Designing the Perfect Garden 3: Paint your Garden

Now’s the time to start thinking about how your garden might look during the summer months. Painting is an option that is overlooked by many but one that can provide almost instant and dramatic dividends.

Introducing a new colour will instantly freshen up the garden as a whole and when executed successfully it will set the planting off really well too. Colour is difficult to maintain in the garden all year round solely with the planting whereas a lick of paint on a pergola, bench, fence or some pots is a simple way to add colour through all of the seasons. Think about which colours to use and how they will set off your plants. The cool colours such as blues, purples, lavenders and whites always work well together and blend well with planting of similar hues, whereas the hotter colours of the reds, oranges and yellows will warm things up a little and intensify the greens of any nearby plants. Whatever colours you decide on it’s best to limit them to one or two which compliment each other to keep the garden looking harmonious and planned. If you have a shady garden use light colours to help bounce light around.

The great thing about paints is that if you get tired of the colour it’s easy to change it. Rather than just painting straight on to brickwork you could consider cladding the walls with a waterproof ply (WBP) and then paint top create a smooth rendered wall look. On all timber finishes it’s best to use a stain as it is easier to apply future coats whereas on brick or cement always use a masonry paint, as it won’t peel and will last for years.

~ by modulargarden on 20 February, 2008.