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Photo Credit: Courtesy of Waterworks Visual Art, Salisbury, NC

Similar patterns in a hardscape of wrought iron and brick pavers provide a unified setting for this lovely statue.

You’ve probably heard some of the terms before: unity, repetition, balance, proportion, rhythm, transitions, interest and simplicity – it almost sounds as if you’re choreographing a dance instead of planning a garden. Nevertheless, these lofty ideals really are easy to achieve. Just break them down into your own story. You get to decide if it’s funny, dramatic, romantic or all of the above.

Here’s how:

Unity is your reason for telling the story, and it sets the stage for eager ears to listen to what you have to say in your garden. Once you establish a theme, concept or activity, unity lets everyone know what your garden’s purpose is, and the rest of your design will flow much easier.  With unity, you create a bond between your home and your new design by using a common element throughout your landscape. This could be something simple, like patio pavers that mirror the pattern of your exterior walls or an arbor made from the same wood as your fencing. Uniting such materials creates an “outdoor room” and expands your living space.

Repetition means adding a few more elements so you can continue to tell the story without changing its meaning. As you duplicate certain plants throughout your garden, you build a sense of consistency and reliable comfort. These plants are your story’s main characters, making your tale more interesting and easier to understand.