Flowers are the paint on your canvas of green, and it's important to choose the right palette of colours when creating a beautiful garden. Follow these tips to design a garden that deviates from the standard display, and instead delights and surprises visitors with a dynamic showcase.
Avoid placing roses in a line, followed by a row of daisies and a row of lavender. A variety of flowers will stand out more, and complement one another, if you position them with a little imagination. For a creative and striking display of ornamental plants, position them under and around fruit trees.
Referred to as fruit tree guilds, these displays mimic patterns seen in nature, where bushes and shorter plants grow as undergrowth to trees.
The height and type of plants are also critical factors in creating a pleasing display. Combining plants of different height and using layers creates an effect that mimics a natural forest.
To ensure that each plant or flower will get the sunlight it desires, it is important to account for shade, sunlight, and time of day at which the plant is exposed to other weather-related elements. Some plants thrive in sunny settings, while others prefer cooler, shadier spots. Make sure you arrange your flowers and plants in conditions that suit them best.
Fungi, such as mushrooms, form what is called a mycelial network, which is a sort of web, one cell wall thick, that expands horizontally underground. These fungi ensure plants get the proper nutrients, including the sugars they derive from sunlight, and water, while breaking down decaying materials into reusable components.
By layering wood chips, leaves and twigs around your garden and sprinkling an edible, colonized mushroom substrate of your choice, you help the plants and soil and provide yet another beautiful, seasonal crop for your harvesting pleasure.
Choose ornamental plants that have fruits or leaves that can be eaten for a beautiful display that also pleases the palate. Herbs are a great example of this. Be sure to research the zone you live in and match it with the appropriate zone for each plant to ensure that the plants you choose will thrive, rather than struggle, in your climate.
In return, you'll enjoy beautiful flowers and glossy leaves, and depending on your choice, a tasty and nourishing treat. If you want to incorporate some edible bright colours, plant a lemon or lime tree.
In addition to checking planting zones, develop a plan for your garden, based on each plant's requirement. Fruit trees generally prefer full sun and grow tall. Perennial shrubs may grow to chest height without pruning, and can grow in partial shade.
Plants accustomed to living low to the ground will usually do well in the shade, but do some research to ensure that shady conditions are acceptable for the variety you choose.
