Do you ever feel like your neighbors’ yards all look the same? Creating a landscape design that is reflective of your unique personality is all about widening your plant palette. It’s perfectly fine to shop for the basics, like Hosta, Daylily and Coneflowers at your local big-box store. However, if you want to expand your plant horizons, take the time to do a bit of research online or visit a local specialty nursery. It’s time to break out of your comfort zone and make your yard stand out from the rest!

Tips for Expanding Your Landscape Design Plant Palette

Know What You’re Working With

It’s important to keep in mind the type of landscape you have. Is it heavily wooded with lots of shade, or a new neighborhood with full sun? The natural state of your yard will determine the type of plants you should consider. Use that description in your online searches, such as “full sun landscaping ideas” or “hillside landscape design”. You will also want to figure out your hardiness zone, the climate conditions of the area, by visiting the USDA’s website. This will focus your plant selection on what will grow best in your area. It’s also important to consider your neighborhood’s microclimate. Urban Broad Ripple can support cold-sensitive plants that may not survive if planted just a few miles north in rural Westfield. The direction the landscape area faces will also affect which plants will thrive, due to different levels of sunlight and wind. The key is to understand the nature of your location so you can choose appropriate plant varieties.

Determine Your Style

Looking around the inside of your home can help you choose a style for the outside. Do you tend to lean toward Farmhouse, modern, or traditional styles? Your style can be reflected through your landscape design choices. For example, a modern look could include globular flowers, plants with tight growth habits, and straight-cut hedges. A farmhouse or rustic design might have a weeping tree or one with peeling bark, and large flowering plants like Butterfly Bush. Feeling tropical? Rose of Sharon, hibiscus, and other plants with bright, bold colors would help set the tone. If you like a more subtle color palette, plants with varying foliage shapes and textures, and white flowers will give you a clean and classic look.

Remember: Plants Are More Than Flowers

Foliage can add a lot of personality, texture, and visual interest to a landscape. The coarse oakleaf hydrangea foliage contrasts nicely with the softness of a fern. Consider the bark texture and color, as well as the branching, of your tree choices. A plant can flower in the spring, add lovely greenery all through the summer, add warm fall colors, and then offer pretty berries and bark during the winter. We are lucky to have four distinct seasons in Indiana; planning what your landscape will look like during all of them will help you create a well-rounded design.

Look for Out of the Ordinary

Your yard does not need to consist of only uncommon plants to stand out. Statement pieces can help your landscape stand out all on their own. For example, we love interesting conifers such as a slender dwarf evergreen, or a species that hugs the ground or crawls over rocks. Finding these unique plants is the joy of Bill’s horticultural life! Adding visual appeal by investing in something unique can truly elevate your overall landscape design.

Add More Than Plants

Adding elements like boulders, seating, lattice walls, or Pergolas can really change how your plant palette interacts with your home. In a sense, you are extending your home into the landscape. These hardscapes can add dimension, whether they are purely decorative or functional.

It’s possible to get even more enjoyment out of your landscape design by adding layers of interesting plants that suit your style and personality. Doing a bit of research and visiting local nurseries that stock interesting plants (we recommend Rosie’s Gardens in Indianapolis), can make your yard stand out from the rest. Our favorite designs include wide plant palettes. Let us know if you are interested in having us expand yours. Send us an email, or give us a call at (317) 997-4803.