If having a beautiful garden is your biggest dream then avoid doing these 9 landscaping mistakes when designing a garden.Mistake 1: Arranging everything in a single view
Why should you avoid this? When the view is blocked and you can’t see everything in one go it creates an illusion of more space and interest. What you should do! If your garden is open and you have not divided it into different sections, it is going to look less interesting and small. Draw your plan in advance and divide the space of your garden within it in different sections. You do not need to create solid divisions in your garden like a wall or fence, you can do this with large trees, shrubs that can block a certain part, grasses or potted plants densely arranged. Mistake 2: Not making a plan Why should you avoid this? If you’re going to start designing a garden without a plan, you’ll not be going to get what you’ve thought or imagined in your mind. What you should do! Plan every aspect of your garden on the paper, take help of landscaping software and make a list of plants you would like to grow. Do proper research and make a budget. If necessary, take help of professionals. Mistake 3: Forgetting the furniture Why should you avoid this? Many gardeners tend to forget about furniture. They choose furniture of different styles that are too colorful and fancy this makes the garden look busy and without the symphony. What you should do! Not only the plants but also the furniture and materials you choose automatically give an atmosphere to your garden. Take great care to the type of plants and materials you will use. Buy all your furniture together of the same style to create harmony. Do not mix! Mistake 4: Avoiding the Foliage
Why should you avoid this? Most of us buy plants for flowers and fruits, avoiding the foliage plants. But to get a year round interest buy more foliage plants. What you should do! Buy plants for their foliage–texture, color, shape– their leaves are what you are going to see most of the year. Mistake 5: Excessive ornamentation and so many garden accessories Why should you avoid this? This is one of the most common garden design mistakes. Using too many decorative items in the garden creates a distraction and makes your garden look cluttered and busy. What you should do! Do not overdo anything. Add a whim to your garden but avoid adding so many decorative items. Before adding anything see how it fits with the style of your garden  and outdoor space. Mistake 6: Forgetting the view from inside Why should you avoid this?  Getting a good view of the garden from the windows is important. When designing a garden don’t forget its view you’ll get from the inside. What you should do! Before planting or placing your containers at the exact spot, go inside and look from every window to see how it’ll look to get a good view. Mistake 7: So many colors
Why should you avoid this? So many colors that are not in harmony can cause a distraction. What you should do! Decide a color palette for every section of your garden and add plants according to it. So many colors together can create a chaos. Mistake 8: Ignoring the seasons Why should you avoid this? Every garden looks beautiful in spring and summer (in winter in tropics) but you should not forget about fall and winter. What you should do! Plan to grow plants with regard to the seasons for a year round interest. When you go to a nursery don’t just buy plants for the following season. Mistake 9: Growing wrong plants in wrong positions Why should you avoid this? This one of the most common gardening mistakes that must be avoided. Not growing right plants in a right position will make all of your plants to die eventually. What you should do! Grow plants that are most suitable for your climate and weather and conditions you have in your garden is important. For example, plants that require full should be grown in a sunny position, plants that require dry soil must not be grown in moist soggy soil and so on. Also, at the time of planting, give them recommended space. Don’t forget that they’ll become tall and spread once you plant them.

Look at these terrace and balcony garden designs and planting ideas for inspiration.Balcony Garden Designs1. A Balcony garden full of greenery
This apartment balcony in Paris, Belleville, a is made into an urban jungle. Ideal to take fresh breakfasts and lunches, table and chairs are surrounded by lush vegetation of fast-growing, low care plant species: Fatsia japonica with the large glossy leaves (erroneously referred as castor oil plant), golden bamboo (phyllostacys aurea) that is covering the space tightly and kōwhai (sophora tetraptera) a plant coming from New Zealand. Also, the Eden rose is adding a charming touch of color. If you are concerned about the privacy in your balcony, you can grow similar plants. Also Read: Covering a balcony for privacy 2. A Rustic balcony
This large balcony has a garden in the bohemian style. Most of the plants that are grown are wild and grow like weeds require minimal maintenance. On the railing, railing planters are installed. Along the railing, below, the planters are lined with big stones in which wildflowers are planted. Grasses as they are easy to grow, are planted and along with the plants that are resistant to cold, wind and drought. Vegetation, natural stones, and accessories are transforming the space into a cozy outdoor living place that is very natural looking and rustic. 3. A Balcony Jungle

You love to garden but don’t find time to maintain it. Don’t bother, imply these easy landscaping tips to make a low maintenance garden.
