Garden Accessories

Garden Accessories can be functional; but most often, they are placed in gardens for their charm and whimsy. From cheap mechanical croaking frogs to expensive gazebos, we just can't get enough of them. For instance, a garden cart can hold a watering can, hand tools, and gloves; or it can be used as a garden end table, or placed in an outdoor setting for visual appeal only.

Statues, Fountains, and Waterfalls

Garden accessories don't have to be functional. Statues give style to a garden, while fountains and waterfalls create mist and water sounds. Garden structures such as arches and gates create entry ways or exits. Windmills and water wheels add movement. Yet, tables, chairs, and umbrellas are functional and are physically inviting and add comfort.

Garden Decor

The beauty about garden accessories is that they don't have to meet the same standards as home decor. What's good about this situation for artists is that artists and designers alike can drop their guard when stylizing and designing for their gardens. If you feel anxious about painting a design on an outdoor piece or putting together a mosaic table top, make it for outdoor use! If your artwork is not exactly as you want it, it’s not as intimidating as long as you know it is going to be outdoors. It seems that outdoor art is a bit more forgiving.

For my garden, I placed a metal watering can inside an outdoor cart. I painted the watering can with white house paint. Then, I painted a horizontal line with green acrylic paint around the watering can. Next, I sprayed the can with a clear coat of matte lacquer and threw sand onto the lacquer before it had a chance to dry. Once again, I repeated the process. Finally, I sprayed a final coat of clear matte lacquer for the finishing touch.

Today, the watering can look pretty close to how I originally painted it―and it's been outside in approximately the same spot for about four years now with plants growing in it. This may seem unimportant and insignificant to some, but it is a rewarding experience to the person who took the time to add that special, personal touch to a manufactured garden accent. So, don’t be afraid to get creative with your garden accents. You just might surprise yourself!

Arthor and Source: Debbie Jensen

3D Garden Design Software

Theres a huge list of things that need to be considered when planning your landscape garden layout such as estimated quantity of materials, how much work is entailed plus all the associated costs. Making sure that everything goes to plan for your garden design layout without any problems isn't easy. This article discusses and offers several garden design software programs available to help you.

FREE - Garden Design Software Downloads

How to Grow a Japanese Garden in your Yard

Each Japanese garden is different from the next due to the fact that everybody incorporates a Japanese garden in a different way. It should be unique to you and your personality and it should be a place where you can relax and enjoy the scenery. So, just what kind of things can you place in a Japanese garden? This article discusses the various things which you can use within a Japanese garden in order to give it its character.

How to Build a Japanese Water Garden

Garden Landscaping Design Ideas

Designing a garden seems to be easy. However, when the garden is finished, some gardeners become disappointed with the result. The final product is messy and not appealing to the eye. That is why it is important to study the basic elements of garden landscaping design and apply them during the making of the garden. By familiarizing these five elements of landscape design, a gardener can grow a garden that is both visually appealing and organized.

Tips and Pics of Garden Landscaping Designs

Home Garden Water Fountains

Tropical gardens and their lovely concrete water fountains may be found not only in the tropics, but also all over the world. The first tropical gardens and concrete water fountains were thought to be in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia but they were designed for medicinal purposes rather than for ornamental purposes. Never the less, the Egyptians certainly loved their public concrete water fountains.

How to Design and Build a Fountain in your Garden

Garden Fencing Designs

Do you have a flower garden and are interested in making it even more beautiful? A wonderful option is to have a fence around your garden to make it a private place that seems even more beautiful with all the other elements of the world shut out. There are quite a few fencing options for you to choose from and vinyl fences are actually one of the most popular.

Which Garden Fence Design is Right for You?

Gardening Tools Guide

Most people know very well about the rules and regulations to keep your plants to grow healthy in your garden. For getting sustainable growth from your garden plants, they do require good soil quality, sun light and sufficient water. Although these items have been gifted by nature, gardening tools are necessary to upkeep your garden.

Help choosing the Gardening Tools for the Project

Garden Designs using Rock, Brick, & Stone

Does your lawn remind you more of a grass and plant graveyard, than a lush, relaxing paradise? If so, you may want to consider using rocks, bricks, and stones in your landscaping design. Landscaping with rock, brick and stone will need hardly any maintenance besides the occasional plucking of a weed every now and then. You don't have to water, mow, trim, fertilize, or spray for bugs.

Landscape Design using Rock, Brick, and Stone

Landscaping with Plants, Shrubs and Trees

The weather has become nicer, and after a cold winter all you really want to do is liven up your yard with some landscaping plants. However, just one visit to your local garden center revealed to you that there are many choices, so you need some advice when it comes to choosing the right landscaping plants. Even if you are not a gardener, a good portion of your landscape involves living plants in some fashion.

Design Ideas with Plants, Shrubs and Trees