All right, so gravel is really nice for a woodland walk, but you need a more stable material for a patio area, right? Well, if you're like me and basically have 10 kids to feed, you might not have a grand budget. Pea gravel, ⅜-inch angular gravel or decomposed granite can make a nice surface to walk on. What's really important is to site the paved space thoughtfully. This patio is elegantly situated in a garden where one can imagine cocktail parties with beautiful people. I'll bring the Barbancourt!
Gravel In many cases finding the magic of the landscape means not competing with or decorating what is already there. The small boulder walls and loose gravel here may have come from the site itself. There's no sterile edging trying to control the gravel, which makes this all the more beautiful. Of course, the grove of trees is glorious, too. If you invest in trees for your landscape, whatever you do, don't plant them on perfect centers! Go crazy and embrace the perfectly imperfect.
Use a boulder to visually reinforce sculpture. A serene garden generally requires a limited color palette so that more attention is directed toward subtleties in form and texture. Notice how this Buddha statue feels right at home in its boulder niche. In a more contemporary garden, a stainless steel sculpture might just as well find its home here, since the coloration is similar. In a bolder garden, a bright red or cobalt-blue sculpture would feel appropriate in a similar niche.
If you garden in a sunnier spot, consider planting your boulder with sedum or other succulents. For a serene feeling, consider complementing any unusual coloration on the boulder with matching foliage, as shown here at Innisfree. For a more vibrant look, consider a succulent with contrasting foliage, perhaps burgundy or orange.
Use a boulder as a planter. Instead of using the predictable ceramic planter in your garden, why not employ a boulder as a unique planting vessel? If you garden in the shade, you can easily plant a boulder with moss and ferns. A composition such as this would ideally be located in a moist, humid environment, but once established, moss and ferns can generally take somewhat drier conditions. Supplemental misting is recommended until your plants are well established.
Jay Sifford Garden Design SaveEmail Use a boulder as a work of art. Every boulder has its own unique character; some record history by harboring fossils or water marks, while the shapes of others conjure images in the mind of the beholder. If your search for a boulder turns up a unique find, why not display it as a sculptural piece?
Christopher Developments SaveEmail Installation. The foundation of the garden needs to hold the weight of the sculpture and in some cases may require some engineering support to keep it upright. “You need to understand the size, weight and subsequent safety requirements of the foundation or footings,” Taylor says. “You don’t want a piece to fall over in strong winds or to be knocked over, so you may need to consider some engineering of the support base.”
Taylor recommends low ground cover, such as turf lily (Liriope muscari) or the trailing plant kidney weed (Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’) for a sculpture that needs some space around it. “This creates the illusion of the piece floating over a green living bed,” he explains. This sculpture is a weathered/oxidized wire and steel sculpture, called Tempest from Terra Sculpture.
Taylor recommends low ground cover, such as turf lily (Liriope muscari) or the trailing plant kidney weed (Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’) for a sculpture that needs some space around it. “This creates the illusion of the piece floating over a green living bed,” he explains. This sculpture is a weathered/oxidized wire and steel sculpture, called Tempest from Terra Sculpture.
Planting. When it comes to choosing plantings around a sculpture, landscape gardeners say it’s all about balance and contrast. If the sculpture can function as a stand-alone feature, then planting should be kept understated; otherwise, choose plantings that help the sculpture maintain a sense of place.
Sculpture can add a focal point to a garden, providing a visual and atmospheric feature — whether subtle or dramatic — and revealing a glimpse of the owner’s character. “Garden sculpture can add a dramatic, striking and unique element to most gardens if the right piece and position are carefully considered,” Taylor says. “It can also add a personal touch to a space. As artwork is an individual thing, your personality can be expressed through art.” This sphere in a London garden is actually a sundial. It is made from stainless steel and sits on a plinth surrounded by a box hedge.
Rustic retaining walls. This is a standard, simple wooden retaining wall design for a raised planting area in the garden. Wooden uprights are driven into the ground at a depth equal to the height above the ground. Wood timbers are stacked to create the wall, which is topped with another piece of lumber.
