Colorful Courtyard Design and Key, A Great Garden Project

Colorful Courtyard Design and Key was created as more requests were being make by clients to have an area in their backyard to relax and enjoy. Many of the designs and jobs I have been on, are done in backyards with fences or some form of brick, stone, or rock wall. The decorative walls don't have to be tall, and can range from one to four feet tall. People today have usually have a porch, deck, or patio in their yards. They sit out and enjoy the different colors and varieties of plants. Even if you don't have a deck, porch, or patio, you can take a bench or chairs and put them right out in the courtyard, and relax. Feel free to search in Google for a particular plant you may be looking for.

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A colorful courtyard design can be formal or informal. This factor is really determine by your taste. You can also combine the formal and informal look and develop your own flare. Below are just a few suggestions for a garden project.

1. Emerald Green Arborvitae - The Emerald Green Arborvitae is considered a small tree. It grows ten to twenty feet tall and three to five feet wide. This is a superb specimen for privacy, and a great substitute for a Leyland Cypress. The Emerald Green is a great backdrop in a courtyard. The Emerald green is an upright small tree. It can take full sun but also partial shade. Grows well in zones three through seven. The Emerald Green can be planted in a straight row or can be staggered in an odd number. Plant anywhere from five to seven feet apart. This small tree looks striking with variegated shrubs such as a Lemon Thread Cypress, or a Golden Euonymus. Their rich color will accent any deciduous plant also. One of my favorite small trees.

2. Indian Hawthorn - evergreen shrub with pink or white flowers in spring. Blue berries will appear in the in fall and winter months. Indian Hawthorn minor is a bigger shrub and will grow four to six feet wide. The major is a little smaller and will grow three to four feet high and two to three feet wide. Very durable shrub. Variety of zones but most will do well in zones four through nine. Popular for along your front of the house or good with any variegated shrubs.
3. Blue Pacific Juniper - evergreen low growing shrub. Grows well in zones five through nine. Likes full sun but can take shade better then other junipers. Great plant specimen draping over or in and around rocks or stones. Will grow around one foot high and can sprawl out five to nine feet. Great ground cover. Color is green with teal tones on the long needle like leaves.

4. Bird Bath - many different birth bath styles to choose from. Colors can range from white, black, dark green tone, etc... Bird baths are very common in a courtyard.
5. Decorative fish pond - Many companies offer a variety of styles to choose from. You can build one yourself, or have an professional come and install one. Ponds and Water Gardens, Landscaping with Aquatic Plants, Koi Fish and Shrubs . Add aquatic plants and fish. You can also create a garden project using regular shrubs and flowers around your pond.
6. Gazebo - Modern days bring modern versions of gazebos. They come in any size and shape. Colors vary from white, and a number of different shapes in stain.
7. Bench - pick out a wooden bench, which can give a natural look as well as an old time feel. Iron benches were used a lot in the older English style formal gardens. Concrete benches are becoming more popular today. They come in styles of straight, half mooned, bunny or other animals molded into the concrete.
8. Carpet Rose - semi-evergreen shrub producing a variety of colors. Does well in zones five through ten. A favorite of many people due to its long blooming season. Will thrive in full sun but can do well in partial shade. Low growing about two to three feet high and spreads out to four to five feet. Not a high maintenance rose bush at all. I especially this type of rose shrub because of the color variations and also the long bloom time. A carpet rose plant was seen a lot in an old English garden courtyard.
9. Mop Cypress - evergreen shrub growing well in zones five through eight. Variegated leaves of bright yellow and green. The leaves are long and skinny, and their texture and flowing pattern resembles a mop. Grows three to four feet high and three to four wide. Can take full sun but will also do well in part shade. A wonderful shrub for any garden area. Good shrub to accent next to a solid green plant. Very well received shrub in most home settings.
10. Nandina - evergreen shrub growing in zones six through nine. This shrub will grow one and a half to eight feet high and three to four feet wide. The Nandina is adaptable to full sun or shade. This shrub is a great plant to have in a garden or along the house as in the winter the leaves turn bright red and some varieties have berries on them. (Nandina Domestica) Looks great next to an Indian Hawthorn, Globosa Nana, or any other solid green evergreen shrub. Nandina should only be pruned if it needs some thinning. Don't cut straight across. Trim at various heights for a much fuller plant the following year. Great for small beds.
11. Gardenia - (Radican) dwarf evergreen. White flowers in the spring. Hardy in zones eight through ten. Will grow in zone seven but doesn't like temperatures below thirty. The Radican can survive down to twenty degrees, but should be covered. it will take part sun and grows 6 inches to one foot tall, and two to three feet wide. Beautiful in mass plantings in any garden.
12. Rock Wall - surrounds the courtyard. There are many different styles and colors of rocks or stones to choose from. Use round, flat or thin wall stones. Do a stackable wall or one using mortar. Courtyard Walls, Retaining and Decorative. This is an easy project you can do by yourself.

These shrubs and trees listed above are only a few examples of a possible colorful courtyard design. There are many different plant species you can use. Do you have some ideas for this particular garden project? Send me your ideas in the contact for and we can work together in creating a different style so you can have your own colorful courtyard design. I would be happy to entertain any new ideas on features or plant materials.