Garden Design Trends Change

As any garden lover knows, "perennial" refers to more than just a type of flower. It also is indicative of many things related to gardening—a perennial fight to keep the weeds and pests out, a perennial hope each spring that our garden will be larger, healthier, and more vibrant than the season before, and a perennial love of nurturing the plants that bring us so much joy.

Spring is a time for renewal and growth—a time to put our winter planning to work! With such a tremendous palette of flower choices and garden décor available each year, where do we begin?

Garden Planning & Design

Randomly scattering seeds and waiting to see which flowers emerge is a trends that is long gone—except, of course, for wildflower gardens. The chaotic nature of the wildflower look has been replaced with planned sections and patterns, coordinated colors and hues. The overall effect of the garden plays a significant role in all choices of plants and garden decor.

If you prefer a garden that invigorates and energizes you the moment you see it—then vibrant reds, oranges, pinks and yellows are the palette for you. However, if you prefer your garden as a relaxing escape from the harried world around you, shades of blues, greens, lavenders and pastels will better suit your style.

Another important consideration is whether you prefer a path meandering through your blooms, or possibly a sitting area deep among the foliage. Will it be made of pebbles, shredded bark, moss covered stones, or maybe sand? These are all elements of your garden you will want to ponder in the planning stage.

Garden Décor

There are no rules that say a garden design must only include flowers and shrubs, in fact, an interesting garden that draws visitors back time and again has much more to offer. Focal points which coordinate with the overall feel of your garden, as well as add interest in unexpected areas enhance enjoyment of your garden immensely.

Garden decor may include planters, benches, stepping stones, garden statues, birdbaths, or windchimes to add beautiful tunes to your gardening experience. Garden decor should enhance and complement your plants and flowers—always chosen carefully to suit the size, style and feel of your garden landscape.

Color, Color, Color!

According to Pantone’s Color Institute and The Color Factory (both professional color analysis experts), the trend in 2004 is bold, playful, lush and spirited. Timid colors are out and colors that get noticed are in. Vibrant reds and any shade of blue are the popular colors of the season.

Garden design trends change each year but the fundamentals stay the same. Experiment with new color combinations, try some plants you've never grown before and add your own personal style to your garden with your favorite outdoor decor. Each season is an opportunity to enjoy your garden anew!