I love lush, abundant gardens, but in small spaces they can be difficult to achieve, due to narrow borders that don’t allow for multiple layers of trees and shrubs. The answer when you can’t go out is to go up, using one climbing plant to support another; the classic example of this is the pairing of a rose and a clematis. I usually allow a newly planted climbing rose two full growing seasons to become established and gain some height before adding a clematis, although it is possible to plant both at the same time. The rose will need to be tied onto its support, but the clematis has a natural twining habit and will attach itself to the rose stems and leaves by means of its tendrils.
Alyson Ross Markley SaveEmail You may choose to rely on color, form or texture — or a balance of all three elements — to create more contrast in your garden. However you go about it, keep in mind that there’s no wrong way to plant. Creating a garden that inspires and delights you is just as much about the process as the end result.
Contrasting leaf shapes and textures is another good way to add interest to beds with subtler variation in color. In the foreground of a primarily green shade garden, the broad leaves of hostas and glossy bear’s breech (Acanthus mollis) stand out against the slender leaves of Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra cv.). The purple leaves of coral bells (Heuchera sp.) deepen the color of the shadows.
While the presence of either dark or light foliage breaks up the monotony of beds composed of all medium green, get the most drama by including both lights and darks in a single bed. Here, a golden smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria cv.) nearly glows behind a low stone wall, complemented by its deep purple cousin. A Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) balances the plum-colored foliage to the left of the patio. In the foreground, variegated ‘Silver Swan’ euphorbia (Euphorbia characias ‘Silver Swan’) forms a mound of silvery foliage among flower spikes of purple salvia.
Deep Purple Foliage With Bright Silver Punctuations Black, purple and deep burgundy leaves act as dark, moody foils for pale green, silver and golden leaves. For purple and burgundy, turn to smoke bush (Cotinus spp.), purple-leaved plums, black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’) and wine-colored ‘Plum Pudding’ coral bells (Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’). For silver and chartreuse foliage, golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’), lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina) and ‘Silver Falls’ dichondra (Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’) are good options.
Along this dry streambed, bold-leaved hostas contrast with delicate conifer needles, ruffled purple coral bells (Heuchera sp.) and fine-textured bright green ‘Angelina’ stonecrop (Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’). As the plants fill in and grow to maturity, the contrast among the coarse and fine textures will become more dramatic.
Texture. Just as important as color and form, the texture of a plant is determined by how it would feel to touch (or looks as though it would feel). Pairing plants with different textures in the planting bed makes each plant’s natural characteristics stand out. Some leaves, like those of camellia, are glossy and smooth, reflecting light almost as if they were lacquered. Others, such as lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina), shown here, are covered in tiny protrusions, making them as soft and inviting as velvet. Cactuses offer no such temptation with their spikes and prickles.
Wittman Estes Landscape SaveEmail Form. Consider both the shape of the plant and the size and shape of its leaves. Beds made up of similarly sized plants with the same leaf shape can be fairly dull. For the most drama, mix plants with big, bold leaves with smaller-leaved perennials and ornamental grasses. In shade, look for plants with large palmate leaves, such as bear’s breech (Acanthus mollis), shown in this Seattle area garden with strappy, grasslike sweetflag (Acorus sp.).
Color. When selecting foliage color, you practically have a rainbow of hues to choose from. For the most striking combinations in the bed, pair plants with contrasting foliage colors in close proximity. Blues and blue-greens have a cooling effect and can set off red, plum and magenta foliage placed close by. Silver, chartreuse and variegated foliage shimmer next to darker greens — particularly useful in brightening shady areas.
The more you can get a plant to stand out from its neighbors, the more your eye will be drawn to and delighted by it. As you choose foliage plants for your garden bed, remember these basic elements of landscape design: color, form and texture. Let’s see how creating contrast among these elements can have a stunning effect.
10. Plant en masse for an modern look. Edgy and unexpected, dark foliage pairs well with contemporary architecture. For the biggest impact, plant a single species of a dark-leaved plant en masse. Here, low-growing black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’, zones 5 to 10) fills in the stark concrete planters with dark waves of grasslike foliage.
9. Deepen hot-colored flower beds. Fiery late-summer and fall flower beds or containers can tend toward garish without the balance of cooling swaths of dark foliage. Here, a container of ‘Blackie’ sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas ‘Blackie’, zones 9 to 11) complements the golden yellow blooms of lantana. In the back of the bed, we have another hit of dark foliage with the maroon leaves of coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides, zones 10 to 11).