Easy Landscaping Tips for a Low Maintenance Garden Unfortunately, there is no plant that is maintenance-free and every garden requires regular care and seasonal cleanup work. However, by making some changes you can reduce your efforts. Grow plants that are low maintenance 1. So what are the plants that do not require special care? The answer is simple, native plants and the plants that are most suitable for your climate and growing conditions you have for them in your garden. 2. For a low maintenance garden, you’ll have to do a sacrifice. Instead of exotic plants, choose indigenous species, preferably those that occur naturally around your area. Such plants are easy to adapt, tough and resilient and will grow well even without special attention. Group plants according to their requirements 3. Group plants according to their requirements at the right location, plants that require full sun or shade must be planted carefully together. Plants that require moist soil must not be planted with the ones that have low watering needs. 4. Give preference to drought tolerant plants as they require less watering. Also, the plants that grow slowly are a good option as they need less pruning. Those plants that spread widely must be planted too as they cover space, which means fewer plants. Also, don’t forget about the plants that resist pests and diseases. Plant conifers 5. There are a variety of conifers that do not shed their needles in the winter, so in this period when everything seems dull they will look good in your garden. Conifers do not require regular care from pests too. Opt for perennials 6. Instead of sowing seeds of annual plants routinely, opt for perennials. You will only need to do deadheading and pruning sometimes. Once grown, most of the perennials do well with infrequent watering. These plants are also quite resistant to pests than annuals. If you would like to grow annuals, grow the ones that are self-seeding and require less care. No lawn please!
7. If you want a low care garden, avoid having a lawn. Instead, design a rock garden there or plan something unique. Plant a flower bed or grow lawn alternatives. Growing ground covers, small shrubs, and bushes is also a good idea. You can also create a wildflower meadow there, this will give a chance to wildlife to thrive. Don’t overcrowd your garden 8. Plant moderately, don’t overcrowd your garden. The more plants you have, the more your garden will require treatment and attention. Do something about watering 9. An indispensable solution may be the automatic irrigation system, which practically does not require maintenance, it allows to save time so that you would have to spend on watering the garden. Garden is irrigated by sprinklers or drip irrigation lines. The system is activated at a time you set and dispense the correct amount of water to particular groups of plants. 10. Automated watering system may be expensive, however, there are a few more hacks that can save your time like growing drought tolerant plants or those that prefer dry soil. 11. Large shrubs, long living trees, fruit plants once become established get water from nature and require watering sparingly. Also, you can replace your ordinary containers with self-watering ones. Use slow release fertilizers 12. Slow release fertilizers limit the use of frequent fertilization. In addition, in the long run, they provide the plants the amount of nutrients they need, gradually. Do mulching
13. Mulching is the part of easy landscaping. Do mulching everywhere, this will help in keeping the soil moist, water will evaporate less and roots will get ample moisture. Also, thick mulching (2-3 inches at least) helps in eliminating weeds. Around your garden beds, you can also cover the soil with pebbles and gravels. This will make your garden more attractive and it works as a mulch too. 14. You can also cover the empty space of your garden with sun blocking plastic sheeting, it may not look good but doesn’t allow weed seeds to germinate and spread.

Add a unique touch of color and drama to your garden by adding black flowers and plants. These plants can also be grown in containers. First thing first, black plants are not really black, but dark purple, deep burgundy, maroon or red. These type of flowers and plants of black color can transform any garden or container garden in an exquisite way, they add a tropical touch and look exceptional when grown with other bright colored plants. 1. Tulip ‘Queen of Night’
Beautiful and dramatic, this tremendous closest to black flower appears in deep maroon color in spring. This variety can be mixed with white or pink tulips or other bright colored flower to create an astonishing view. Good thing is that it is a low maintenance plant and usually easy to grow, that makes it a good plant for beginners. This fairly cold hardy plant blooms in mid or late spring under USDA Zones 3 to 8. 2. Petunia, Sophistica Blackberry Hybrid
Newly engendered varieties like ‘Black Velvet Petunia’ or ‘Black Cat Petunia’ look almost black but it may be hard and expensive to find their seeds. However, beautiful petunia, ‘Sophistica blackberry’ is an easier option. The dark flowers of this annual are actually deep reddish or burgundy in color and can be grown in window boxes, pots, beds and borders. 3. Helleborus ‘Onyx Odyssey’
The dark burgundy or nearly black hellebores are highly appreciated for their color. This lovely perennial can easily be grown in containers in part to full sun. Provide good air circulation around the plant and keep the soil well moist. Grows best in USDA zones 5-9 hellebores are early bloomers and flower in spring. 4. Viola ‘Molly Sanderson’
Violas ‘Molly Sanderson’ are another excellent option to enjoy flowers in black color, can be grown in both on the ground or in containers, flowers appear from spring to fall. They are very good around pale yellow primroses or multicolor pansies. 5. Iris ‘Before the Storm’
