Design Principles
Bringing Sun and Shade Together
Show off what these extremes have to offer, then unite them with some common ground
by Dan Johnson
Inspired Design: Living Lightly on the Land
Environmentally responsible design principles for home and garden
by Julie Moir Messervy
Attract Attention with Two Strong Shapes
A bed of globes and spires creates a long season of interest
by Jeaniene Darice Smith
A Room with a View
Design garden scenes that look good from inside the house
by Barbara Ashmun
3 Ways to Design with Containers
Go from humdrum to eye-catching with these easily adaptable strategies
by Sydney Eddison
Think Outside the Window Box
Make a creative difference with these four design tips
by Gary Keim
15 Tips for Designing a Garden
by Andrew Schulman
Creating a Scene
This designer relied on these six strategies to design a garden full of head-turning vignettes
by Laura Crockett
Designing on the Fly
Give yourself permission to get out into the garden and wing it
by Steve Silk
Making Opposites Attractive
Contrast is a versatile design principle, and this garden shows that there are countless ways to use it
by Judy Horton
A Garden Story in Three Parts
A landscape can be a narrative offering a beginning, a middle, and an end
by Jim Scott
Plant by Number
The key to a design’s success is understanding how many plants to use and how to arrange them
by Julie Siegel
The Value of Voluptous Curves
by Julie Moir Messervy
Pick Plants for Fragrance
Place sweet-smelling plants where you can enjoy them throughout the growing season
by Kathy Diemer
Design a Border with Strong Plant Shapes
Understanding nature's geometry is the key to good garden structure
by Sydney Eddison
Pleasing Rhythm Makes a Garden Sing
Play with repetition, positive and negative space, and pacing to evoke a sense of movement and mood
by Richard L. Dube
Using Containers as Elements of a Design
Careful and considered placement can add a sense of coherence to a garden
by Lucy Hardiman
Designing on an Axis
Use paths, hedges, and focal points to create a garden of narrow, formal vistas
by Page Dickey
Expansive Solutions for Small Gardens
A landscape architect shares his tricks for making tight spaces seem bigger
by Keith Davitt
Q&A
Learning about Gertrude Jekyll
by Valerie Easton
Fuzzy, Prickly and Tickly to Touch
Richly textured plants invite you to stop and feel the foliage
by Margaret Eldred
Composing with Conifers
For a dynamic look, contrast different shapes and colors
by Nancy Britz
The Most Important Lesson of Garden Design
A strong design principle led this Eugene, Oregon, couple down the path to a showcase garden
by Fine Gardening editors