8. Plant a dark leafy screen. Most hedge plants are medium green — think Podocarpus, Ligustrum and Pittosporum. Mix it up with an unexpected screen of purple Florida hopbush (Dodonaea viscosa ‘Purpurea’, zones 8 to 11). The bronze, waxy foliage creates a striking backdrop for bedding plants, and coordinates well with warm mahogany tones in buildings.
7. Bring contrast to garden beds. Use dark-leaved plants as a rich counterpoint to bright green and pale silver foliage placed nearby. Here, bronze New Zealand flax (Phormium sp., zones 8 to 10) and purple-leaved plums contrast with billowing, light green maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis, zones 5 to 9) and silvery coast rosemary (Westringia fruticosa, zones 9 to 10).
6. Showcase as a focal point. Plant a single specimen with dark purple foliage amid a primarily green planting bed, and it will act like a punctuation mark in the design. Showy purple shrubs, such as cascading Purple Pixie fringe flower (Loropetalum chinense ‘Peack’, zones 7 to 9), particularly stand out when planted in a large container set into the planting bed. Here, a deep burgundy Japanese maple acts as the central focus of an Asian-inspired garden in Toronto.
Le jardinet SaveEmail 5. Create a dark backdrop to highlight perennial flowers. Planting dark foliage and bright or pastel blooms in close proximity can have a dramatic effect in containers or in planting beds. Here, the petals of ‘Mardi Gras’ sneezeweed (Helenium ‘Mardi Gras’, zones 3 to 9) glow like embers against a dark backdrop of purple-leaved Diabolo ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Monlo’, zones 2 to 7).
‘Krauter Vesuvius’ plum trees (Prunus cerasifera ‘Krauter Vesuvius’) 4. Cool down a courtyard. Purple-leaved foliage visually cools a gravel courtyard by more than just the shade it casts. In hot summer climates, use dark-leaved shade trees such as purple-leaved plums (Prunus cerasifera, zones 4 to 9), copper beech (Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea, zones 4 to 7) and purple cootamundra wattle (Acacia baileyana ‘Purpurea’, zones 8 to 10) to create shade for cool, inviting retreats.
3. Enhance shadows in the landscape. Dark foliage planted at the edges of a landscape makes the backdrop recede into shadow. Fences, walls and unwanted views seem to disappear. In this San Francisco garden, the purple, shadowy foliage colors at the landscape edges screen adjacent buildings and blur the garden’s boundaries.
London Garden Designer SaveEmail 2. Showcase dark foliage as living art. Many dark-leaved plants have an unusual beauty. Examples include the nearly translucent burgundy leaves of ‘Royal Purple’ smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’, zones 4 to 8) and the delicate plum foliage of Japanese maple (Acer palmatum cvs., zones 5 to 8), like the one shown here. Display their rich colors and interesting leaf forms against the backdrop of rusted metal walls, pale fences or spilling over large boulders.
1. Add garden depth. Dark foliage visually falls to the back of a garden bed or series of containers, while brighter greens and white flowers spring forward. Use this to your advantage in a small garden or urban roof terrace. Here, containers spilling over with a mix of foliage are interesting in their own right, but the addition of purple coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides, USDA zones 10 to 11; find your zone) adds depth to the New York City garden and makes the walled-in space feel less flat.
. A Romantic Border A classic white picket fence festooned with fragrant roses — what could be more romantic? The beauty of this one is that passersby can enjoy the flowers, since they're planted on the outside of the fence. Key design features: Restraint in both color and plants Repetition of colors and plants down the entire border Gaining height by using the fence to support climbing roses Color notes: A restrained palette of pink and blue is accented with chartreuse. The deeper shades of purple provide depth, ensuring that this combination will still turn heads even in late summer. Plant selection: Climbing 'Mary Rose' provides height and fragrance. Billowing mounds of golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea') and May Night salvia (Salvia nemorosa 'May Night') form the lower tier. These perennials are tolerant of low water, poor soil and hot sun.