Irises are widely used in gardens and are available in almost every color imaginable, including chocolate and this new variety ‘Before the Storm’ of black color. This slightly fragrant iris requires a sunny position and well-drained soil in order to grow. 6. Physocarpus Opulifolius ‘Diabolo’ syn. ‘Monlo’
A versatile and appealing shrub with white flowers and deep burgundy foliage that looks black in shade or in dark. It is easy to grow and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, it grows best in USDA Zones 2-7 and must be planted in an area of partial shade in warmer zones due to the reason that in higher heat the foliage can become green. 7. Black Baccara Rose
This dramatic tea rose due to its bold color and upright habit looks stunning, it is one of the best black flowers. Its almost black color and fragrant blooms make an amazing display in the garden. The leathery green foliage are reddish when young. The flowers appear blacker in cool weather. 8. Hollyhock ‘Nigra’
Hollyhocks are beautiful, they look exceptional when flowers appear on their tall strong stems. But, particularly, this unique variety hollyhock, Alcea rosea ‘Nigra’ bears breathtaking chocolate maroon flowers that look almost black towards the center. Hollyhocks are old traditional plants, easy to grow and grow in a variety of climates easily (both in cool and warm climates in USDA Zones 3-10a). Hollyhocks are old traditional plants, easy to grow and grow in a variety of climates easily (both in cool and warm climates in USDA Zones 3-10a). 9. Wine and Roses (Weigela florida)
This variety of Weigela is sold as ‘Wine and Roses’ or ‘Alexandra’, it offers a surprising combination of flowers in pink tones immersed in a deep burgundy foliage, looks black like. Suitable for cold climates, it likes full sun but tolerates some light shade too, this small shrub can also be grown in containers; easy to grow and bloom profusely in spring or early summer and continue to bloom throughout the summer season. 10. Black Beauty ‘Elderberry’
Another excellent choice within our list of black flowers and plants is Sambucus nigra ‘Gerda’, valued for its purple-black foliage, pink flowers, and juicy edible fruits. Elderberry can be used to add foliage interest in the garden but it looks especially wonderful when its flowers appear in summer. These flowers cover the plant and emit a light lemon like fragrance, then, the dark purple berries appear. 11. Calla Lily ‘Black Star’
One of the most decorative flowers the ‘Black Star’ bloom is deep purple with a spathe that is almost black, it looks attractive in combination with light green foliage spotted with red tips. It can be planted in containers, in the garden border. 12. Black Mondo Grass
A wonderful alternative for warm climates in rock gardens, borders or in a pot. The ‘black mondo grass’ grows about 12 inches tall and can extend up to 6-12 inches wide. In spring, the new dark green foliage emerges and then in summer it changes into a very deep purple-black. Also by mid-summer tiny bell-shaped white flowers appear, followed by small black seeds. 13. Aeonium Arboreum
This subtropical subshrub is an impressive and dramatic plant. This tall succulent has rosettes of dark reddish brown or burgundy leaves and yellow flowers that appear from summer through fall. The plant is more suitable to warm climates and should be protected in winters in cold climates. 14. Canna- Black Tropicanna
Bring a tropical touch with this plant to your garden. With its bright flowers and dark bronze to chocolate color large foliage, it can bring a great impact to your garden. More suitable for warmer zones, it must be planted in an area that receives at least six hours of daily sun. 15. Dahlia ‘Arabian Night’
Dahlias become most beautiful cut flowers. This cultivar dahlia ‘Arabian night’ has deep purple-red flowers. The flowers look black like in shade. Growing dahlia requires full sun, however, shade in the afternoon in warm climates is preferable. 16. Colocasia ‘Black Magic’
Colocasia ‘black magic’ is an astonishing plant that can be identified from its dramatic large and dark purple-black dusty leaves. This ‘Elephant Ear’ requires warmth and heat to thrive as it is a tropical plant and grows best in warm temperates and subtropical to tropical climates (USDA Zones 8-11). But even living in colder areas, you can enjoy this as an annual. It is a great idea to use it as a focal point by surrounding bright and colorful plants around it. 17. Coleus ‘Black Prince’
The coleus is one of the most widespread species and most popular when it comes to choosing striking foliage plants for the garden. The coleus ‘Black Prince’ can be grown for its unusual solid black foliage and small flowers, either as a perennial in warm subtropical or tropical regions or as an annual in temperates. It is a perfect plant for borders and can be used in combinations with other plants in containers. Also Read: Heat Tolerant Flowers 18. Silver-Laced Primrose (Primula ‘Victoriana Lace Silver Black’)
Beautiful! This gorgeous flower is one of the rarest and difficult to obtain Primulas. It produces flowers of black-brown color with a scalloped silver edges and a golden center. Blooms are fragrant and appear in spring. This plant can be grown in cool and warm temperate regions (USDA Zones 5-9), it prefers partial shade and moist soil. 19. Heuchera ‘Obsidian’
Also called ‘Obsidian Coral Bells’ it is one of the most beautiful black color plants in our list that you can grow in borders, in flower beds or in containers to add an all season foliage interest to your garden. Its tiny flowers are also attractive, this plant requires cool weather and partial shade to thrive. 20. Bat Flower
Tacca bat flower (Tacca chantieri) is really a unique, rare and exotic flower that mimics a bat in flight. The plant requires warm subtropical or tropical weather in order to grow outside, in a cold climate you can grow it outside.

