Harrisdale Contemporary Deck, Perth

Contemporary Hedging PlantsSucculents. We see in this beautiful contemporary design how hedging has become an integral component of the design, adding mass as well as color and texture. I know that many people would not consider the glaucous agave planting as a hedge, but it does come within the definition of a hedge being a row of linear plantings.

Create garden harmony and unity by including numerous types of plants all in the same color, but with different shades and tones. Colors favored by designers include neutral grays and blacks, but some prefer more dominant colors, such as acid green, to contrast the neutral coloring of the hardscaping.Suggestions for monochromatic plantings:Black: Phormium 'Platt's Black', Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens', Phyllostachys nigraGray: Perovskia 'Blue Spire', Santolina chamaecyparissus, Artemesia 'Powis Castle'Acid green: Euphorbia schillingii, Euphorbia polychroma, Alchemilla mollisSee more plants with gray and acid-green foliage.

In smaller garden designs we can also see the influence of the artist. As in the previous garden, blocks of plantings in rectangular beds create flat planes that are demarcated by noncolor masonry dividing walls here.

10. Low-maintenance. Depending on their placement, built-in planters can be more difficult to access than other areas of the garden. Choosing no-fuss plants like sculptural agaves and evergreen shrubs can cut down on maintenance without compromising style. In this Perth, Australia, backyard, a simple planting of foxtail agave (Agave attenuata) in front and ‘Spring Bouquet’ laurustinus (Viburnum tinus ‘Spring Bouquet’) echoes the clean lines of the decking and built-in seating area, and neither plant requires much care to look good.

Nicely executed inddor outdoor feel

Outdoor plants different levels