Spotlight Area

"Increasing the "Color Power" of Your Garden"

Featured in the June, 2004 Newsletter

There are many ways to increase the "Color Power" of your garden. Using bold, colorful paint for the walls and furniture in the garden can make a powerful statement, and adding objects like glazed pots, planters and even garden art provide other colorful elements. However, the most effective way to give your garden "color power" is by using long-blooming plants.

When designing your garden, choose just a few colors and stick with them. It is best to select either harmonious colors (neighboring colors on the color wheel) or contrasting colors (colors opposite each other on the wheel). Depending on your available space, try mass planting 5 to 15 of the same plant rather than planting two or three plants of 10 different varieties. These large groups of one color will give more of an impact than a mixed or peppered look. These guidelines hold true not only for container gardening and annual bedding plants but also for landscape shrubs and perennials.

Annuals will give the longest bloom time and provide an opportunity to experiment with different plants each year. It's a good idea to jot down which varieties you used each year and designate those annuals you liked and those that didn't work well. One creative idea is to fill a planter with yellow marigolds and another with purple wave petunias for a contrasting theme. If you want a more harmonious look, try using Victoria salvia and pink cascade petunia. Keep in mind the height and sun tolerance when shopping for your plants. Also, some annuals require more maintenance, such as dead heading, fertilizing, and watering, so ask our garden center staff which varieties will suit you best.

Prefer shrubs and perennials? There are many varieties that can produce long and/or recurring blooms. The new ever-blooming daylilies will provide season-long color. Happy Returns is a spectacular recurrent lemon-yellow blooming perennial that is extremely hardy. Other colorful varieties include Apricot Sparkles, Rosy Returns and the deep yellow Sunset Returns. Shrubroses are an excellent perennial alternative to tea and floribunda roses because they do not require cutting back or mulching in the fall. And talk about color! Choose from yellows, reds, pinks, corals and even oranges. A great way to add color to your landscape.

So go for it! Increase your color power!