21 Easy Ideas to Beautify Your Yard - Part 7

Choose Annuals that Self-Seed

Crepe-papery poppies and lacy native ferns make fast friends in the dappled sunlight of a woodland meadow. In Brian's garden, the poppies are self-seeding perennials, but you can achieve the same loose, natural effect with annuals. The lesson, Brian says, is simple: "Let Nature do the arranging."

Stop Fighting Moss

This is no rolling stone and it has the moss to prove it. "It's art," Brian says of the moss-kissed rock nestled among ferns, golden creeping Jenny, and Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost'. "When I look at this stone, I imagine I see a goat's face or a horse's face," he says. "Nature created it for me to admire."

Include Climbing Vines

"Do the unexpected," Brian says. Here, he gives the shrubby evergreen creeper Euonymus 'Emerald Gaiety' the support it needs: The creamy-edge emerald foliage that blushes pink in winter caresses a decades-old wisteria root that hugs a cement pillar.

Soften Edges

Use graceful arching grasses to soften and conceal hard or unsightly edges of beds and borders. Just about any cascading plant can do the trick and look lovely at the same time.

Include Fragrant Flowers
If you're looking for fragrance as well as color, orange marigolds and purple vanilla-scented heliotrope offer a double treat for the senses.

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21 Easy Ideas to Beautify Your Yard - Part 6

 Solve a Slope

Sometimes the simplest solution is the best. Thirty years ago, Brian decided to plant nasturtiums on a sunny hillside. It worked so well, he's been doing it ever since. "Nasturtiums remind people of their grandmother's garden. They're charming and have an old-fashioned fragrance," he says. "And they don't mind crummy soil."

Add Flowers to Your Fence

Go green and install a living fence instead of a wood version. "Add value to plants by giving them a purpose," Brian says. "A fence can be inspiringly beautiful if you use plants -- especially if the plants have year-round beauty." Here, a 30-foot-long firethorn hedge hugs a pathway that skirts a steep slope, providing a safety buffer for two-legged visitors and a berry buffet for winged guests.

Brighten Shady Spots

Let in the light with shade plants that shine like high-wattage stars. Brian brightens a hillside planting of native bracken ferns with a swath of 'Patriot' hostas. Their big wavy leaves with wide white margins are like lights in the woods. Massed, 'Patriot' delivers high impact.

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21 Easy Ideas to Beautify Your Yard - Part 5

Employ Variegated Foliage

Regardless of whether it repels mosquitoes, Brian likes this variegated scented geranium (Pelargonium citrosum) -- aka the mosquito plant. Thanks to its frosty-white-tip foliage, it shines like a beacon in the border. "The ordinary green form would disappear," Brian says. "Use variegated plants to mix things up." Plus, the plant's lemony scent offers passersby a sensory moment.

 Go with Rich, Dark Colors

Your garden will profit from the addition of plants with dark purple foliage that appears blackish. "Black foliage creates magical combinations in the garden," he says. "Just look at these dark-leaved begonias and 'Bishop of Llandaff' dahlias."

 Keep it Simple

Create a sensation by putting a single magnificent plant in a spectacular pot. Brian does it here with Sedum 'Angelina' in a 3-foot-tall rust-crusted urn. "There's elegance in simplicity," he says. "People tend to get too busy and complicated in their container plantings." Brian likes this golden sun-loving succulent for its heat and drought tolerance. And the rusty urns show off the needle-shape foliage as it turns from chartreuse in spring to golden yellow in summer and to a rich orangey-amber in autumn.

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21 Easy Ideas to Beautify Your Yard - Part 4

 Create Height

Give your landscape a lift by adding high points -- in this case, three 12-foot-tall classically inspired concrete columns that stand like exclamation points. "The idea is to lift the eye up off the ground," Brian says. "The pillars create a sense of antiquity and add an element of surprise and mystery." The scene is striking in summer when the surrounding garden shimmers in white with astilbe, actaea, phlox, and silvery maidengrass.

 Incorporate Curves

The secret to cultivating intrigue in the garden? "Always have a curve," Brian says. "You want to keep them guessing -- What's up ahead? What will I discover? You don't need a lot of space to achieve that." Stroll to the other end of this vine-festooned arbor and you'll come upon a 110-foot-long, 15-foot-high wall of water that pours over Roman pillars to create a misty veil for viewing the garden beyond.

Use the Power of Perspective

Brian creates the illusion of a large expanse by tapering the space so it's narrower at the far end of this formal garden. "The garden is 8 feet narrower at the far end than it is in the foreground, where it measures 20 feet across from boxwood to boxwood," Brian says. The result: a space that appears one-and-a-half times its actual length.

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21 Easy Ideas to Beautify Your Yard - Part 3

Create Drama with Plants

Big, bold Gunnera is at home by a wooded stream and waterfall, adding drama and dimension to this garden vignette. Brian uses the oversize perennial -- it grows to 8 feet tall and 12 feet wide -- to alter the scale of things, sort of like adding a skyscraper to a cityscape. Astilbes and skunk cabbage enhance the scene with their foliage.

