Gardening Guide: Design Style for the Best Garden

You may choose to make a specific style of garden for many reasons. Sometimes you have a certain purpose in mind when you are planning a garden, like growing tomatoes and peppers to make homemade salsa. Other times you may just be looking for a way to make the most of the space you have available. Maybe you want to improve your view from your kitchen window or you want to create a space where you can spend time outdoors. There are so many different types of gardens that can be created based on how they function and what purpose they serve.

How do you want to spend time in your garden? Do you want to dead-head flowers, pick fresh strawberries, or just sit back and enjoy a nice tall glass of lemonade? Maybe you want a beautiful space with flowers and butterflies where you can go to spend time in nature. Think about the way that you want your garden to function. Then go out and create a garden that surrounds you with the kind of experience you want. Make your garden into a place that you will want to spend time in.

First, let's look at what a garden really is. A garden is a space that is dedicated to growing specific plants. Gardens can be small and fit on a patio or they can be large and take up an entire yard. They can be filled with many different types of plants like flowers, herbs, and vegetables.

Gardens can be created for many different purposes. Some people create gardens to grow food for their families. Others create gardens to provide a place for wildlife to live. Some people create gardens to provide a place for people to hang out in and enjoy nature. Here are some of the most common types of gardens to consider before making a garden of your own.

Many gardens that are made for the purpose of growing food are designed to be productive. Kitchen gardens are often created nearby so that herbs and vegetables can easily be harvested and used every day. Spinach, green onions, and herbs like basil and parsley, are all great choices for a kitchen garden. They can be used fresh in cooking and are quick to gather before preparing a meal.

Other types of gardens have large amounts of produce that can be preserved. This means that they are designed to produce as much food as possible. Some people make their own jams and jellies with the fruits of their labor. Many gardeners like to can their produce and share it with friends. Neighbors can form food cooperatives and share the bounty of a larger harvest.

Gardens can be created to welcome wildlife into an area. Wildlife gardens contain plants that attract birds, butterflies, and other animals. Any garden can welcome wildlife, but wildlife gardens are designed to attract specific types of wildlife. Pollinator gardens are a type of wildlife garden that are designed to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. These gardens are filled with plants that provide food for pollinators. Butterfly gardens include milkweed for attracting monarchs and butterfly bush for attracting all varieties of butterflies.

Adding a water source to your garden can attract birds and other animals. Knowing which plants attract which animals can help you create a garden filled with the wildlife you want to see. If you are trying to keep certain types of wildlife out of your garden, like deer, you can create a deer-resistant garden with plants that are less likely to catch their attention as they are walking by.

Many gardens provide a comfortable place for people to spend time outdoors. They can be designed to be a place to sit and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding plants. Think of ways to create a cozy spot to curl up in and enjoy a great book. Maybe make a garden where you surround yourself with all your favorite plants. You may want to make a space where you can hang out with your friends.

You can include patio areas for outdoor dining, a fire pit to gather around, or a water feature to enjoy. A fountain or a pond can be a great addition to a garden. They can be a focal point and can add a soothing sound to your garden. Gardens can enhance the beauty of a space and be an extension of indoor living areas as well.

Some people enjoy creating themed gardens which are filled with plants that are all centered around one main idea. You can choose to create whatever kind of garden theme you can dream up. There are so many creative ideas for these types of gardens. Here are a few examples of themed gardens that you may like to try.

You can make a salad garden and fill it with your favorite types of lettuce and spinach. Depending on the time of year, you may want to choose plants that are heat or cold-tolerant. Look for the varieties that are known to do well in your area. Chives are great additions to a salad garden. They can be used fresh or dried. You can also plant some radishes in your salad garden. They are easy to grow and add a bit of crunch as well as spice to your salads. Edible flowers like nasturtiums and pansies can be fun to grow. They add interest with their contrasting colors and can be used to garnish your salads.

Or try making a salsa garden with tomatoes, peppers, onions, and cilantro. Grow several different varieties of tomatoes and peppers to change the look of your salsas and also control the heat level. Growing a mix of sweet and hot peppers will give you a wider range of flavors to choose from. You can also grow several different kinds of tomatoes to change up the flavor of your salsa.

Try growing some cherry tomatoes for a sweet salsa and some larger heirloom tomatoes for a more traditional salsa. There's nothing quite like the flavor of vine-ripened tomatoes, picked fresh from the garden.

Herb gardens bring beauty into your space and can also add incredible flavor when used in your favorite dishes.

• Basil and oregano are fantastic on pizza and in pasta sauces.
• You can also make pesto with your basil plants.
• Another way to enjoy basil is in a Caprese salad with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and a little balsamic dressing. Yum!
• Green onions are another good choice of plant to put in your herb garden. They can be cooked in a stir fry and also used fresh, as a garnish, sprinkled on top before serving.
• Tarragon is great to use with lemon and butter when baking white fish.
• Dill is delicious on potatoes or added to an aioli with a bit of garlic and salt and pepper.
• Bay leaves can bring a bright flavor to your soups.
• Mint is great in tea and can be used as a garnish on fruit salad.

There are so many different herbs to choose from and they all have their own unique flavor.

