Garden Design IdeasGarden Ideas, Photos and Tips for Gardening at Home
For the preceding 18 days , horticultural author , seller , and speaker Susan Martin of Gardener Sue ’s News has gardened on a shady 1/3 - acre wooded sand sand dune near Lake Michigan . Despite the shady conditions , she has fashioned a vibrant landscape that ’s full of centre - get vignette .
Susan is presently in the cognitive process of build a new abode on 15 acres—20 miles from her current home . Though she will be creating a new garden from scraping , there are a couple things she ’ll definitely bring along with her : her admiration for everything in her garden ( big and small ) , and her ability to maximize the potential of every space .
1. Go Big with Container Plantings
refinement of calcined lime green and maroon from Flame Thrower ™ Chipotle coleus , Plum Dandy ™ alternanthera , and atomic number 79 Boston fern add to the picturesque scene of this front porch . pic by : Susan Martin .
Many gardener tend to gravitate toward smaller industrial plant for container combinations , but originative gardeners like Susan literally think outside the box . It ’s not often that you see tumid plants in ledge and window boxes , but why not make the most of these growing region ?
Here , Alternanthera , coleus , and fern burst from their container , but their sizing is such that the combination does not appear top - overweight . Rather , these sill boxes look vivacious and sound , give to the welcoming vibration of Susan ’s home ’s front entry . Their magnanimous front is n’t their only benefit . “ I chose those plants because they are all foliage and they do n’t have bloom that will knock off and tarnish the white pigment on the deck railing , ” Susan says .
2. Find the “Golden Hour” for Your Favorite Plants
Tuff Stuff ™ good deal hydrangea has a blue chromaticity that looks particularly gorgeous in sunset light . Photo by : Susan Martin
ThoughTuff Stuff ™ mountain hydrangeafrom Proven Winners is beautiful all mean solar day , Susan finds it especially eye - catching just after the sun goes down . That ’s when “ it look the most blue , ” Susan says .
For a meditative experience , forecast out what time of twenty-four hour period your pet industrial plant look their right — when the light clamber through them or on them just right — and then be intentional about jaw them during those times . SeeSusan ’s video recording of Tuff Stuff , which she take during its golden hour .
3. Pay Attention to Details
A track of H2O drops on a pallid unripened tulip leaf would go unnoticed to most everyone — except the keen centre of an observant gardener . exposure by : Susan Martin .
Too often , we ’re so focused on whatever task we ’re completing in the garden ( or whatever we have n’t had the luck to execute yet ) that we fail to watch over the beauty that wall us . Have you ever had a node visit your garden place and comment on something that strikes them as beautiful — and it ’s something you had n’t comment ? Do n’t draw a blank to typeset apart time to meander in your garden and appreciate the wonder of it all .
“ One exercise that helps me observe the magical details of my garden is to use the macro lens on my photographic camera , ” Susan says . “ It will only focalize on close - up details — it literally ca n’t see the adult picture clearly . Observing my garden through that lens of the eye helps me see that it is the small affair that really weigh . ”
4. View “Tedious” Tasks with Fresh Eyes
Deadheading and pruning expired branches and flowers is just one way to apace spruce up your garden . picture by : Susan Martin .
For many gardener , the thinking of spending time deadheading and lop vocalize like a nightmare of a project , but for Susan , “ It ’s relaxing and uber satisfy to crystalize away the old , unproductive branches to make way for fresh growing . ” In fact , Susan maintains that it ’s the fastest way to feel better about your garden . “ Pick up your pruners and a bucket and dress away the junk . It ’s the garden equivalent of tidying up your menage before guests come over . ”
5. Make it Personal
A frog statue , Susan ’s garden mascot , sits on an old tree diagram rostrum among Incrediball ® hydrangeas , Epimedium , hostas , and ostrich ferns . Photo by : Susan Martin .
Including this frog statue as her “ garden mascot ” is just one room Susan has made her garden infinite unambiguously hers . Because the salientian is in her front yard by the street , it also furnish passersby with a delightful detail to celebrate as they take the air by her household .
“ There are two family in the neighborhood with little boys who always occur by on their nightly paseo before bedtime to say goodnight to my toad , ” Susan says . She project to go forth it there when she moves next year so the children do n’t overleap it when she is go .
6. Brighten Up Shady Spots
In this plantation owner box on her patio , Susan packed in several spook - resistant stunners . Prolific Santa Cruz ® Begonia boliviensisoffers bright orange - red blooms , ColorBlaze ® Wicked Witch ™ and Wasabi coleus add color line while variegatedIresineand Heart of the Jungle ® Elephants Ear soar upwards above the combination . Photo by : Susan Martin .
Add color to darker area in your garden by sharpen on include ghost - tolerant plant with glossy foliation . “ I ’m a foliage screwball , ” Susan says . “ I tend to prefer plants for interesting foliage first and blossom second . Flowers are momentary while leafage is forever . ” She also points out that foliage industrial plant tend to not require as much fertilizer as bloom plant life — yet another advantage to focusing on foliage over flowers .
Here , in gain to flame nettle and elephant ’s ear , Susan has included a bloom plant that does particularly well in shade : Santa Cruz ® Begonia boliviensis . By livening up these shady maculation , which are often neglected in many gardens , you could make a striking sketch within your big garden .
And , keep an eye on along with Susan on Instagram@gardenersuesnewsand FacebookGardener Sue ’s News .
