Combining Colors in the Garden

Who wouldn't like to learn a little more about combining colors in the garden? After all, when you have this skill really locked down and learned, you can create a truly stunning garden. Combining the colors in your garden is basically a matter of combining imagination with a few simple guidelines. By expressing your imagination you will be able to create a garden or landscape that is truly yours. Here are a few guidelines that are designed to help you get started—the imagination is something that you will have to come up with on your own though.

• Don't be afraid of repetition. For some reason, when planning out a garden people have a tendency to believe that repetition of plants or colors is something to be avoided. This couldn't be further from the truth. By repeating colors and plants throughout the entire landscape, rather than just in one location, you can help guide the eyes travel through the garden. In addition, this will help create a sense of unity for your garden, which can help tie everything together.
• Think of the season. Often, when people plan their gardens, they only think of the spring and summer. Instead, try to think of your garden as something that can bring color year round. This may take a little more creative planning on your part if you have a limited area to work with. On the plus side though, this can help provide colors in your garden year round.
• When are you in the garden? Most people are not in their garden all day, every day, so think about when you are there. Try combining the colors in the garden to match that time of the day. Think about what colors look best in the evening, and use them if that is the time that you will be spending enjoying your landscape.
• Layers and texture is helpful. Do not get too boring in your plant and color choice. Instead, use a combination of plant types, and their colors and placements, to create the illusion of texture and layers. In addition, you can also use different types of plants that will actually have provide contrast with each other. Another method that you can use is to think of your garden as if it was a cake which has different layers. Each layer can be a separate color, or combination of colors, that work individually and collectively with each other.