Cut flower gardens are another fun option to think about. These gardens are filled with flowers that are grown specifically for cutting and bringing inside to enjoy. Try to choose plants that have a long vase life so that you can enjoy them for as long as possible. Zinnias are a great choice for a cut flower garden. They come in lots of colors and are easy to grow. They are also very long-lasting after they are cut.

Dahlias, roses, and carnations are also great choices for cut flower gardens. Think about adding some plants to your garden specifically for use as greenery in your arrangements. Eucalyptus, ferns, hostas, dusty miller, and 'aromatto' basil can all be used as filler for your flower arrangements.

Container gardens can be created in small spaces with plants that can be grown in pots or raised beds. They are a great choice for patios and decks. They can be filled with flowers, herbs, or vegetables. You can also grow a mix of all three. As for vegetables, lettuce and peppers do well in containers. Sometimes you can find varieties of plants that are known to do well in pots like 'patio princess' tomatoes and 'bush baby' zucchini.

Climbing vines can also be grown in containers and can be used to create a vertical garden. Honeysuckle, clematis, and passionflower are nice climbing vines for containers.

You can also include plants that are known to be good at repelling insects for your deck or patio gardens. Lavender, rosemary, lemongrass, mint, and 'citronella' geraniums are all great choices for keeping insects away.

If you like to spend time in your garden at dusk, you may want to try creating a moon garden. These gardens are filled with plants that have fragrances that are most noticeable at night. Lavender is a great choice for an evening garden. You can also grow plants that have white or pale blue flowers that are attractive in the evening. Moonflower vines are a great choice for this type of garden. They have large, white, fragrant flowers that open in the evening.

Other plants with white flowers like alyssum, roses, and night-blooming jasmine are good choices for a moon garden since they really stand out in low light. Hummingbird moths are attracted to white flowers at night and are fun to watch as they slowly fly around the garden. You can even grow plants that have foliage that looks good in low light. Some types of coleus have foliage that is brightly colored and looks great in the evening. Fairy lights can be used to add a bit of sparkle to your moon garden.

Shade gardens can be created in areas with indirect light or areas that receive very little sunlight. They should be filled with plants that can thrive in low-light conditions. Hostas, heuchera, ferns, impatiens, and coleus are all great options for shade gardens. There are many varieties of heuchera (also known as coral bells) available. Many of them have foliage that is brightly colored so you can use them to add color to your shade garden in place of flowers.

Another type of plant that has numerous varieties is hosta. They vary in size and color. Use them in groups to add texture and vary the shades of green in your shade garden. Ferns are easy to grow and can be used to create a lush, tropical look in areas with partial to full shade. Impatiens are nice to include in shade gardens because they come in many colors. Some types of coleus can be grown in the shade as well. They are also a nice alternative to flowers as a way to add interest to shade gardens.

In areas that are very dry, you may want to create a succulent garden. These gardens are filled with plants that can thrive in dry conditions. You can grow them in pots as well as in the ground. There are so many different types of succulents available to choose from. You can plant lots of different types of succulents together. By varying the texture and color of the plants you choose, you can create an interesting display. You can also choose a more simplified design and plant just one type of succulent in a mass planting so that they cover a large area.

Different types of grasses, agave, and yucca can also be used to create a garden that is filled with plants that can thrive in dry conditions. You can use rocks in your succulent garden to add color and texture. You can use them to create a path and control the flow through your space by the way that you use curves and angles. Think about using rocks that are the same color as the plants to create a cohesive look. Rocks and other hardscape materials can also be used to create contrast with the plants in your garden.

Certain constraints may determine the type of garden that you can make. You may have limited space available or limited time available to dedicate to your garden. You may have an area with difficult growing conditions, like complete shade or full sun. You may have a specific purpose in mind for your garden, like growing fresh salad greens or growing strawberries to make jam with. All of these factors are important to think about when you are deciding what type of garden to create.

Location is an important factor in determining what type of garden you make. The amount of direct and indirect sunlight, the amount of water available, and the type of soil you have are all important aspects to consider when in determining the types of plants you can grow in a specific location. Don't make gardening more difficult than it has to be. Choose a location that is going to be easy to work with and choose the plants that will thrive in that location.

The way that your garden will function is also an important factor when deciding what type of garden to make. Think about the purpose of your garden and let that guide you in your decision-making process.

• Do you want a garden that is going to provide you with food?
• Or are you looking for a garden that is going to provide a place for you to relax?
• Are you looking for a garden that is going to attract wildlife?
• Or do you want a garden that is going to provide a place for you to grow your favorite flowers?

First, make sure that it is going to work well for your needs and function the way that you want it to. Then, after that, you can think about the design and character you want your garden to have. Decide what features you would like to have and then make choices that create the beautiful garden of your dreams. Whatever you choose to make, go by the rule that form follows function.

Gardens can be created for countless reasons and there is an abundance of styles to choose from when deciding on the type of garden to create. Remember, your garden is what you make of it. Will it function as a place that you love spending time in? Will it be a place that you are proud of and that you want to share with others? Whether you are creating a garden in order to grow food, provide a place for wildlife, or provide a place for you and your friends to hang out, your choices are endless. There is a garden out there for everyone. There is a garden out there for you.