If you love to have a tropical garden like setup and you live in a cold climate then grow these cold hardy tropical plants to create a tropical garden in a cold climate. The best thing about the plants we’ve listed here is that most of them can be grown in containers too. Cold Hardy Tropical PlantsBamboos
Bamboos grow best in warm tropical climate but there are many cold hardy varieties available that you can try under USDA Zones 5-9. To find out the cultivars check out this post on Gardening Know How. Colocasia
Colocasia “Pink China” is one of the hardiest varieties. You can grow it in cold climate down to USDA zones 7 and even zone 6 outdoors on the ground. On the onset of winter mulch heavily with organic matter around the roots of the plant and keep the soil little dry to overwinter it. Hibiscus
The reason behind the popularity of hibiscus is they are easy to grow and successfully thrive not only in tropics but also in cooler regions. Cold hardy hibiscus hybrids are grown as far north as zone 4. American Meadows has hibiscus varieties for you. Bird of Paradise
Grow giant bird of paradise (Strelitzia Nicolai) to add drama to your garden. It will give you a real tropical feel. However, bird of paradise grows best in subtropical and tropical climate (USDA Zones 9-11) and you’ll need to grow it in a pot if you live in a temperate region. Palms
Needle palm, windmill palm, sago palm are grown in cold climates. Here’s a list of hardiest palms to check. Canna
Canna can be grown in pots and on the ground easily. Probably they are one of the easiest tropical plants that you can grow. Growing canna will provide you a great foliage show and gaudy flowers and to get that all you have to do is to mulch heavily around the base in winter. You can try growing canna down to USDA Zone 6. Hardy Banana (Musa basjoo)
Banana trees add a tropical touch to any garden. You can even grow them in containers. This cold hardy banana cultivar called “Musa basjoo” can be grown in USDA Zones 5-11. Hostas
Hostas are great groundcover with the foliage that comes in a variety of shades, they look nice. Grow them in USDA Zones 3-10 in shade or partial shade and provide regular watering. Ferns
Ferns can be a great addition to your garden to give it a tropical look. Some of the most cold hardy ferns that you can grow are Western maidenhair fern, Lady fern, Christmas fern, Western sword fern, and Common polypody. Agapanthus
A beautiful and tough herbaceous perennial that grows in tropics and can be grown in temperates too. Introduce agapanthus in your garden to add a touch of blue-violet flowers and lush strap-like foliage. It is suitable for containers and borders. Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea is a very common plant in tropics. It is a sturdy perennial with lovely paper like flowers. However, bougainvillea is not as cold hardy as agapanthus but you can grow it in containers and move it inside in winters. Yucca
Beaked Yucca (Yucca Rostrata) is the best cold hardy yucca that you can grow outside in cold climates. It grows well in USDA Zones 5-11. To overwinter it, protection from moisture must be provided in the winters in the cooler zones. Mandevilla
In tropics, flowering vines grow in abundance. Bougainvillea, passiflora, Mandevilla, jasmine are a few names. Mandevilla is definitely not a cold hardy plant but you can overwinter it indoors by growing it in the container. Japanese silver grass
Japanese silver grass grows well in cool temperate regions in USDA zones 5-9. It is a tropical looking plant that can be a wonderful addition to your garden.

