Skip to content

Top Navigation

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAYS
  • ENTERTAINING
  • HOME
  • GARDENING
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING
  • WEDDINGS
  • SHOP
  • DIY
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS
  • LIFE
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Pin FB

Explore Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Tips on Organizing Your Home

      Tips on Organizing Your Home

      From the kitchen and bathroom to the bedroom and laundry room, here are 40 ways to simplify, streamline, and banish clutter throughout the house. Read More
    • These Are the Paint Colors You'll See Everywhere in 2022

      These Are the Paint Colors You'll See Everywhere in 2022

      Upgrade your spaces with new—and old—classics. Read More
    • 39 Make-Ahead Holiday Dishes That Are Perfect for Festive Family Gatherings

      39 Make-Ahead Holiday Dishes That Are Perfect for Festive Family Gatherings

      These classic recipes will help you get a head start on the festivities. Read More
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cooking How-Tos
    • Baking
    • Menu Planning
    • Food News & Trends
    • Wine
    • Mastering the Holiday Meal
    • What's for Dinner
    • All Recipes
  • HOLIDAYS

    HOLIDAYS

    See All HOLIDAYS
    All of Our Best Valentine's Day Crafts to Make from the Heart

    All of Our Best Valentine's Day Crafts to Make from the Heart

    Express your love with handmade Valentine's crafts like paper cards, gift ideas, and decorations.
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Passover
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
  • ENTERTAINING

    ENTERTAINING

    See All ENTERTAINING
    Will We Entertain Differently in 2022? These Are the New Trends Hostesses Should Bookmark

    Will We Entertain Differently in 2022? These Are the New Trends Hostesses Should Bookmark

    Secure your role as the host with the absolute most.
    • Seasonal Entertaining & Decorating
    • Baby Shower Ideas
    • Dinner Party Ideas
    • You're Invited
  • HOME

    HOME

    See All HOME
    How to Hang and Arrange Pictures

    How to Hang and Arrange Pictures

    Amp up your home décor with perfectly placed frames.
    • Home Design & Decor
    • Paint Colors & Palettes
    • DIY Home Projects
    • The Well-Kept Home
  • GARDENING

    GARDENING

    See All GARDENING
    Six Houseplant Mistakes to Avoid This Winter

    Six Houseplant Mistakes to Avoid This Winter

    Don't let your varieties fall victim to the perils of poor cold-weather maintenance.
    • Container Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Houseplants
    • Landscaping
    • Vegetable Gardens
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    How to Deep Clean Your Oven with Baking Soda

    How to Deep Clean Your Oven with Baking Soda

    Our easy tips will make this cleaning task a lot less daunting.
    • Cleaning
    • Storage & Organization
    • Laundry & Linens
  • WEDDINGS

    WEDDINGS

    See All WEDDINGS
    Your Ultimate Wedding-Planning Timeline

    Your Ultimate Wedding-Planning Timeline

    Ready, set, go! Our no-nonsense guide will help you learn how to plan your wedding like a pro.
    • Real Weddings
    • Wedding Party
    • Wedding Planning & Advice
    • Wedding Ceremony & Reception
    • Wedding Jewelry
    • Dresses & Style
    • Wedding Beauty & Wellness
    • Wedding Registry
    • Wedding Showers & Parties
    • Love & Marriage
    • Wedding Travel
  • SHOP
  • DIY

    DIY

    See All DIY
    How to Knit: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

    How to Knit: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

    Learn how to knit your own mittens, hats, scarves, and more. We'll take you through the step-by-step instructions and teach you how to cast on, knit, purl, and cast off.
    • Dyeing
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Kids' Crafts
    • Knitting
    • Paper Crafts
    • Sewing
    • Rescue & Revamp
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    Your Complete Guide to Restoring Moisture Back Into Your Skin

    Your Complete Guide to Restoring Moisture Back Into Your Skin

    Take a multi-pronged approach if you're experiencing excess dryness.
    • Beauty
    • Health & Wellness
    • Live Well
  • LIFE

    LIFE

    See All LIFE
    • Family
    • Pets
    • Travel
    • Net Worth
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. marthastewart.com
  2. Garden
  3. 30 Great Ideas for Your Garden

