Concentrate Your Gardening Efforts

By Matt Jackson

Why Have a Theme to a Garden?

Every garden should have a direction in order for it to appear complete. Even a wild garden will need some uniformity of some sort - otherwise it ceases to be a wild garden and simply becomes wild and unkempt. A theme may make you think about themed parties, but I would definitely not suggest a theme this precise or indeed unrelated to gardening. A garden theme can be something as simple as a single color or a particular type of plant. You may decide you want a fiery garden, in which case you should choose fiery reds, oranges and yellows. This would certainly give a colorful outlook to any garden, and with some careful planning, it would yield incredible results.

Single Color Themes

Deciding on a single color may make it very difficult to create an entire garden, and unless you are absolutely resolute about only using one color, then you should try to select at least two wherever possible. This gives you a little more freedom with regards to the plants you can purchase. Should you decide on only one color then you have to vary the type of plants you use, because planting an entire garden with one color and one plant type will prove too much for most people to enjoy. Of course, the garden is primarily yours, and if this is what you want to do, then there is nothing to stop you from experimenting.

Nature Gardens

As well as color, there are other ways to theme your garden. Nature gardens can be geared around a particular type of animal or insect. Many people like butterfly gardens, in which case you need to select the appropriate plants and bushes that attract butterflies. Bee gardens may require the use of nettles, and in this case you will need to set aside an area of the garden where the bees can congregate in one of their favorite plants.

Herb Gardens

Herb gardens not only appear beautiful, but they smell beautiful and they are very practical. Low lying herbs will release scents as people or animals brush against them better than any form of air freshener, and when the season arrives, you will be able to cut some of the herbs and use them in your summer salad or your pasta dishes. There are some quite unique herbs and their appearance may surprise you, so don't instantly dismiss the idea as being completely mad.

Water Gardens

A water garden may seem impractical, and it’s certainly true that you can't fill your entire backyard with pond. But a stream leading to waterfall that subsequently leads to your pond will give incredible results. Not only will it look fantastic, but also water is renowned for its calming sound. For areas of your garden that are not filled with water features, you can use shrubs that rustle in the wind and give a similar noise to that of running water.

Use Your Imagination

Creating a themed garden doesn't just have to be about your planting either. If you have a particular hobby, you could consider using related items in your garden. If you like fishing, you could even consider using a small fishing boat or a fishing net in your garden. Planned and completed well, it is possible to theme a garden around almost anything - and the only thing holding you back is your imagination.

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