Design

Landscaping around a pool doesn’t have to be an elaborate project. A few poolside containers and decorative comforts are really all you need to add color and interest. Learn some easy and affordable ways to decorate around a pool, then jump into the swimming season with a festive splash!

For some homeowners, designing their own garden is intimidating. (Enter the professional.) But before you just pick any landscape designer out of the phone book, consider asking – and answering – some of these questions to help make the garden of your dreams a reality.

When a back yard hands you a chain-link fence, make a garden… Learn how one experienced home gardener fenced in a common design challenge by unleashing her imagination to create a beautiful landscape that’s off the chain.

Understanding how trees and shrubs can blend together to create layers is the first step in designing a landscape that brings depth, color and interest. Learn how to design a layered landscape – from picking the ideal trees and shrubs to getting your ideas down on paper.

Turn your back yard into a natural-looking woodland escape – and preserve the beauty of native plants in the process.

You can’t beat the convenience and freshness of your own culinary herb garden – and it’s not difficult to do. Just follow these simple steps to help get you started, then watch your gourmet garden – and menus – grow!

What’s a garden without the texture, color and beauty of trees and shrubs? Before you dig, you need to plan. The best way to start is to get the basics of your existing garden down. Learn some landscape design tips when it comes to planning for trees and shrubs.

Designing a perennial garden is fun and rewarding. Here are a few tips to help get your growing masterpiece on its way.

Large or small, great gardens start with getting your ideas down on paper. Once you’ve got your property plotted out, you can lift the lid on your imagination so your garden can grow to its fullest potential – and your heart’s desire!

Fabulous garden planning can be as easy as jumping online! Here’s how one professional landscape designer uses the “swatch board” concept of the interior decorating trade to create her beautiful plantings. Try it yourself – and create your own spectacular garden with year-round interest.

Gardening with native plants is easy and rewarding. Site selection and plant selection are key factors in getting started.

Don’t know where to start with your garden design? Take some tips from professional designer, Tres Fromme. By putting your plantings where you can see and enjoy them most, you can turn a pretty garden into a beautiful part of your everyday life!

Winter’s the perfect time to plan your garden for the season ahead. Spend those chilly months with the right tools, time and a little research, then come spring you’ll be ready to jump right in with your design – and make this your best growing season yet!

Planted in particular patterns, knot gardens evoke romance and allure, and the amazing textures and colors of today’s plant palette help produce some outstanding designs. Check out what designer Tammy Clayton has created, or invent your own designs. Either way, the knot garden is one style sure to delight!

Selling your house? Remember, first impressions are important, and your landscape speaks volumes for the rest of your home. Set your house apart from the rest on the sales block by giving it loads of curb appeal – you’ll be surprised at the difference a garden upgrade can make!

Even if it’s late in the evening before you can sit back and relax, the moon garden gives busy homeowners the chance to enjoy nature – even in the dark – with white-flowering and fragrant plants.

Longing for a tropical getaway? Plan one for your own back yard! Create a cozy spot, add some lush palms and beautiful tropical bloomers, and you’ll be set to enjoy the tropics all season long – without even getting on a plane!

Who says you have to plant your vegetables in straight rows?! With a little planning, you can create gorgeous kitchen gardens that’ll rival the beauty of your flower beds and produce plenty of tasty treats to enjoy almost year-round!

If you’re a do-it-yourselfer in need of a little garden-design guidance, a garden coach may be the solution. These experts guide their clients in design concepts, plant recommendations and planting tasks – leaving all digging for the gardener. Here’s how one garden coach led her garden-dreaming team to victory.

Successful gardens start with the garden design basics. Whether you decide to use a computer or prefer to draw your garden design on paper, mapping out your shade garden design is the best way to ensure you’ll have a beautiful shady space you’ll enjoy.

A small garden is like a snapshot: You see it all at once. There really isn’t room for errors, but don’t be overwhelmed. The best way to design a beautiful, personal space is just to follow this easy rule: Keep it simple.

Designing your own garden may sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Use these basic principles to pull your landscape together and tell a beautiful story with grace and style.

Don’t know exactly how you want your garden to grow? Try out different designs right on your lawn with surveyor’s flags and paint. By “drawing” your beds on the grass, you can experiment to see which design looks best and meets all your outdoor living needs!

Trees and shrubs make for wonderful borders and hedges, but proper spacing is the key for a successful planting. Learn the right way to plan for a living border – and how to design one for your own garden.