30 Great Ideas for Your Garden

By Emily Goldman Updated March 20, 2020
Skip gallery slides
Pin
turkey hill garden pool
Credit: Richard Felber
Dress your garden up with colorful blooms, charming pots, and much more.
Start Slideshow

1 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
turkey hill garden pool
Credit: Richard Felber

Tending to your garden takes time and patience, but few things beat hours spent sitting in the open air enjoying the fruits of your labor and taking in the great outdoors. Whether you're brand-new to gardening or have a certified green thumb, there's always a way to add a little something extra to your backyard garden. From plant suggestions to ways to transform any space into an outdoor sanctuary, we're sharing our most creative ideas for your patch of blooms.

One of the most exciting and research-driven aspects of creating a garden is choosing what to plant. Depending on the zone you live in, and the aesthetic you're looking for, picking the right plants can feel overwhelming. But there's no need to break out the almanac just yet—we're suggesting a number of gorgeous blooms that are guaranteed to add a little something extra to your space, so there's something for everyone, no matter where you live. If you're looking for spring flowers, lilacs are the perfect option. They're found in seven colors and grow well in fertile, temperate climates. Including hydrangeas in your garden is another stunning concept. They blossom from summer into fall, and can tolerate some shade, making them ideal for areas of the yard that can otherwise be tricky to plant in.

If you're the type of gardener that loves a good DIY, you'll find beautiful crafting ideas galore. Our Pyramidal Pots Water Fountain how-to is simple and fun to make. The stacked pots not only look pretty sitting among your flowers, but the soft trickle of water also adds a welcome calming effect to your space. If adding elements of water isn't what you're looking for, try creating your own aged Terra-Cotta pots for a lived-in decoration that's both stylish and functional. From helpful tips to must-do DIYs, ahead find a number of ideas that will take your garden to the next level.

1 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Consider Hydrangeas

mla102550_0807_garden.jpg
Credit: Christopher Baker

Gardeners in applicable growing regions know all about hydrangeas' intricate beauty, abundant summer-into-fall blooms, and obliging tolerance of some shade.

2 of 30

3 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Incorporate Lilacs

ft_lilac02.jpg

When most people think of these blooms, they think of the fragrant, old-fashioned common lilac, which flowers for just a few weeks each spring, but the genus is quite diverse. By selecting carefully, it is possible to have two months of spring bloom, plus some repeat flowering in early fall, and even autumnal foliage color.

  • Low-Maintenance Flower Garden Ideas

3 of 30

Advertisement

4 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Plant Peach Lemonade Roses

pink and yellow roses
Credit: Courtesy of White Flower Farm

These gorgeous blooms are the perfect addition to your garden. The roses begin yellow and become pink over time, giving your garden an ever-changing dose of color.

4 of 30

5 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Add Moss

moss-garden-tree-0811mld106442.jpg
Credit: Paul Costello

Don't be afraid to add moss to your garden. Some of our favorite types for shady areas are Bryopsida or Musci. Be sure that these are grown in moist areas, where they'll thrive.

  • Explore Moss Gardens

5 of 30

6 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Think of Succulents

potted succulents on wooden pallet
Credit: Getty Images/Memory Yip/Eye Em

For a low-maintenance dash of green, add pots of succulents to your garden. These work great indoors or out, but ensure you've chosen the right varieties for your zone if you intend to plant them outdoors.

6 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Get Geraniums

ft_geranium03.jpg

If you listed the characteristics of the ideal plant—easy-care, long bloom, color, fragrance, shade tolerance—you'd find that geraniums have them all.

  • Everything You Need to Know About Geraniums

7 of 30

8 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Plant Flowering Herbs

msl_0309_bean15.jpg

As pretty as they are useful, flowering herbs grow around stately artichoke plants and bring a touch of the Mediterranean to this garden.

8 of 30

9 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Hedge Your Bets

hedges
Credit: Richard Donovan/Almay Stock Photo

If you're in the market for privacy plants, there are many versatile choices, including hornbeam. On her farm in Bedford, Martha has English hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), whose dense green foliage turns yellow-orange in fall.

9 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Strikingly Efficient

msl_0309_bean14.jpg

This vegetable garden was designed to be beautiful as well as useful. Striking, durable kales and cabbages are planted among the more traditional tomatoes, onions, and lettuces.

