The Best Garden Ideas

Mix the best garden ideas together to create a personal statement in your landscaping design.

The best garden ideas for your yard depend on your location's climate and soil conditions. Another consideration in how you choose to landscape is the time and energy you're willing to spend on maintenance. Although creating a garden that flourishes is a project that requires effort, most gardeners would agree that it's worth the investment.

Flowers

Plant your favorite flowers.

When planting flower gardens, pay attention to what soil conditions and sunlight needs the plants have. Consider how the flowers will look from all angles from the outside and from the inside of your home. Plan your flower beds by viewing them from outdoor living spaces, through windows -- as well as from the road in front of your home. Choose colors that complement the rest of your landscaping design and your home's exterior. Other flower garden ideas include planting a rainbow of colors for a bright punch or thematic colors, such as your favorite sports team's hues.

Vegetables

Get the whole family involved in growing nutritious and delicious food.

Have fresh homegrown foods right from your own garden. Plant a smaller garden for a fall harvest treat -- and invest in canning and freezing supplies to enjoy your hard work all year long. Choose a spot in your yard that gets ample sunlight, at least six to eight hours a day. Test your soil to ensure it has the right amount of nutrients for successful growth of a vegetable garden. Make a list of what your family likes to eat, and order those seeds. A first-time vegetable gardener should stay away from hard-to-grow veggies like lettuce or cauliflower. Concentrate your efforts on simpler vegetables such as carrots, peas or beans. Instead of planting your vegetables in separate rows, consider the option of companion gardening. The theory of companion gardening is that when you establish different types of plants right next to each other, they share the required nutrients with one another for better growth. Evidence of farmers using companion gardening techniques date back to ancient Roman times. For example, plant flowers next to your food crops to attract beneficial insects and birds. Another option is to plant sweet basil among all of your vegetables. It acts as a fungicide and repels pests such aphids, mites and mosquitoes.

Herbs

Have fresh herbs at your fingertips.

Grow an herb garden if you love to cook or create home remedies. Choose one of the over 70 culinary, aromatic, ornamental and medicinal herbs available. If this is your first attempt at growing an herb garden, stick to a few basic varieties and add more as your knowledge and confidence grow. Start out with the strong herbs for cooking, such as wintergreen or sage, and the blending herbs of chives and parsley. Medicinal herbs include rosemary for headaches or lavender for stress relief.

Rocks

Rock gardens are low-maintenance ways to add visual interest to your landscaping design.

Rock gardens offer the opportunity for interesting displays and require little upkeep. They're a good fit for someone who wants a landscaped look for their yard but doesn't have a lot of extra time to take care of it. According to the University of Wisconsin, rock garden ideas have been a part of horticulture since the late 19th century. Use boulders, polished river rocks and other decorative stones to create pathways, interesting rings around trees and borders for plants or sitting areas.

Water Gardens

Create your own tropical oasis right in your backyard.

Choose a water garden if you have a lot of time and energy to spend on gardening responsibilities. Ponds, fountains and miniature waterfalls add plenty of drama and color to your landscaping design. Options include floating plants such as lotus, as well as floral blooms such as lilies. Choose water garden plants carefully, taking time to research their care and needs before you buy.

References

• Cornell University: Flower Garden Design Basics
• Illinois University: Vegetable Gardening Basics
• Seeds of Change: Companion Gardening
• West Virginia University Extension Service: Growing Herbs in the Home Garden
• University of Wisconsin: Rock Gardens
• Texas AgriLife Extension: Watergardening

Resources

• USF: Medicinal Plant Garden
• Stanford University: Garden Pests
• Colorado State University: Animal Pests in the Garden
• University of Rhode Island: Deer in the Garden