Informal Gardens

Informal Gardens come in a variety of sizes and styles. You can create your own paradise. The casual look is becoming more popular today. I believe an informal garden represents your own personality. One of the goals in relaxed landscape, is to to create beds that have their own identity. Obviously, you don't want to get too crazy and put 40 different shrubs in one bed. Blending colors and shapes in different patterns will create a unique look.

Think about any existing beds you may have at your home. Take a peek at just one of them and see what type of pattern is in the bed. Your entire landscape can have all beds with a causal feel, or you can combine the formal appearance and the informal look from bed to bed. In the formal garden page we talked about rows. The nice thing about having a relaxed feel, you can explore ways to combine different features and plants in a non-regimental look. You have the freedom to build an area that will bring out your families own qualities. Let your children become involved in a project.

I designed the base plan for this informal garden. We put in the base trees and shrubs and my clients over the next two years, added their own personality and feel to their yard.

Now lets get down to the some options for you to do with an informal garden...Imagine a casual garden similar to going on vacation. (don't laugh) Get into your rest and relaxation mode. Here are a few suggestions...

• Start with trees... Put an upright tree, a Spruce, Hemlock or Emerald Green Arborvitae next to a variegated shrub such as a False Cypress, Ligustrum or a Golden Euonymus.You are combining a solid light or dark green color tree with a yellow and green two tone shrub. Pictures of Variegated Evergreen Shrubs will give you some suggestions on what other shrubs you can plant. Are you not sure of what colors blend well together? Most plants have green in their leaves and that is your base color. If you love the color yellow, incorporate the dominant green with an accent of yellow. Pick a third color for a final accent such as orange, purple or red. If your not familiar with the combining colors, grab a box of crayons and a piece of paper and play around matching different colors together. The inside of my house is decorated in light and dark oranges, yellows, and greens. I use those three colors in the gardens outside. I took the colors I enjoy, and blended them throughout formal and informal beds outside. Did you notice the colors on my home page?
• Create different ways you can incorporate outdoor features. Instead of a formal bench, put a couple of different chairs in the middle of the bed. Add in a small outdoor table for a place to put your ice tea in the summer or a hot toddy in the winter. (well, maybe not in two feet of snow)
• Think about putting in a series of natural rocks throughout the bed. Put your favorite cement figurine on top of the a rock or two.








• Flowers play an important role in bringing a bed to life with color. Add a combination of perennials to and around your shrubs and trees. Put a couple of decorative pots in the bed with annuals in them.
• Maybe add an attractive fountain or decorative pond.

Informal gardens are similar to free play for children. You can develop one or 7 beds in any shape you want. Make a square bed of ornamental deciduous trees and evergreen trees. Create a kidney shape bed with a variety of evergreen shrubs and flowers. Make a bed just for the children. An idea is to let them pick out a couple of shrubs. Add their choice of flowers to put in a decorative planter. Let them place the shrubs and planter in their favorite shape bed. If you have more then one child, create several different little beds, so they each have their own identity. Think about maybe doing an informal style create a children's garden and learn about plants, nature, and having fun. Your main goal in creating any type of casual look, is to let your creative juices flow. If you are saying to yourself, I have no talent in knowing where to put plants, let alone planters and natural rocks. Begin with a simplistic idea on each garden. Put your own feel to each bed. Remember, take your colors and textures you love and go ahead and plan your informal garden. Don't be afraid to play around with some of these thoughts. Feel free to write down a question below and send a picture and some one may have some great ideas for you.

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Do you have a great landscape tip that you would like to share with other people? Are you having trouble finding the answer to a specific garden problem? Write down questions and your unique solution below. Your commits will be on this page for other people to read and respond to. We all need help from time to time when it comes to killing weeds or deciding on what shrubs or flowers to plant. Get involved in helping someone or ask your question and someone may help you. Come back and check out questions and tips anytime.