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
A garden designer offers advice for creating enjoyable, livable garden spaces by Andrew Schulman

Creating a Scene
This designer relied on 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 Voluptuous 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

4 Good Reasons To Kill A Plant
Sometimes you must kill a plant for the good of the garden by Billy Goodnick

Container Rehab
Get more drama out of late-season pots with easy swaps and edits by Antonio Reis

Convenient, Comfortable Alfresco Dining
Create an outdoor dining area inviting enough to become a destination by Steve Silk

Coping with One-of-Each-Itis
Buying singles at the nursery leads to a scattered design by Billy Goodnick

Designer Secrets for Over-The-Top Pots
Learn the dos and don'ts of creating jaw-dropping containers

Designing with Curved Terraces
Use this new approach to ensure that your sloped garden looks good from every angle by Sandi Burdick

Get To Know Your Edging Options
Learn which of these six materials perfectly suits your space by Joan Bolton

VIDEO Northwest Flower and Garden Show: Display Gardens

Simplify Your Color Scheme
Taking a disciplined approach lets you harmonize your plant palette without stifling diversity by Andrew Grossman

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

There's More Than One Way to Be Bold
Whether you are designing for the front or the back, creating impact is all about balance by Antonio Reis

VIDEO Tour the Hollister House Garden
George Schoellkopf provides you with a guided glimpse of his special haven in Washington, Connecticut.