Bright ideas for outdoor decor
Flowering plants are not the only way of injecting colour into your external space, says LOUISE MIDGLEY
THERE’S an art to maintaining continuity of colour in a garden throughout the year and once you have mastered the skill of planting a successional mix of flowering bulbs, annuals, biennials, perennials, small trees and shrubs, your garden will be all the richer for it.
But no matter how experienced a gardener you are, there will inevitably be peaks and troughs among the flowering plants, more often than not caused by the vagaries of British summer weather.
For this reason, it’s wise to incorporate colour into your garden from a variety of other sources. Soft furnishings, painted structures, ornate parasols and decorative pots will add colourful focal points to the space.
And there are no rules when it comes to dressing your garden with colour; it doesn’t have to conform to a certain style or be like everybody else’s.
The garden adjoining an ultra-modern build, for example, does not have to be mirrored with understated, neutral tones – if pretty florals are your thing then go large with them.
Be imaginative and create a very personal space that makes you want to spend time in it.
CREATE SHADED SPOTS
Unless your garden is in full shade for most of the day, which is not uncommon in urban environments, invest in a parasol, umbrella or shade sail to offer protection from the sun in your preferred seating area. Online retailers are a good place to source these items, as garden centres rarely have the space to carry a wide range of styles.
The beautiful parasol pictured is available from eastlondonparasols. com, which has a selection of luxurious designs that would grace any garden.
Permanent structures such as pergolas and gazebos are also great options to sit beneath on sunny days.
ADD A LICK OF PAINT
Transform fences or wooden structures with an exterior preservative paint; these are available in a wide range of colours.
The best paints provide protection from the elements, including some degree of waterproofing and will give your shed, greenhouse, pergola or boundary fence a new look.
RAINBOW-COLOURED FOLIAGE
A garden filled with plants that have similarly shaded plain green foliage is uninspiring; opt instead for a variety of specimens that have foliage in an array of colours. Cotinus ‘Grace’ has purple leaves that change to bright scarlet in autumn, Physocarpus ‘Diabolo’ sports chocolate brown foliage and Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’ has striking acid yellow leaves.
And don’t forget shrubs which have silver or variegated foliage, as well as brightly coloured Heucheras or Coleus.