GardenLeap

tips, guides and articles to jump start your garden

Designing A Year-Round Garden

Posted by plantsman On December - 22 - 2009

An ideal garden design is one which offers something during every season. In spring and summer, ornamental trees and flower beds are full of colorful blooms. Vibrant foliage adds beauty to the fall landscape and in the winter the berries, evergreens and bark color provide color. Also important in the winter is the silhouette of [...]

An Introduction To Japanese Gardens

Posted by plantsman On December - 6 - 2009

Japanese gardens are designed to portray a scene that mimics nature, through symbolization and abstraction, by using trees, shrubs, rocks, sand, artificial hills, ponds, and flowing water as art-forms. Often Japanese gardens reduce the scale of the natural environment, which may consist of  mountains, rivers, trees, and ponds, through the use of  symbolization and abstraction. [...]

7 More Spring Flowering Trees

Posted by plantsman On November - 25 - 2009

After a long cold winter, small ornamental flowering trees are a very welcome sight as they are among the first garden plants to brighten up the landscape and announce the arrival of spring. The following are a few classic spring flowering trees for the garden.

Shade Gardens

Posted by plantsman On November - 19 - 2009

Gardening in the shade presents gardeners with the opportunity to work with a wide variety of beautiful plants. There are virtually an end number of plants which can grow in a garden. Many plants, in fact, prefer at least some protection from full exposure to the sun.

Woodland Gardens

Posted by plantsman On November - 16 - 2009

Working with the existing conditions of site rather than overhauling the site often times result in very successful garden. Woodland gardens are generally planned in such a way. A shady spot beneath a stand of trees, for example, is the ideal location for a woodland garden. Prepare the site for plants such shade tolerant shrubs [...]

Weekly Garden Photo: Nong Nooch

Posted by plantsman On February - 7 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

Weekly Garden Photo: Japanese Garden

Posted by plantsman On January - 31 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

Weekly Garden Photo: Portland Japanese Garden

Posted by plantsman On January - 24 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

Colorful Spring Gardens

Posted by plantsman On January - 20 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

flower colorsAfter a long cold and gray winter, a colorful spring garden is a welcome sight. Bulbs, many species of shrubs and a few perennials can brighten up a garden long before there are even leaves on the trees.

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Garden Design: Part 5

Posted by plantsman On January - 18 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

viewTrees, shrubs and garden structures can be utilized to frame views within the garden or vistas or the distant landscape. They can also help draw attention to favorable elements within a garden and distract from unfavorable ones.

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Weekly Garden Photo: Red Insurgency

Posted by plantsman On January - 17 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

Colorful flowers…

Posted by plantsman On January - 13 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

whether bulbs, shrubs or perennials, are always a welcome sight. Incorporating these early bloomers is a great way to brighten up the landscape after a long barren winter.

Plant fast-growing evergreens…

Posted by plantsman On January - 12 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

for a quick privacy screen or windbreak.

Garden Design: Part 4

Posted by plantsman On January - 11 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

Texture in garden design refers to the visual roughness or smoothness of a plant. At close range the texture depends on individual leaves, flowers or bark. At a distance, however, texture is read in the mass and void of foliage or the patterns of light and dark.

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Divide overgrown perennials…

Posted by plantsman On January - 11 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

in fall, while the weather is cooler.