Don’t miss these 19 blazing tree stump planter ideas. A rigid, dead tree stump can become one of the assets of your garden, a striking focal point that can impress your guests. Often the gardeners face a common problem– what to do with the saw cut stumps of old or diseased trees. Uprooting them is a laborious task and also not cheap. In such a case, landscapers offer a variety of solutions. But you can solve it on your own by turning a stump into a tree stump planter. Also Read: How to Make a Tree Stump Planter Here in this post, you’ll find 19 blazing tree stump planter ideas that’ll entice you to have one in your gardenPlants for a Tree Stump Planter

You can create a fabulous planter out of a tree stump. Plants you grow in it may not necessarily be flowering and colorful ones. It can be a climbing plant, creating a great frame around the stump or even moss, if it is in a shade you can choose interesting foliage plants that thrive in less sunlight.
Pick plants that are suitable to the style of your garden. It can either be a few blooming or grassy species. Petunias, nasturtiums, pansies or whatever you like.
Ferns, a variety of wildflowers, cornflower, marigolds, phlox, there are so many options. You can grow other plants around it. This tree stump planter will not go unnoticed and become one of the most beautiful focal points of your garden.
Whatever plant you choose to grow in your tree stump planter but remember, shallow root plants are most successful in it. Tree Stump Planter Ideas#1. Tree Stump Planter
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Learn about the Feng Shui plants and how to make a Feng Shui garden in this informative article. You can also make changes in your existing garden according to the feng shui. Start with the parts of your garden you would like to change, grow the Feng Shui plants there and apply the principles given below and see how it works. What is Feng Shui Feng Shui is an art of reaching harmony in life, a practice that comes from the China. It is believed that if a place (home, garden, office or anywhere) is arranged according to the Feng Shui guidelines it remains, prosperous, peaceful and harmonious.
Principles of a Feng Shui Garden A Feng Shui garden is a garden that is arranged in 9 areas or zones. Each represents a universe, a realm of life through forms, objects and colors. The Feng Shui garden must respect nature and be in harmony with it. The 5 Elements
In Feng Shui, there are five basic elements– Fire, Water, Metal, Earth and Wood. They maintain harmony in the world around us and influence our lives. Therefore, in the feng shui garden design, these five elements must have to be in order in their zones. Divison According to the Feng Shui practice, the garden (or a home) must be divided into the nine energy zones. Draw a free-flowing square similar to the shape of your garden and divide that square into 9 equal parts. The map will begin from your garden gate, consider the direction of your gate as North and align the feng shui map (bagua) according to it. The central area or zone will be called Tai Chi (the source of energy and life). The other eight areas or zones will surround this. Dividing Garden into Nine Feng Shui Zones
Each zone represents an area of life and you must give space to the appropriate elements there. North The North is the zone that represents the fame, career and the flow and mystery of life. It symbolizes the winter season. It must have to be in the front of the entrance. Its dominant element is water and its color is blue, violet, black, and other dark colors. The shape is sinuous and items to integrate here are a water feature or pond, rocks, water plants, dark foliage plants and blue flowers. North East The Northeast represents wisdom and knowledge. The dominating element here is the earth and its colors are yellow, orange and cream. The shape is square. Garden benches, pots, and statues can be placed here. As the Northeast direction represents the wisdom, it is the place for meditation and yoga. North West Northwest part symbolizes support, friendship, guidance and represents the fall season. The dominant element here is metal and the colors to be there mainly are white, gray, golden brown, and silver. Plants like jasmine, gardenia or magnolia can be planted here. Rocks, gravels, and metallic objects are best suited here. South
The South is the direction of success and fame and represents the summer. The dominant element here is fire and the main colors here are red, orange, purple and pink. Plants that have red or other similar colors like orange, pink, crimson, purple must be grown there. The shape of the South zone is the triangle. South East South East symbolizes the wealth and represents the season spring. Its dominant element is wood and its color is green and brown. You can grow here the plants that are related to this color. South West