10 of 30

11 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Create Your Own Rose Garden Plan

ft050_ultimatero10_m.jpg

If roses are your favorite flower, take a cue from Martha and her rose garden for some major inspiration. From colorful blooms to unparalleled landscaping, her rose garden plan explores various florae and is the ultimate how-to in cultivating your own gorgeous blooms.

11 of 30

12 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Use a Bamboo Tamer

gt04aprmsl_planttamer.jpg

Here's an attractive way to prevent invasive plants such as dwarf bamboo from overrunning your garden: Plant them in terra-cotta chimney flue tiles. Use a tile with a diameter that is at least four inches wider than the plant's root ball. Sink the tile into the soil so that the lip sticks up one inch; plant inside the tile.

12 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Utilize a Soil-Saving Plant Screen

mld103228_0608_screen.jpg

The metal and plastic screens that help keep mosquitoes and other warm-weather pests out of the house this time of year can also prevent soil from washing out of planters during rain or irrigation. Unroll a piece of lightweight screening and set your flowerpot on top. Cut the screen to fit, working around the pot's bottom with scissors (for plastic screens) or tin snips (for the metal kind). Fit the screen inside the pot to cover the drainage holes, and then add soil.

13 of 30

14 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Rely on Pots and Paving

mla104303_0509_terra1.jpg

The tone and shape of containers and walkways can showcase plants and enhance an area's aesthetic. On the color wheel, green adjoins yellow, which adjoins orange; mixing these yields a satisfying color scheme. Here, terra-cotta pots draw attention to a "hedge" of boxwood topiaries. A background scrim of golden yew picks up the color of the boxwoods' new growth. A brick terrace creates a warm foil for spilling leaves near a fountain.

14 of 30

15 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Utilize Easy Planters

gt03marmsl_bushelbasket.jpg

Bushel baskets from the garden center make charming and inexpensive containers for a mix of annuals, including Angelonia, Lantana, and Plectranthus. Their wooden slats provide built-in drainage, and they can be recycled after the plants have had their season in the sun. As autumn draws to an end, the entire basket can be composted once the wire handles are removed.

15 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Add Hanging Beauties

garden center shopping tips
Credit: Adrienne Bresnahan/Getty Images

Draw the eye upwards with an array of colorful plants in an overflowing hanging garden. These look great displayed on a porch or patio.

16 of 30

17 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Use a Faux Bois Planter

Three log planters outdoors
Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

This planter holds up to 75 quarts of soil and looks natural in any garden. Use a piece of screen to cover the extra-large drainage hole to prevent soil from escaping.

Shop Now: Martha Stewart Garden "Faux Bois" Planter, from $24.45, qvc.com.

17 of 30

18 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Place Painted Pots

gt059_paintpots01_s.jpg

For cheerful containers, paint pots in colors that complement their contents. Hang on a patio wall or line a path with the pretty planters.

  • Small Patio Ideas to Maximize Your Space

18 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Display Decorative Cachepots

gt02julmsl_beachbucket01.jpg

Free from gritty sand and briny water, beach pails are pleasing to the eye, with their sturdy proportions and bold palette. So, put them to decorative use, on display as cachepots hiding less attractive flowerpots within. Collect your favorites from the local discount store.

19 of 30

20 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Use Chalkboard Pots

a98551_0301_chlkboardpots.jpg
Credit: Lisa Hubbard

Organize plants and seedlings, and identify homegrown herbs, by painting the collars of clay pots with stripes of chalkboard paint and write each pot's contents in chalk.

20 of 30

21 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Make Your Own Aging Terra-Cotta Pots

gt02marmsl_antiquepots.jpg
Get the Aging Terra-Cotta How-To

Clay pots gradually whiten with age, showing evidence of minerals leaching from water through the years. Here's how to get that charming, weathered look without waiting.

21 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Add a Simple Garden Water Dish

mar06_webonly_01_simpledish.jpg

Place a stone serving bowl on a bench or another available hard, flat surface to bring animals to your garden. Birds and little critters will gladly accept the water. This one is filled with bluish-green pebbles, but you can include any animal-friendly materials for decoration.