A small urban garden containing a hidden nook in which to read and to display mementos will also satisfy the spirit of the traveler.
name your garden
reflection -- trees, plants, stepping stones
a prairie garden
"sculpture" . . a maple tree
sculptural elements. .
more texture . .
texture
shapess . . .
color . .
light . .
Structuring garden rooms. The strength of compartmentalizing lies in combining the strong structure of hard landscaping with soft plantings. It's evident even in this most modern of garden layouts.
There's a lot going on in this gorgeous rock garden, but the eye knows exactly where to look, thanks to the strong diagonal line of gravel and ground covers that moves through the otherwise square and rectangular spaces. It is arresting rather than interrupting — and its presence makes the rest of the planting areas look well balanced and complete.
Why use a straight line when you can make it zigzag? I love these stair-step raised planters that create a dynamic edge to this gravel garden. The zigs and zags of the retaining wall are more than functional — they're an important design ingredient. Moreover, this approach creates bonus planting space that a straight retaining wall wouldn't offer.
Crushed Granite Gravel The basics: This one is closely related to decomposed granite, but it's a bit chunkier in texture and size. While DG has quite a bit of silt and almost sand-like particles, crushed granite gravel has larger particles. The texture is not smooth like pea gravel, but this choice is perfect for walkways and patios, as well as for setting off xeric plants.
Moore About... Design SaveEmail This flagstone walkway has pea gravel in the crevices.
Pea Gravel The basics: Pea gravel is a small, rounded rock that got its name because the rocks are about the size of a pea. In reality pea gravel comes in different sizes — 1/4 inch, 1/2 inch and 5/8 inch are common sizes. It typically comes in a range of tan, brown and white color mixes, but do your homework to learn the cost of each. Use pea gravel for patio areas, pathways and filling in between flat rock, like flagstone.
Here's a mix of decomposed granite (top) and pea gravel (bottom), separated by a line of blue fescue (Festuca glauca).
Decomposed Granite The basics: Decomposed granite, or DG, is a granitic rock that has weathered to the point of breaking into very small pieces and silt-like particles. It comes in a reddish-tan color that will fade to a lighter tan over time. Decomposed granite is ideal for pathways and rustic patios, and can also be used as a topdressing around arid plants. It's sold by the cubic yard.
A lawn-free yard wouldn’t be complete without some form of edibles. Build raised planters, mix edibles into a perennial border or simply place a few pots of chili peppers on the patio.
Use different materials to define zones. Create distinct areas in your backyard by varying the type of hardscaping. For instance, try using pavers closest to the house, concrete around a fire pit and gravel in between.
Compose a palette of stones in many hues. Even if your plantings are minimal, you can still have rich color in your yard. There are many different colors of gravel and stones available, including pale cream, gray, red, purple and black. Want to shake up the look even more? Try smooth sea glass pebbles or shells in an area that gets less foot traffic.
Plan a maze. Looking for something completely different? Add a meditative element with your very own backyard maze. Mark out a space and fill it with gravel, then use smooth stones to create a curving maze.
Make lush borders with tall grasses. Big clumps of grasses creeping over the edges of pathways and other hardscaped areas bring softness to a lawn-free yard. Grasses can also be a good lawn alternative in a front yard, especially paired with paving-stone paths and a ground cover.
Echo your home’s architecture. When planning your outdoor rooms, think about mirroring the shape of your home in materials as well as in how your outdoor spaces flow together. For instance, in the space shown here, long, rectangular pavers mirror the rectangular shapes in the siding, and the layout of the paths and yard closely follows the shape of the house itself, creating a seamless design.
Or plant a carpet of flowers. Miss the pleasure of running across an expanse of grass, but don’t want to deal with the mowing and watering? A ground cover is a smart alternative. While not as sturdy as grass, many ground cover plants (even those that bloom) can stand up to some foot traffic — inquire at your local plant center to find a good option.
Concrete Not all concrete is created equal. I haven't yet seen stamped concrete I like, but this design team poured sections that appear as large, powerful pavers. Stained benches and steps warm up the concrete. I always think materials like concrete, glass and steel need wood finishes to bring life to the compositions. I have been really impressed with the use of concrete by Bernard Trainor.
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