Four Great Garden Plans

Entry Garden

Create a striking focal point at both ends of your front yard walkway using shrubs or mounding perennials. Consider dwarf conifers, clusters of ornamental grasses, or a neatly trimmed hydrangea for added interest.

The plants you select for your front path will establish the mood for your entry garden. For a formal appearance, maintain a healthy lawn and border the walkway with a manicured boxwood hedge. If you prefer a colorful, traditional garden, replace the lawn with densely planted perennial borders and line the walkway with a creeping groundcover like mint or thyme.

Water Garden

Planning a water garden is similar to planning a traditional flower border. First, ensure your water garden is in a spot that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Next, choose a variety of plants that complement each other in color, height, and bloom time.

Water plants are generally categorized into four groups: oxygenating, bog, floating, and water lily. Among these, oxygenating plants like anacharis, water milfoil, or cabomba are likely the most crucial as they provide oxygen for aquatic animals and compete with algae for carbon dioxide. Plant these at the bottom of your pond. Bog plants such as Lobelia cardinalis, papyrus, and cattail add interest, color, and height to your water garden, preferring to grow in the shallow water along the pond's edge. Floating plants like duckweed, water lettuce, and floating fern will cover the pond's surface, providing shade and controlling algae. The crowning glory of any water garden, water lilies, should be planted 6 inches below the surface.

Herb Garden

Who can resist the delightful scents and subtle colors of an herb garden? If the idea of garden-fresh spices and drying your own herbs appeals to you, then it's time to design your herb garden.

Start by finding a sunny spot with good drainage. If your yard is mostly shaded, you can still grow herbs in containers that can be moved to sunny areas. Choose herbs based on your interests. Avid cooks might prefer culinary herbs such as sage, fennel, or basil. For a fragrant retreat, plant drifts of lavender, spearmint, or scented geraniums. If you're interested in home remedies, consider planting traditional medicinal herbs like chamomile, lemon balm, or comfrey.

Wildlife Garden

Attract birds and butterflies to your yard by designing your garden with their needs in mind. Even a small corner of your garden can become a mini wildlife haven.

Before planting, it's a good idea to do some research. Discover which birds or butterflies are native to your area and plant accordingly. If hummingbirds frequent your neighborhood, plant bright, tube-shaped flowers like trumpet vine, red salvia, or bee balm. Butterflies are drawn to plants like buddleia, zinnia, parsley, tithonia, and sedum. To attract songbirds, include plants that produce seeds and berries, as well as shrubs, vines, and trees.