Have you ever wished for a visually stunning and exciting garden? You are not alone. Many gardeners, even those with little knowledge of gardening, want to create a striking garden. Contrast is an important part of a good garden design, whether it’s in terms of colour, size or form, or even texture. Contrast can be used to highlight differences, create interest and produce a balanced visual. It’s important to find the right balance. Too much contrast is overwhelming and can cause jarring.
Colour contrasts
When creating contrast in a garden, ensure that the plants and flowers you choose are suited to the soil type. This will allow them to coexist harmoniously. Yellows and limes can be contrasted against purple tones for visual interest. Use colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel and complement one another. This will make the colours look brighter and crisper. If you need advice on which plants would work better together, consider finding out about Plants for Trade from a site like www.palmstead.co.uk/Content.aspx?content=2
Contrast with texture
You can create contrast by selecting plants and flowers that have different textures, shapes and arrangements. For example, rounded leaf plants look great with cascading leaves. Plants with wide leaves and those with narrow, thin leaf shapes can be installed. You can highlight the beauty of each plant by combining different textures. The large foliage stands out and is more striking, while the finer leaves soften up the landscape.
Combining natural elements with materials and man-made items is another clever way to create contrast in a landscape. Metal garden sculptures are a great way to create a contrast between natural and man-made elements and look great in a business setting.
Size contrast
It is easy to create a contrast, either with the plant forms you choose or by combining small plants with a large centrepiece. You can also achieve this by creating a layered effect using tall plants that stand out from low-level plantings. A good mixture of low-growing, small plants, medium-sized shrubs and trees is ideal.
Consider the proportions of nearby structures and plants when combining different heights and sizes. Consider the maturity of the plants, their size and the space they require to grow. For a unique visual, weave plants of similar heights in a serpent-like pattern.