Want to create a stunning, cohesive garden? Today I’m going to share five essential landscaping tips—from choosing the right colour palette to shaping your space with plants and pathways—that will transform your yard and boost your curb appeal.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gardener, these expert secrets will help you design a beautiful, unified outdoor space.
How to create your dream garden (from an expert)
It’s time for a 2025 summer garden tour! It’s hard to believe it’s only been a little over a year since we installed this garden. I’ve been working closely with my virtual garden designer MaryAnne White for 13 years and my gardens are simply magical as a result. You can contact her here.
Each Spring, I move things around, split perennials and this season, I am fortunate to have my nephew Noah working for me doing all the things! Clearly I am just as obsessed with gardens as interiors.
MaryAnne White also designed the garden in my last home here.
This one is quite a bit different, although my love for boxwood, roses, daisies and white hydrangeas are still reflected in this garden.
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Design Your Dream Garden: 5 Simple Rules for Amazing Results
Need a little inspiration for creating curb appeal for your home? Watch now for a glimpse at my plantings in both the front and back yard and I’ll share 5 expert-approved tips from my favourite landscape designer.
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This is What Our House Really Looks Like (underneath the overgrown trees and shrubs)
Beautiful garden! I would add a number 6 … Consider how much maintenance you are willing to do (or pay for). That can help determine the size of the beds and what is planted.
I just installed mine. Flowers are all purple/blue/yellow. Shrubs and trees are green and burgundy. Lots of repetition of plants, but much more casual than yours. Limiting the color palette was key for me ans too many colors looks too busy to me, and it also simplified design considerably.
Absolutely gorgeous gardens, Maria. You must feel like you’re in a dream with your beautiful home and gardens.
I wonder though if it’s a lot. Everything is going to grow leaps and bounds in our BC weather. I found out that you need to plant far enough apart so they have lots of room to expand and grow. Ten years down the road, I’m taking out some and pruning others hard.
What is the name of those tall grasses that you leave tall through the winter? Near your Begenia.
So pretty! Simple isn’t easy. I’ve been gardening most years for a while now, and I still have the impulse to buy a couple of everything, but I like the outcome better when I am sticking more or less to the plan! Experiments are fun, but bitty scatterings of every flower color are not.
I’m at a new house with a lot of space outside, some interesting potential, and just really starting to get into the landscaping this year. There was very little when we bought it. Three or four garden-y areas will add a lot, and not be too much for me to keep up with. You don’t want the work of it to outpace the enjoyment and beauty! I prefer to concentrate on the spots we pass by or spend the most time.
Your gardens are beautiful. Loved viewing them and enjoyed your comments and learned from them. Next time if you could include the beds that are poolside along the fence, I would love to see them too! It looks like some hydrangeas, day lilies and maybe daisies. Thanks for sharing all of the outdoor beauty with us!!
Your gardens are fabulous. I have had to remove all the yellow and switch to more “cool” purple, pink and white/silver because in a dry climate yellow just looks like its drying up or dead when combined with dead grass due to water restrictions. Most shades of yellow are also too “warm” when the temperatures climb. It’s just my perception and preference as I do see my neighbours with riotous hot colours, but I like it more calm and cool looking.
I’ve enjoyed your posts for years, so many great suggestions and problem solving.
Your recent dream garden video touched a nerve. I cringed when you pinched the flower buds from hosta and lambs ears. While I agree that those flowers are not great, they are VERY important for pollinators. In urge you to reconsider leaving the flowers for the pollinators, then remove the spent blooms. Pollinators are so important for a healthy environment. Surely you can give them a week to 10 days before pinching off the blooms.