DESIGNING FOR COLOR IN THE GARDEN

First things first, look at your landscape and decide where you would like to plant roses.  Some Consider what impact the roses will have on the existing landscape and how the colors you choose will blend or contrast with the rest of the garden. 

Are you looking for more excitement in your garden or would you like it to be a restful and serene retreat from the world?

COLOR PROPERTIES

 Cool Colors 

Tend to look and feel more calm, serene, restful.  Look for lavenders, whites, soft pinks, or pastels of apricot and yellow.  Cooler colors recede and are useful in smaller spaces.

Warm Colors
These colors bring more excitement and vibrancy to the garden.  Use bright oranges, reds, yellows and hot pinks.  Warm colors tend to pop out and capture the viewers attention.  If you need a focal point bright colors are a good choice.

Color Scheme 

Try using paint chips to create different color schemes.  Experiment with the brights and cool colors to see which ones you are drawn to.  Don’t forget to include the color(s) of your house when making decisions about color and don’t be afraid to try to wild and crazy combinations – you may stumble onto something fantastic and unique!

Harmony / Contrast 

Colors with the same value tend to be harmonious and soothing. 

Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel are strongly contrasting and can create a lot of visual excitement.

DESIGN POINTERS

Choose a color scheme using some of the ideas outlined above.

Decide where you want to plant your roses and consider the texture of the foliage when  planting in a mixed bed or using shrubbery and other plants as companions.  Roses have a somewhat course texture and will really stand out near shrubs with finer textured foliage. 

Consider the height of your roses in the planting bed and in the landscape.  Straight lines can be boring so try to vary the heights of your plants throughout your garden.

Repeat some of the colors in your rose garden in your landscape to tie everything together.  Sometimes less is more so try to stick with your chosen color scheme.

COMPANION PLANTS

These plants look good planted in front of your roses and used as a filler to cover the sometimes slightly bare look at the base of your roses:

Verbena

                   

Creeping Zinnia

Sage

               

Liriope

Candy Tuft

Yarrow

Other Companion Plants:

Lamb's Ear

Oregano

Pentunias

Dianthus

Cranesbill

Creeping Phlox

Enjoy your garden!!