The South West is the zone that symbolizes love, pureness, and attraction between a couple. The dominant element here is Earth and the colors are to be yellow, orange, pink and other. The shape of the Southwest area is square and in this area you have to keep your garden furniture and objects in pairs to symbolize the parity. East This zone represents health and the season spring. Its dominant element is wood whose color is green (symbol of harmony and balance). Its shape is the rectangle. This is the area where you can grow medicinal plants, herbs, foliage plants and large trees like palms, plums, and bamboos. West This is the family area. Its main element is metal and its color is white (that symbolizes purity, freshness, and harmony). You can also use the gray and silver color here. The shape of the West Zone is the circle. Put some pots, chimes, rocks and wrought iron furniture. Plant shrubs here. Grow flowers of different colors together with whiter ones. Magnolia, jasmine, and lily of the valley are perfect for this area. Central zone Keep the central zone open and less cluttered as it is the most prominent point. This is the Tai Chi area. The key element here is earth and its color is yellow. This area represents the unity, harmony and balance. It connects all areas of the Feng Shui garden. This should be kept clean and maintained regularly. Feng Shui Garden Design
A Feng Shui garden should not be overloaded, otherwise, Chi (energy of life) will circulate poorly. Keep the design simple. To maintain the flow of energy, you must promote movement in the garden. Make curved paths and edgings. Invite butterflies, bees, and birds. Put feeders, grow fruit trees and flowers to attract them. Furthermore, statues and sculptures also attract positive energy. Their size must be proportional to the garden. The large pots and urns are the holders of luck and abundance. So prefer the larger ones. Water is an essential element in the Feng Shui garden. It is a symbol of prosperity. It takes place in the form of stream, waterfall or pond and it must be there in the appropriate zone. The garden must be open, full of brightness and natural light. Walkways and entrances must not be blocked by any object or a tree. To bring nature, large rocks and gravels must be used. Feng Shui Garden Plants According to Elements
The Feng Shui garden is full of positive energy and provides the perfect harmony of all the five elements. The plants you grow in your garden must be according to these elements. We offer you some examples of the plants that best represent the five elements. A Few Popular Feng Shui PlantsBambooPeonyMaple TreePlumOrchidChrysanthemumIrisLilyLotusDaffodilMagnoliaJasmineGardeniaPine TreeCitrusGrassesElement 1. FireFeng Shui garden: Plants that represent the Fire
In general, plants with red bark and foliage or those with triangular or conical leaves represent the element fire. One of the most popular and the most beautiful examples of this is Japanese Maple tree (Acer palmatum). Japanese red cedar (Cryptomeria Japonica), red camellia, boxwood shrub, holly, peonies, geraniums are other preferred Feng Shui plants that represent the fire. Japanese Maple
Red camellia
Element 2. WaterPlants that represent water element
The color of the water element is blue, violet, black. Plants of these colors represent the water element. Here are some examples: Snake’s beard, Heuchera, taro (Colocasia esculenta), sweet potato vine, iris, lily, and lotus. Heuchera Micrantha
Sweet Potato Vine
Element 3. MetalPlants that represent the metal
Plants that represent the metal in the Feng Shui garden are mainly those with the round or oval leaves and white flowers or of light golden brown colors. Plants like white hydrangeas, rhododendron, many species of hostas, gardenias, white mums, jasmine and dogwood tree represent the metal. Hosta
Dogwood Tree
Hydrangea
Element 4. EarthPlants that represent the Earth
Plants with yellow flowers with similar colors or of earthy tones, those with square shaped foliage represent the Earth element in Feng Shui garden. A few of these plants that represent earth elements are Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’, Japanese laurel (Aucuba japonica), rhododendron, river birch (Betula nigra), Ginkgo biloba tree and grasses such as miscanthus. Rhododendron ‘Admiral Semmes’
Miscanthus
Betula nigra
Aucuba japonica
Element 5. WoodPlants that represent wood in the garden
Plants with long thin stems and lush greenery such as Japanese bamboo (Pseudosasa Japonica), best represents the wood element in the Feng-shui garden. Palms, pine tree and other conifers, medicinal herbs and common lungwort (Pulmonaria Officinalis) are the plants well suited to represent the wood element in the garden. Rosemary

Corten steel landscaping is a new way to design a garden. Check these 16 ideas for inspiration.What is Corten Steel? Also called the weathering steel, cor-ten steel is maintenance free. It is developed to eliminate the need for painting. It is a group of steel alloys that form a stable rust-like appearance if exposed to the weather for several years. Read more about corten steel on Wikipedia. “By forming a film of dark brown oxidation over the metal, Cor-Ten successfully resists the corrosive effects of weather conditions such as rain, snow, ice, and fog. In this way, the protective layer prohibits deeper penetration of the elements and eliminates the need for painting and the expense of rust-prevention maintenance over the years, saving both money and time.” If you don’t know much about corten steel landscaping, read this informative post.
