The simple garden

Gina Alexander

“Everyone wants their own sanctuary,” Karin Fulton says. As a

designer for Colorscape, the landscape division of Roger’s Gardens in

Corona del Mar, she should know. Gardens make people happy and are

stress-reducing retreats, especially now, she said, as fewer people

are traveling and more are putting money into their gardens.

To some though, the labor needed to maintain a beautiful garden

makes it seem far from a relaxing vacation. The thought of spending

long weekend hours pruning, trimming and watering keeps many indoors.

But for those who are ready to break out, Fulton has some tips on how

to create a dramatic landscape that needs minimal maintenance.

Go with the flow

Planning a garden is a big project. Where to start? Fulton

suggests looking indoors for the answer. “People want an extension of

their interior,” she said. If the indoor decor is reminiscent of a

French cottage, for example, consider wrought-iron patio furniture or

a trellis complete with creeping vines. Another good starting point

is to match the garden to the home’s architecture. A garden full of

Mediterranean-inspired pottery, statuary and fountains would

complement a Mediterranean style home.

The artful garden

“Garden art enhances the garden,” Fulton says. In the

low-maintenance garden, artwork and statuary can become focuses or be

used as accents to make the garden more colorful, lush and inviting.

Garden art comes in many different varieties, from large items such

as fountains and arbors, to small accessories such as flowerboxes,

urns, wall plaques and wind chimes. Marking garden pathways with

stepping stones or gravel is also pleasing to the eye while creating

a relaxing sense of movement.

Pro hint No. 1

The sound of outdoor water features and fountains is very soothing

and can drown out traffic noise for a more relaxing garden

experience, but Fulton warns that they are not low-maintenance.

Electricity is needed to cycle the water through the fountain’s pump,

and if there isn’t an outlet in the yard, a professional electrician

needs to install one. Using an extension cord to bring electricity

from inside the house is not recommended. It will be worthwhile to do

it right.

Pro hint No. 2

Iron chairs, trellises, and even old metal fences add texture and

ambience to the garden, especially if there is an easy-growing vine

laced through them.

The good, the bad and the ugly

Can’t part with your garden gnome? Is that pink flamingo a family

heirloom? No worries. Fulton says that though she tries to steer her

clients away from such things, there is always room for a special

piece, no matter how tacky it may be. She does have her limits,

though. “We don’t want plastic in the garden,” she said. That means

no plastic pots and no plastic wind spinners. For whimsical accents,

try a spinner made of metal, a birdhouse that matches your theme, or

a classy wind chime. Be sure to stay clear of trendy items like those

reflective glass orbs, which Fulton says are on their way out.

Green for the brown thumb

Shade or sun? That’s the first thing to consider when choosing

plants for your new easy-to-maintain garden. Also, avoid blooming

plants which require pruning and special care, Fulton says. These

plants require little to make your garden lush.

Pittosporum are evergreen shrubs that have thick, glossy, dark

green leaves. They are very tolerant of salt and strong winds that

are common in coastal regions. These shrubs like the shade, but will

tolerate full sun.

Don’t think a lack of blossoms equals an all green garden. The

Nandina shrub has lacy foliage that is often bronze or rosy when the

leaves are new, turns green with age and then takes on brilliant red,

orange, bronze and pink hues in the fall and winter. For more vibrant

colors, plant in full sun, but it will also do well in the shade.

Loropetalum shrubs have deep burgundy foliage. Like the Nandina,

the vibrancy depends on the sun. More sun means better color. This

shrub also has unusual fuchsia flowers that show up in late spring.

Ground covers are a good alternative to traditional grasses

because there’s no need to mow. Irish moss, for example, looks great

around statues and between stepping stones. It is a hardy plant that

thrives in sunny or shady locations, and it stays green all year. In

midsummer, expect tiny white blooms.

Ivy provides a thick, green ground cover, but also looks nice in a

planter. Like moss, it does well in either sun or shade and is very

resistant to disease and pests.

If you insist on blossoms in the garden, put them in pots for easy

maintenance. Also consider pots for moss and herbs. Place pots on the

ground, on benches and hanging from an arbor to get the green going

at all levels.