Gardening Tips: Adding personality to the garden

This is City Beautification judging time. As a volunteer judge, we get to peek into some very interesting local gardens.

What struck me this year was all the different elements people had used to add personality to their yards. The focal points used were both varied and inventive.

After all, the purpose of a focal point in the garden is to draw the eye as we try to direct the viewer's attention to a particular area. As an example: a plain grouping of shrubs and perennials may not do the job for a roadside garden. Most people are viewing it from a moving vehicle.

Add in a piece of garden statuary and the eye is drawn there. We stop to look and then admire all the plants in the garden.

There is a real art to adding your own personality to a garden. You have to consider many factors, choose appropriate objects and then know when to stop! I have seen quite a few gardens that would have been great if the homeowner has stopped a little sooner.

You have to be able to draw the eye and then allow for a nice perusal of the outdoor space. If you carry on a little too far, you attract attention but don't give the viewer a chance to slowly appreciate all of your hard work. The eye bounces from one element to the next making you a little dizzy!

I will admit that outdoor, or for that matter indoor, decorating is not my forte. I can layout a garden and choose the right plants very well. It is the artistic use of accessories that add personality to the space that I struggle a bit with. However, I do know the principles you should follow.

Choose a strong focal point to draw the eye. It can be an outstanding tree, shrub, perennial, a pot of annuals, a statue, a sculpture, a fountain, etc... If using plants, just be sure the scale of the plant is bold enough to do the job.

A contrast in texture, colour or shape can make a plant outstanding. The bold leaves of a hosta can draw the eye to a shady garden filled with lacy ferns. A weeping larch will stand out amongst shrubs that have a rounded or spreading shape.

As always, be sure that the plant you choose is well suited to the conditions you are going to place it in. A Globe Blue Spruce standard is perfect for a full sun garden but would be very unhappy in the shade.

If you are using an object to draw the eye rather than a plant, you have two ways to go about this. Either choose something that is in keeping with your house style or pick an object that is a complete contrast. Either one will do the job.

In a country setting with a farm style house, a large vintage piece of farm equipment will work well. But as a contrast, one very modern element would also stand out.

A piece of very contemporary garden art could add a touch of the unexpected to your landscape. That can really make a statement too.

In general, when decorating in the garden, it all comes down to personal taste. If you need a starting point, take a look inside your home. You may be quite comfortable with indoor decorating and can find some inspiration there.

Look through garden magazines, go on garden tours, visit art shows, watch outdoor living programs on television, visit a garden centre or take a walk/drive around town.

There is lots of inspiration to be found. I am sure you can find a style to suit your personality and your home.

A word of caution though: try not to take your decorating too far. Someone once told me that you don't want your space to look like a 'dog's breakfast'; a mish-mash of too much 'stuff'. That phrase has always stuck in my mind and helped me resist taking things too far!