Color in the Landscape

Have you ever wondered why some gardens are attractive and soothing while others appear disjointed, busy and even a bit disturbing? The answer lies in one word: design.

Appealing gardens have the same elements as beautiful paintings: Good composition, balance, color and perspective are the elements of any successful work of art, on canvas or living.


If your present garden is just a flat stretch of barren land, it can be a lot easier to create a work of art, but what if you are already dealing with a mature landscape? The easiest way to enhance your existing garden (aside from ripping out the entire landscape) is to focus on the use of color.

A simple and safe way to establish (or re-establish) your garden color scheme is to start with the colors of your background.

The house, paving and fence, whether warm redwood or white painted wood, all are part of your color scheme. Even colors in the distant background affect your color design.

Views from the interior of the house also should be considered.

Colors sets the tone or mood of a landscape and is a matter of personal taste. Color is affected by its surroundings, and its character is affected when you put another color next to it. For instance, a pale green often will seem warmer and darker against a cool blue background than it would if placed next to a bright orange, where it takes on a cool, bluish tinge.

Certain colors appear to jump out while others seem to recede. Generally speaking, warm, strong colors such as bright red or vibrant orange seem to push forward while cooler, muted tones of gray, green and blue seem to set back.

If you want a quiet, restful setting, you may favor harmonious colors, especially those in the duller or neutral zones such as gray-green, gray-blue, dull violets and dusty pinks.

For an exciting, lively, warm atmosphere, you might turn to complementary colors such as yellow, orange, red and blue. The contrast of these colors placed side by side creates a bold, bright statement.

One solution to avoid costly landscape mistakes is to experiment with potted plants to help you develop a successful color scheme that works for you.

Consider that contrasts need not always be vivid. By using soft, subdued shades of complementary colors, you can still achieve a contrast with a refined ambiance.

Blue has a cool, refreshing quality and is especially welcome in warm climates because it suggests sky, sea and lakes. Blue needs the accent provided by flowers of complementary or contrasting colors such as yellow and orange.

Pinks, particularly the soft and salmon pinks, are good companions for clear blues. White adds sparkle to these combinations.

In general, reds are uncomfortable in combination with blue but a red that leans toward the yellow side can be very effective.

Gray makes most colors sing and tones down those that shout.

Gaudy reds take on a smart sophistication when supported by plants with gray foliage. Gray also brings out a hidden sparkle in quiet colors and creates harmonious transitions.

IfIf you live on the Central Coast Please call me for a free design consultation or a plant health care walk through. I can be reached at 805.712.0203