In the past, the rust was estimated as an avoidable and undesirable thing. But now with the use of corten steel, a rusted appearance is possible: A door or furniture, a garden fence or a railing made of corten steel is appreciated by the landscapers and designers, especially in contemporary gardens. Landscaping with Corten Steel Here you’ll find 16 creative and inspiring ideas related to Corten steel landscaping in the garden. 1. Corten Steel Fence
The Corten steel is a material with multiple applications both practical and aesthetic. For example, modern Corten steel fence can be made in large panels. A Corten steel fence like this will enhance the design of the exterior and make your time in the garden more enjoyable. It is very suitable for outdoor space and brings a touch of naturalness and modernity. 2. Corten steel fence and visual barrier
The protection and privacy are of the paramount importance. To protect yourself from prying eyes, fix a Corten steel barrier which, besides its decorative function, also acts as a fence. 3. The Corten steel in the garden – a material that has multiple applications
Corten steel has the appearance not only an aesthetic, but it is also resistant to atmospheric conditions. It is almost maintenance free. Under the top layer of rust, there is a special protective layer that prevents the corrosion in it. 4. Corten steel fence made of the reinforcing braided rods
A braided fence made of several reinforcing rods is used to replace the ordinary fence, without cluttering the garden and without reducing the ventilation. 5. Decorative corten steel fence
The Corten steel fence is the contemporary version of the metal fence. It is used with concrete or other material. 6. Corten steel garden gate, eye-catching
If you are looking for a catchy element with rustic style, get yourself a garden gate made of Corten steel to enhance the look of your outdoor space. These type of doors and gates are in fashion. What you have to do only is to choose the design that best fits for your garden. 7. Corton steel entrance door
Rusted door and clean floor do not match each other or quite the contrary? 8. Corton steel walkway
A corten steel walkway can be a good idea to implement. A rustic garden path will look good and be of low maintenance. 9. Corten steel risers to sublimate the steps of the outside staircase
The gross appearance of Corten steel is ideal for rock gardens. This material can be used as risers or for edging. 10. Veranda with a seemingly “rusty” landscape with cor-ten steel raised beds
Combine Corten steel and wood and you will not regret your choice. These materials combine wonderfully and create an atmosphere that is both rustic and modern. 11. Corten steel edging for landscaping
The role of garden borders is to separate the planting beds. Create a rusty steel edge that will be low maintenance too. 12. Corten steel raised beds for ornamental garden
Most of the modern gardens are landscaped with raised beds made of Corten steel, which house the ornamental plants and grasses. 13. Corten steel water feature
Get inspired by the design of this Corten steel water feature filled with rocks. The lush vegetation brings freshness and makes the garden a true paradise. 14. Garden sculpture
Such a sculpture made of corten steel can completely change the design of your garden. 15. Corten steel brazier or other accessories

If you have a yard or garden that is small and there is a problem of lack of space, must see our 5 #garden design ideas that can make a small garden look amazing and bigger. Even though you may long for a courtyard garden like the ones in magazines or on Pinterest, it can be quite daunting to actually design it, especially if you don’t know where to start. Luckily there are many resources online to help you turn that neglected small yard into a beautifully designed courtyard garden. Here are our five garden design ideas to get you started planning your dream courtyard. 1. Use Colours and Repetition to Add Depth When choosing colours, you want to pick ones that will add depth to the garden. You want to choose cool colours like blues and purples for the border because they blend into each other and create an illusion of a bigger space. Pick warm colours like orange, red and yellow to highlight the space.
Repeating certain colours will also tie the space together and have an impact on your yard. When choosing plants for a garden, make sure you choose ones that will fulfil their purpose in your space. Yes, choose #plants based on aesthetics. But consider what else space needs. Will you have time to look after high maintenance plants? Do you need shade? Make sure to get something that will have a lot of foliage. 2. Use Levels to Create Cosy Alcoves You may be thinking, I want my yard to look bigger, not smaller! There are plenty of ways to make a small yard or garden look bigger (some of them listed here) but this should not be your only goal when designing your small garden. Think about the purposes you want your small yard to fulfil. Do you want the space to be comfortable as well as being full of greenery and colour? Creating terraced areas will allow you to have the best of both worlds. You can use raised garden beds as individual spaces to take advantage of vertical space and bring your garden closer to eye level (more on that later). Spiral garden beds made using bricks are a functional and efficient way to utilise space. Also Read: How to make a spiral herb garden
3. Be Creative with Walkways We’ve all heard about how stripes can hurt us or help us in fashion, but what about having them in the garden? Paving and installing decking diagonally will give the illusion of more space. Using a diagonal path or an “S” curved path instead of a shorter, a straight walkway will elongate a path making the entire space feel bigger. Stepping stones can also be a good option for a smaller space. Being creative with walkways can also be more attractive and make a bigger impact. There are some beautiful ways to make your own stepping stones using pre-mix cement.
4. Make Use of Multi-Purpose Features If you want space for entertaining or enjoying your expertly designed garden, you should consider building structural components that can fulfil multiple uses.
