side and heuchera in the foreground | |
Contrast is Key
In this environment, dominated by metal, concrete, brick and overhead wires; it was important to create an environment as different as possible.
The surrounding environment is made up of drab colours and hard surfaces; so this garden has been designed to be dominated by bright colours and soft surfaces.
The Layout
The design is simple but functional; a lawn surrounded by garden bed; and an all weather concrete path edged both sides by garden bed, leading from the front gate to the front door.
When space is limited, it is often better to keep the design simple and focus on creating interest in the way you select and combine plants.
Why no Trees
The design avoids using trees for three reasons:
1. Trees in this small space may cause damage to buildings, pipes and paving; and that threat
2. Trees create shade, which makes it more difficult to grow bright flowers, and even if they do grow: without direct sunlight reflecting off them, they never look quite as bright
3. Gardens take longer to warm up and inner city areas can get particularly cold at night. By having the garden unshaded, it can be warmer sooner in the morning in particular.
Planting
Most of the plants used here are flowering perennials, bulbs and annuals. A careful selection of varieties has ensured some flowers occur all year round, with an increased amount of colour in spring and summer, when the owners tend to appreciate and use their small patch of garden more.
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| Polyanthus are a favourite addition to provide colour through winter | |
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| Feathery pink plumes of Astilbe, mixed with an ever-changing parade of other blooms, provide a colourful and softening edge to the pathway | |
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| Planted early in Autumn, poppies continue to keep this garden looking colourful well into winter | |
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| A small area of lawn might not seem worthwile to those of us living on a large block of land but here it provides valuable space for the owners to be outside, appreciate the flowers, feel grass beneath their feet and share a pleasant chat with the neighbours | |
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| Splashes of yellow coreopsis flowers emerge in spring and summer every year, shrinking back to a low clump of green foliage over winter | |
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| Marigolds are a favourite annual for planting in this garden in early summer. They flower within weeks of planting and provide patches of colour throughout summer and well into autumn | |
VISIT OUR ACS ONLINE E BOOKSTORE
- Quality ebooks written by our staff
- Wide range of Horticulture titles by John Mason, author of over 40 gardening books, garden magazine editor, nurseryman, landscaper and principal of ACS.
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Titles include:
Commercial Hydroponics 3rd edition
One of the worlds best selling hydroponic books, first published in 1991 by Kangaroo Press. Dozens of colour photos, unique and rarely published advice on how to grow over 100 different types of plants (vegetables, herbs, flowers, indoor plants) in hydroponics. http://www.acsebook.com/products/2232-commercial-hydroponics-third-edition.aspx
The Environment of Play 2nd edition
A unique and inspirational view of designing play spaces for children. Full of photos, an inspiration for parents, child care workers, teachers, play leaders, landscape designers and park management professionals. First edition was published in the 1980’s by Leisure Press in New York. http://www.acsebook.com/products/2247-the-environment-of-play.aspx
Growing Trees and Shrubs for Small Gardens 2nd edition
First edition published by Kangaroo Press/Simon & Schuster. http://www.acsebook.com/products/1684-growing-trees-and-shrubs-for-small-gardens.aspx
Tropical Plants 2nd edition
http://www.acsebook.com/products/2245-tropical-plants.aspx
Trees and Shrubs for Warm Places First edition A valuable reference for growing plants not only in the tropics and sub tropics, but also greenhouses, inside the home or even hot courtyards in a temperate garden. Never before been published. The book contains colour photos of close to 300 plants and descriptions of many times that number (and largely different to the plants covered in our Tropical Plants book). http://acsebook.com/products/2238-trees-and-shrubs-for-warm-placescoming-soon.aspx
Garden Design Part 1 1st edition
A huge book with around 300 inspiring colour photos; that explains how to design a garden in a way that is able to be understood by a beginner, but full of tips and ideas that can help even seasoned professionals. http://www.acsebook.com/products/2242-garden-design-part-1.aspx
Garden Design Part 2 1st edition
Following on from Garden Design Part 1, this presents approximately 300 more photos, and a huge amount of inspirational reading to help you (in particular), understand the different styles of garden and the options open to you as a garden designer, or a home owner. http://acsebook.com/products/2244-garden-design-part-2.aspx
Starting a Garden or Landscape Business 2nd ed.
Previously published by Simon and Schuster; this is a must read for anyone wanting to set out on a career in horticulture. http://acsebook.com/products/2239-starting-a-garden-or-landscape-business.aspx
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