 Let Nature Be Your Guide

Brian carved out an alpine pond in a hillside where frogs and toads join the chorus of birds splashing in the shallow water. "The trick is to work with the setting so the pond and plantings look natural," he says. Brian does so with lady's mantle and cotoneaster in the foreground and alpine firs and weeping Nootka false cypress in the background.

Don't Forget Containers

In early spring, long before the garden bursts into color, Brian pots up containers that bridge the seasons with bright foliage and subtle textures. He starts with a weeping hemlock, then adds a euphorbia or two. Next comes a sampling of Heuchera 'Marmalade' followed by a streak of Sedum 'Angelina'. "With foliage like this, who needs flowers?" he says. He does tuck in a few violas -- but mostly for his chefs to toss into springtime salads.

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21 Easy Ideas to Beautify Your Yard - Part 2

Plan for a Grand Entrance

Two spruces stand ready to usher visitors into a hillside garden of slow-growing conifers and alpine plants. The evergreens are just big enough -- about 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide -- to play hide-and-seek with the meandering path that leads to a vine-covered garden folly. "Defining an entrance makes a big statement," Brian says: "Welcome."

 Leave a Spot to Enjoy Your Garden

"Gardens aren't just about planting, pruning, and weeding," Brian says. "They're magical places, and there should be reminders along the way: pretty vignettes and little escapes." Whether they're used or not, a decorative table and chair invite contemplation. The invitation stands: Come, sit awhile, and smell the flowers, listen to the bird song, and watch the grass grow.

Grow Fragrant Herbs

Plant herbs in window boxes and containers so you can place them by your kitchen door or next to the grill so you can snip and tuck them into salads, soups, and sauces. They're a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds.

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21 Easy Ideas to Beautify Your Yard

Get great garden design tips from renowned Canadian designer Brian Minter.

Integrate Your Plants

Vegetables and herbs have a place in the flower garden. Brian Minter uses herbs to edge his beds and borders, and he's especially partial to variegated mint because it arrives early and stays late. "In the garden, integration is the key," he says. The mint's aroma wafts on the breeze when visitors brush against it, and the chefs in the garden's restaurants snip sprigs to flavor the day's fare.

Play Up Texture

Pay attention to foliage texture, as well as color. Here, for example, purple heuchera makes a lovely contrast against 'Burgundy Glow' ajuga and gray-blue stones.

Put Trees and Shrubs in Pots

Don't think container gardens are limited to annuals -- you can use trees and shrubs to make a bold impact. Here, for example, ferny Sorbaria 'Sem' is a stunning partner for burgundy-leaf Red Majestic hazelnut.

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Top Backyard Country Gardens - Part 3

Preserving History

We were impressed by the artful way this Ohio garden preserves and celebrates the past. New flowerbeds and twig structures blend in with the 1800s farmhouse and original outbuildings on the property for a seamless mix of old and new. Here, Virginia creeper frames a composition of vintage accessories and potted plants displayed on one side of the garage -- creatively transforming everyday objects into art.

Test Garden Tip: If you display them well, just about anything can become garden
art. Consider a collection of old trowels, watering cans, or even particularly pretty stones and driftwood.

 Garden Shed Makeover

Sometimes beauty is hidden -- just waiting to be revealed by an intrepid gardener. We adored how this formerly run-down shed was transformed into a charming focal point for a New York garden. Accented by practical garden tools and quaint salvage finds, it looks right at home amid lush beds of cucumber vines, morning glory, chartreuse sweet potato vine, and coleus.

Test Garden Tip: Dress up your shed by displaying tools -- old or new -- on the outside of your shed. Old tools will give a unique, aged appearance.

Repurposed Antiques

We love to see everyday objects used in new ways. Here, an antique showerhead serves as a unique fountain for a charming backyard pond. Lined with cobblestones, the koi pond attractively anchors one corner of this Indiana lot and adds the soothing sounds of water to the backyard landscape. Siberian irises, water lilies, ferns, and grasses provide lush greenery that softens the rough texture of the surrounding stone surfaces.

Test Garden Tip: If you don't have space for a pond, create a water garden in an old barrel or any other watertight container.

A Welcoming Escape

We love that this garden feels like it's in the country, but it's actually crafted from a compact (tiny!) 25-x-75-foot suburban lot in Oregon. Surrounded by fencing and mature trees and featuring a cozy seating area below a white-painted arbor, this garden serves as an oasis from the rest of the world. A mix of antiques and collectibles, including watering cans, birdhouses, and window boxes, brings country charm to the suburban setting.

Test Garden Tip: Create a nice backdrop of plantings around any deck or patio to help it feel larger and lusher.

