| How often have you flipped through home and | | | | plants gradually. It is a good idea to start |
| garden magazines, staring at the lovely well | | | | purchasing expensive plants first and make them |
| landscaped gardens thinking how costly it must be | | | | the focal point of your garden design. |
| to get these gardens set up and maintain? On the | | | | Watch out for garden sales and discounts at |
| contrary, with a little bit of creativity and | | | | garden stores and nurseries. Perhaps you can |
| imagination, you can actually achieve the same | | | | trade plants with your friends, or you can let your |
| well manicured lawn in an economical way, by | | | | friends know that you are starting a garden, and |
| following some of these tips: | | | | maybe they can share some of their plants or |
| 1. Know what you want. | | | | seeds with you. You can even do some seed |
| Look around your neighborhood and study which | | | | swapping with other gardeners or maybe |
| plants really grow well in your area. You can start | | | | approach your local garden club for some seed |
| gathering pictures from magazines or internet | | | | samples that you can start to plant. |
| websites to get an idea of the garden design that | | | | Try to make friends with your neighbors who |
| you would want to have. | | | | have some fine gardens themselves and ask for |
| 2. Decide on the color. | | | | some tips. You'll never know, they may even give |
| Once you had already chosen the plants that you | | | | you some seeds to get you started. |
| want to see in your garden, you can now decide | | | | 4. Draw your garden design on paper to get a |
| the color scheme for your garden design. | | | | good idea what your garden will look like. |
| Remember that you need to consider other | | | | You can arrange the plants according to color or |
| factors such as the amount of sunlight that the | | | | height. You should aim for harmony in color and |
| plants you chose should get - should they get | | | | variety in texture to make your garden |
| partial shade, full shade or partial sun, full sun? You | | | | interesting. To make it even more interesting, you |
| can begin by building your foundation made of | | | | can add some stepping stones, terra cotta bird |
| shrubs and choosing perennials, ornamental | | | | houses, wind chimes and other simple accessories |
| grasses, bulbs and annuals to give a wide selection | | | | that you may already find around your garden |
| of colors through the year. | | | | such as old wooden chairs and ladders. |
| 3. Consider your budget. | | | | All it takes is a little imagination, time and patience |
| You can turn your garden design into a long term | | | | and you'll be on the road to creating a perfect |
| project, if you are short on cash. You can start | | | | garden design that is well within your budget. |
| with a foundation first and then add flowers or | | | | |