A bench seat can be used as storage with a seat that folds open. Planters built on either side can house ornamental fruit trees which will add shade. You could even add built-in LED lighting. This bench has five uses and can be built cheaply using pallets and a little bit of know-how. There are plenty of DIY instructions online that could help you put together the perfect piece of furniture for your space. 5. Vertical Gardening to Maximise SpaceYou may have more space than you realise. With a small area, it’s important to consider the often neglected vertical space.
You can take advantage of this space by using hanging planters which look especially pretty with cascading plants, or installing a trellis and training a creeper. Use window boxes to brighten up the outside as well as inside your home. That’s not to mention the many DIY options. There is plenty of inspiration for how to use an old ladder. You can paint it and use it to hold potted plants. Anchor a palette to the wall and use it as a planter, or check out all the ways you can use plastic bottles as vertical planters. Once you begin planning your small yard design and using all the resources and ideas out there, you’ll find it’s not so intimidating. In fact, you’ll be more than ready to get stuck into creating a better space for your small garden!

Attracting #wildlife into your garden can make it more lively, it will also improve the overall health of your #garden . Here are the 5 ways to do this! Many people think that all insects and bugs are pests, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. These tiny creatures protect your garden from harmful nuisances, so it’s wise to encourage them into your space. Not only will a lively garden provide hours of entertainment, wildlife will repay your kindness by keeping your garden beautiful and free of harm. These five simple steps will help to encourage cute critters and soulful songbirds into your garden. 1. Choose your #plants with wildlife in mind
The plants that you introduce to your garden will have a huge effect on how much wildlife you attract, so it’s best to plan ahead when creating or refreshing an outdoor space. Sweet smelling flowers like roses and honeysuckle will entice creatures to come and investigate the appealing scent. Native hedgerows will appeal to local wildlife, so do some research before you plant your parameter borders. If you have space, an oak tree not only looks beautiful but offers a safe haven for large and small animals and critters. 2. Thicken hedges and lengthen grass
Providing cover is the simplest and most effective method for attracting mini beasts; they’ll really appreciate somewhere to shelter from the elements and predators, as well as having somewhere safe to sleep. By allowing your grass to grow longer, and adding density to your hedges you’ll be proving much-needed cover for small creatures. Thick hedges also provide shelter and a safe place to nest for birds, encouraging them to make your garden their home. Whenever you’re trimming foliage or cutting your lawn, take care and try not to disturb nesting wildlife as much as possible. Once you have created safe havens, it’s important they remain exactly that. 3. Provide food sources
Natural food shortages are a constant danger for birds, so adding a bird feeder to your garden will help local species survive. Make sure you position your feeders out of harm’s way – keep them at least two meters away from cover and be sure that pets or children can’t reach. Once birds start to feed in your garden, keep up your routine as they will become used to it and will time their visits accordingly. Any plant that grows berries will provide an additional natural source of food for our feathered friends. Small creatures tend to prefer plants that grow in the sun rather than the shade, and anything that grows at the edge of shrubbery or borders is always popular, so bear this in mind when adding to your garden. Insects and bees love flowers and the nectar within, so aim to provide a good variety all year round. Check for the pollinator logo on plant packets to get guidance on what to buy. 4. Create lots of hiding places
A bird box is a great way to attract birds to your garden at any time of the year. By adding these small structures to your garden, you are creating safe spaces for them to shelter from the elements and to raise their young. In return, you’ll benefit from having constant companions throughout the year, and you can even fit a camera inside your box for ultimate bird watching. When fitting your bird box (or multiple bird boxes, if you are hoping to attract more than one species), position it in a quite area at least 1.5 meters above the ground, to ensure that occupants are safe and undisturbed. Be sure to keep the bird box hospitable by cleaning it out, but never disturb it when it’s occupied. Useful insects, beetles and centipedes appreciate hiding places such as dense foliage and grass piles, which is a great excuse to put off tidying your ‘garden litter’. Delay cutting back your perennials in autumn, and during winter when plants are sparser, arrange piles of logs, stones or bark around your garden to create perfect spaces for hibernation. 5. Add a water feature
Larger garden wildlife such as frogs and toads are attracted by a pond, and if you can entice them into your garden they will repay you by eliminating slugs and snails; both of which love to feast on your plants. If you don’t have enough space for a pond, consider adding something smaller like a bird bath or water feature. Both of these options will entice beautiful birds and butterflies, as well as critters that love to feed on various types of insects. Not only will your garden be protected, you’ll have lots of colorful creatures to enjoy. The kinds of wildlife that you’ll attract will differ depending on where you live and the space that you have available. Talk to your local garden center or wildlife association to get advice on how to create a garden that creatures will love as much as you do.