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Top Backyard Country Gardens - Part 2

Layers of Interest
This small front garden in Minnesota graciously welcomes visitors with a successful mix of container plants and overflowing beds. We were enchanted by the antique goat cart that doubles as an eye-catching centerpiece and a unique planter for 'Red Wave' petunias and yellow African daisies. Next to the cart, lysimachia adds brilliant color behind a weathered iron fence.

Test Garden Tip: Recreate this look by mixing antique garden accessories with a salvaged section of fence or edging (or even an old metal headboard for a bed).

Sophisticated Outlook

The distinctive details on this cottage-style potting shed -- not to mention the homeowner's ingenuity -- made this a clear-cut garden structure winner. Surrounded by a cutting garden, the shed becomes the star attraction of this Kansas City landscape. Built by the homeowner, it's cleverly upgraded with decorative accents, such as a pediment added above an antique door and a classic finial atop the peaked roof. It's practical, too -- offering an ideal spot for entertaining guests, potting up plants, or preparing bouquets of flowers for friends.

Test Garden Tip: Look for recycled treasures at salvage or antique stores, flea markets, or yard sales to upgrade the look of your garden shed or garage.

A Touch of Romance

The timeless charm that defines this Michigan garden caught our eye. It invites visitors to linger awhile and savor a few quiet moments amid the pink carpet roses and geraniums. An old garage that's been transformed into a Nantucket-inspired garden house serves as a charming backdrop for a secluded seating area, while a flagstone path adds instant age to the outdoor room.

Test Garden Tip: Soft pink is the perfect color for creating a relaxing, romantic retreat.

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Top Backyard Country Gardens

Take a look at our favorite award-winning gardens from the past eight years of the Country Gardens magazine Garden Awards contest.

Front Yard Color

This forlorn front yard became an eye-catching cottage garden in the hands of a Minnesota couple. We love how the homeowners updated the curbside view by replacing lackluster foundation shrubs with an abundance of perennials, annuals, and bulbs. Pink phlox and purple veronica are accented by yellow and white snapdragons and purple petunias to create a vibrant, cheerful color scheme, and a white picket fence adds instant charm.

Test Garden Tip: Recreate this look by planting old-fashioned flowers in front of a white picket fence.

Recycled Treasure

Every garden needs a focal point -- and this potting shed provides the perfect finishing touch for a half-acre Kansas garden abloom with perennials and annuals. We love that the homeowner built it himself from recycled windows and lumber he had collected over the years. Trailing blooms cascade from the shed's rain gutter, bringing additional bursts of color to the green and blue facade.

Test Garden Tip: Try an easy-to-build garden-shed kit to match the style and architecture of your home and landscape.

Native Beauty

Smart use of native plants spelled success for this breathtaking Oregon garden. Located in an area with little rainfall, alkaline soil, and extreme temperatures, the Zone 5 garden features tough, drought-tolerant perennials that are native to the region or to areas with similar climates. Here, salvia and rosy centranthus lend brilliant color to one corner of the garden.

Test Garden Tip: Use plants native to your region for a beautiful, low-maintenance garden.

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The 18 Best Plants for Cottage Gardens - Part 6

Phlox

One of the most brilliant plants of the late-summer garden, phlox produces stunning clusters of white, pink, lavender, and red blooms that bear a delightful fragrance.

Name: Phlox paniculata

Growing conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil

Height: To 4 feet, depending on variety

Zones: 3-8

Sweet William

Another biennial that typically self-seeds, sweet William produces beautiful clusters of fragrant blooms in early summer. They're great for cutting, and they attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

Name: Dianthus barbatus

Growing conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil

Height: To 2 feet tall

Zones: 3-9, depending on variety

 Violet

With their edible and fragrant blooms, violets are among the most charming flowers for the cottage garden. These cool-weather lovers start in spring and often bloom again in fall.

Name: Viola varieties

Growing conditions: Partial to full shade and well-drained soil

Height: To 1 foot tall

Zones: 4-8, depending on variety

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The 18 Best Plants for Cottage Gardens - Part 5

Lady's Mantle

This great perennial offers sprays of chartreuse blooms perfect for cutting. The foliage is wonderful, too, especially when it catches early morning dewdrops.

Name: Alchemilla mollis

Growing conditions: Part shade and well-drained soil

Height: 1-2 feet tall

Zones: 4-7

Peony

With their petal-packed blooms, peonies are some of the most romantic plants. They not only look great, but they bear a wonderful fragrance. And they're virtually pest free and quite drought tolerant.

Name: Paeonia varieties

Growing conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil

Height: To 5 feet tall, depending on variety

Zones: 3-8, depending on variety

Perennial Geranium

There are a wealth of geraniums perfect for cottage gardens. 'Johnson's Blue' is among the most common; it offers beautiful blue-purple flowers in early summer.

Name: Geranium 'Johnson's Blue'

Growing conditions: Full sun or part shade and well-drained soil

Height: To 18 inches tall

Zones: 4-8

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