November 21, 2022

Have you ever noticed that some gardens are just stunning? They’re not always the ones with the most flowers or the most elaborate trellises. Instead, they often have simple things—neat edges and bold focal points, for instance—that draw your eye. But most of the time, these adjustments aren’t enough. A successful garden bed is one that has neat edges, bold focal points that direct the eye, beds that are in scale with their surroundings, and plants that are the appropriate size. So what should you do? Diagnose the problem and make a plan for fixing it. Yes, these fixes are labour-intensive, but they will ultimately give you the garden you’ve always dreamed of. Here’s how to start.

Set the edges permanently

When lawn creeps into garden beds, you get a wavy, messy line that is difficult to keep neat. Installing permanent edging saves time and maintenance and makes your garden look well-kept. Even if you haven’t weeded lately, a defined border can fool the eye into thinking that the bed is tidier than it actually is.

Make your garden the centre of attention.

A garden needs to have a focal point that draws the eye toward standout plants or interesting objects while diverting attention away from more functional areas of the property, like the side of a house. A garden with no such elements would be easy to notice only for its unattractive background, which could include things like a poorly designed bed.

Upsize your bed

Don’t underestimate the size of a garden bed. A garden bed should be about one-third the height of the nearest and tallest visual element (like your house or a tree). The rule of thirds can help you create a harmonious relationship between your garden and your house.