22 of 30

23 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Build a Pyramidal Pots Water Fountain

0206_msl_pyramidpots.jpg
Get the Pyramidal Pots Water Fountain How-To

Stacked pots fitted with a pump and filled to the brim make for a gorgeous addition to your garden. We love this DIY, which includes a calming effect with its soft sounds reminiscent of lapping waves.

23 of 30

24 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Incorporate a Sonorous Ceramic Water Feature

0206_msl_ceramic.jpg

Greet guests with the tranquil sound of falling water in a pump-fitted urn with a motor that moves the water underground. Plus, it's a gorgeous decorative addition to your garden.

24 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Clearly Delineate Your Garden

mla10351_sept2008_garden05.jpg
Credit: Lisa Romerein

In the front courtyard of this garden, gravel gives border plants room to spill; sculptural Aloe thraskii and Agave attenuata define the rear.

25 of 30

26 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Create a Place to Relax

mla102360_0508_benat.jpg

Hollyhocks reach for the roof of landscape designer Judy Tomkins's home. The screened porch is surrounded by beds of blue and white delphiniums mixed with white Cimicifuga. A rustic bench makes an ideal resting spot.

26 of 30

27 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Add a Triumphant Archway

mla10351_sept2008_garden08.jpg
Credit: Lisa Romerein

The archway leading to this summer garden is set off by neoregelia on the left and angel's trumpet on the right; in the background, Ipomoea batatas "Marguerite" grows between cycads.

27 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Keep a Wider Perspective

mla102360_0508_house.jpg

The beds edging the grass-and-stone pathway to the front door of this farmhouse are filled with a jumble of flowers that includes bleeding hearts, tulips, tall bearded irises, roses, and peonies.

28 of 30

29 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Use Latticework

la10251_0409_7_rd.jpg

A fragrant, disease-resistant "New Dawn" rose climbs the latticework that screens the east-facing porch ell of this garden. Tony Bielaczyc, the former deputy gardening editor at Martha Stewart Living, took advantage of this bright exposure to stock the border with sun-loving flowers.

29 of 30

30 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Create Garden Shed Crate Cabinets

mld103940_0309_shed1.jpg

Create custom cabinetry in your garden shed with vintage wine crates from flea markets or online auctions. Easily recreate this DIY by stacking the crates horizontally and vertically, using some as bases to vary heights. Once you've established a layout, connect crates with wood screws and collars near the corners. Then use cup hooks to hang smaller items, such as trowels, funnels, and scissors. As your need for storage grows, simply reconfigure the system and add more crates.

30 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Emily Goldman

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 30
    2 of 30 Consider Hydrangeas
    3 of 30 Incorporate Lilacs
    4 of 30 Plant Peach Lemonade Roses
    5 of 30 Add Moss
    6 of 30 Think of Succulents
    7 of 30 Get Geraniums
    8 of 30 Plant Flowering Herbs
    9 of 30 Hedge Your Bets
    10 of 30 Strikingly Efficient
    11 of 30 Create Your Own Rose Garden Plan
    12 of 30 Use a Bamboo Tamer
    13 of 30 Utilize a Soil-Saving Plant Screen
    14 of 30 Rely on Pots and Paving
    15 of 30 Utilize Easy Planters
    16 of 30 Add Hanging Beauties
    17 of 30 Use a Faux Bois Planter
    18 of 30 Place Painted Pots
    19 of 30 Display Decorative Cachepots
    20 of 30 Use Chalkboard Pots
    21 of 30 Make Your Own Aging Terra-Cotta Pots
    22 of 30 Add a Simple Garden Water Dish
    23 of 30 Build a Pyramidal Pots Water Fountain
    24 of 30 Incorporate a Sonorous Ceramic Water Feature
    25 of 30 Clearly Delineate Your Garden
    26 of 30 Create a Place to Relax
    27 of 30 Add a Triumphant Archway
    28 of 30 Keep a Wider Perspective
    29 of 30 Use Latticework
    30 of 30 Create Garden Shed Crate Cabinets

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Martha Stewart

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Customer Service
    • Media Kit
    • Martha's Blog
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • FAQ
    • Corporate
    • International
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMartha Stewart is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Martha Stewart. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.marthastewart.com

    Sign in

    View image

    30 Great Ideas for Your Garden
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.