How to Create a Monochromatic Garden

For a feeling of serenity and calm in your garden, consider planting a monochromatic or single-color garden. The overall impact can be astounding and can create a great harmonious effect. The following steps give you some tips for creating a monochromatic garden.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paving materials
• Mulch
• Plants
• Rocks

1. Consider if your garden will be mostly shaded or in the bright sun. If the garden is mostly guarded by shade, choose pastel colors or white to brighten it up. If the garden is mostly in the sun, choose bright and vivid colors that won't fade out, such as red or orange.

2. Think about the effects that you can achieve with the use of the right color. Choose cool colors like green and blue for tranquility or bright colors like red and orange for more exhilaration and vibrancy.

3. Use a wide variety of shades and tints within the color. Shade refers to the consistency of black or white in the color. For example, you can pair a pale blue with a darker blue. Tint refers to a color moving one way or the other on the color wheel. Examples are violet-blue and green-blue.

4. Create visual interest with the wide range of possibilities with texture. Use plants of differing heights and shapes to create an interesting texture throughout the entire garden.

5. Include the other elements of the garden in the color scheme. These may include rocks, mulch and paving materials. If you plant a garden entirely in shades of red and pink, consider using rose-colored stones for a pathway.