The Simple Beauty of Specialty
Garden Landscape Designs

The most beautiful outdoor areas typically incorporate many types of specialty garden landscape designs into the design plan for a diverse and natural appeal that is both inviting and enjoyable. Each garden type brings a different element to your overall design, so it is important to understand the characteristics of each and to plan the locations of these gardens carefully.

Types of Garden Landscape Designs

Classic Flower Gardens

Mix these blooms into your flower garden:

• Annuals are a great way to provide quick color that lasts all season. These flowers are planted at a specific time each year, depending on their ideal growing climate, and will die after the flowering season. Annual flowers are usually easy to care for and require little preparation. Select annuals for each season to keep your garden enjoyable all year.

These flowers must be selected with extreme care and planning so the foliage, but lack of color, the first year doesn’t disrupt the landscape design. Many flower varieties that were traditionally biennials are now available as annuals with blooms the first season.

• Perennial flowers are the best way to keep color in your garden all year long.

These plants are permanent additions to your landscape design and will come back with vibrant blooms each season. Choose a variety of perennial flowers for your garden, including some that bloom in spring, summer, and fall, but remember that these flowers require more planning and extra preparation compared to annual blooms.

• Perennials typically require a great deal of sun and should be planted in a location that allows several hours of direct sunlight each day.

• Perennial flower beds do best in dry areas of your yard that drain well. If these beds are placed in wet, damp locations, the bed should be raised to provide better drainage and prevent plant rot.

• Perennials must be planted in holes that are about 24 inches deep and you may consider adding nutrient rich soil when you plant.

Flower gardens and perennial gardens are the best way to add color, texture, and sweet fragrances to your outdoor area. Some flower types can even complement the overall theme of your landscape design and can blend beautifully with the style of your home. Flower gardens and colorful flower beds can be accented with other types of garden landscape designs.

Aromatic Herb Gardens

Your herb garden can contain cooking herbs and spices for your kitchen, herbs with medicinal purposes like chamomile, or a combination of flavorful and fragrant herbs.

Herb gardens do not require a great deal of space and are ideal for town homes and residences with small yards, but there are a number of things to consider:

• Herbs typically need lots of direct sunlight, so plan this specialty garden in an area with little shade.

• Container gardens are perfect for herbs and can be placed on a porch, terrace, or even a window box to conserve space.

• Some herbs are more difficult to cultivate than others. Research the soil needs, amount of space required, and other characteristics of various herbs before making a final decision on the right plants for your garden.

• Herbs can be planted within flower beds with shrubbery and other plant life or can be in their own bed or containers.

• Begin your herb garden with a variety of species, but limit your selection to no more than a dozen different types until you gain experience. Thyme, dill, and parsley are great choices for beginners.

Tranquil Rock Gardens

Integrate planting areas for flowers and shrubs amid the rocks, placing soil in shady areas, direct sunlight, or both depending on your favorite garden plants.

Select flowers and shrubs that lend a natural appearance to your outdoor design.

There are several other types of specialty garden landscape designs that can add beauty and elegance to your outdoor living space.

Water gardens create terrific focal points in your landscape design and add an air of relaxation to the area.

Vegetable gardens can be full of texture and color, as well as useful in the kitchen. Whether you’re planning a rock garden, a perennial garden, or another type of garden landscape design, a professional design team can provide you with an ideal plan for your home and yard.


We offer garden design services no matter what part of the world you are from and if you are located within the United States we offer free referrals with our network of landscape professionals. We even include complementary consultations. For more information contact us.


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