Designers in Wilton – MarvinGardensUSA

Incorporate Your Patio in Your New England Garden Design

Even if the majority of your yard is taken up by a large patio, planning your garden to incorporate this feature is not a problem. Here are some garden ideas for your New England residence:

If you live close to your neighbors but desire a little extra privacy during your morning coffee or afternoon yoga, shrubs planted along the outside of the patio or in containers on the border will create a sufficient barrier.

For something a bit more exciting, spring bulbs bring a splash of color early in the season. Hyacinths, daffodils, and tulips all make great choices after a harsh winter.

Incorporating late blooming perennials will fill in the space as the seasons shift.

For a utilitarian approach to patio gardening, herbs and vegetables can be grown in easy to access containers. Herbs are especially viable at the edge of larger planter boxes closest to the door. After all, if you enjoy cooking, why not have a fresh supply of your favorite ingredients?

Even in a shady patio, plenty of shrubs and ornamental grasses will flourish. Also, consider employing out of the ordinary containers for your plants, such as an ornate bathtub or antique wine barrels.

Traditional Landscape by via Houzz

For more help planning your garden, contact us at Marvin Gardens today.

Ideas for Natural Barriers in Your Garden Design

Plants, shrubs and trees are beautiful in and of themselves, but they also make wonderful screens for creating even better spaces in your backyard. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Define a Space – The savvy use of a combination of plants, shrubs and trees can create anything from a cozy, shaded nook for relaxing to a large, dedicated space for entertaining.

Add Some Privacy – Given time, most trees or hedges will completely obstruct the view from your yard to the street and vice versa. The key to getting it done in a resonable time is to use foliage that meets your needs in terms of density and speed of growth.

Eliminate an Eyesore – Another great use of natural barriers is to hide the necessary but unsightly equipment needed to run a modern home. You can use small shrubs around HVAC units and pool pumps but keep them well away from the equipment.

Traditional Landscape by Maine Landscapers via Houzz

For more specific recommendations on natural plant barriers and other creative garden design ideas, please contact us at Marvin Gardens.

Create a Garden Design That’s Great for Daydreaming and Meditation

When it comes to designing your garden, you may already have particular tastes, one design you may want to think about is a space that promotes meditation and philosophy. Having a beautiful space to meditate can bring peace and it can benefit your health.

container gardening — Source: Marvin Gardens Facebook

Here are some ideas you may want to consider adding to your garden design.

Adding shapes such as spheres to your garden can bring a sense of structure and peace while also providing texture.
Balance is key when promoting peace in your garden. This does not have to mean mirror imaging; asymmetrical balance can also add calm.
Gardens that are used for meditation often use greenery and foliage instead of flowers. This is thought to provide fewer distractions.
Well-placed seating such as a bench gazing out over the garden can provide a place to stop, breathe, and take in the beauty.
Plants that provide texture can be a great place to draw the eye, also drawing the mind to stop and think.

If you are interested in different types of garden design and finding the right design to suit your needs, contact us at Marvin Gardens.

Want to Start a Vegetable Garden? Tips to Get It Going

If you think you might have a green thumb, then you should consider the benefits of growing a vegetable garden outside your home. Not only is gardening an incredibly relaxing and rewarding activity, you’ll have fresh vegetables to use for your meals as well! The following are some vegetable garden care tips to help you get going:

Do your research – Some plants will thrive better than others depending on the time of the year. Keep in mind how long it will take for the plants to grow as well.
Purchase seeds – Seeds are far cheaper than buying small plants. One bag of seeds will probably cost as much as just one plant. Watching the seed flourish into a full plant is also much more rewarding.

Read the packet – Always follow the directions. The packet will provide details about spacing and the depth at which they need to be planted.

One seed at a time – Plant each seed individually. If they are grouped together, they will compete, making it difficult for them to germinate.

Use these tips to start a vegetable garden and be sure to contact us at Marvin Gardens USA for all your gardening needs.

Creative Ways to Bring Whimsy to Your Garden

Even if you take good care of your garden, you may still find it’s lacking something. If you look out at your garden and feel like it’s somewhat uninspired, then why not add a few whimsical elements in order to give it a more unique look? The following are a few garden design ideas that we recommend:

Footbridge – Do you have a tiny creek that runs through your backyard? Build a small footbridge over it – even if you can simply step over the water! A foot bridge will help add a huge amount of charm to your garden.

Add contrast – If your garden seems to be just varying shades of green, then add some contrast to it by planting a few stunning red Japanese maples or red plum trees.

Add edging to your garden beds – Give your garden beds a more finished look by placing pavers that are turned edgewise to create a simple, yet elegant trim.

Wood steps – Build a small set of wooden steps into your sloped yard.

These are just a few ways to give your garden a more whimsical look. Contact us at Marvin Gardens for all your garden needs.

Why Bats Can be a Great Addition to Your Garden

If you are in the process of planning your garden for spring and summer, you may want to consider bats and how attracting them can be an advantage to your garden.

Bats do many things to help your garden grow and thrive. You can use bats as natural pollinators as they help plants flower and set their fruit. Bats are also good at naturally controlling pests in your garden, especially at night why you aren’t watching.

Here are some great ways you can attract bats to your garden.

Plant some night blooming flowers. Plants such as night-blooming jasmines, datura, and nicotiana attract bats.
Install some bat houses. Build them yourself or purchase houses at the hardware store then place them around your garden. This will encourage bats to stop and nest in your garden.
Add lights to your garden. Lights will attract those insects that the bats love to eat, and the bats will see them and swoop in to enjoy them.
Add some more trees. Trees will provide both food and homes for the bats.

If you would like help planning your garden, contact us at Marvin Gardens.

Make Your Garden More Low Maintenance – and Green!

garden design ideas — `Source: Marvin Gardens Facebook

With just a few simple adjustments to your routine, you can make your garden far easier to maintain and much greener – in both a color and environmental sense. Here are some quick and easy ways to accomplish this goal:

Place a Water Catch – Just add a wooden barrel or some clay pots at strategic places where they will catch rain water. This water is free and, according to many experts, superior to tap water for your plants.
Add Mulch – Mulch is a great addition to any lawn or garden for two reasons. First, it reduces the amount of mowing and weeding that you must do. In addition, it protects the damp soil underneath from the hot rays of the sun.
Mow Less – How great does this sound? Just extend the intervals between mowings. You’ll work less and pollute less. Your grass will grow a little longer, but evenly. Plus, the longer blades will cut down on water evaporation.

For more information on making your garden greener and other creative garden design ideas, please contact us at Marvin Gardens. We can be found online at MarvinGardensUSA.com or reached directly at 203-544-2020.

Embrace the Sphere in Your Garden

garden accessories — Source: Marvin Gardens Facebook

Since ancient times, the sphere has been considered one of the most perfect and beautiful shapes. These days, the sphere is not quite so mystically revered but it is still respected for its uniqueness. Here are some ideas for introducing this magnificent shape into your garden:

Plants – There are many plants that have spherical flowers most notably, the alliums. With their vivid colors and, for plants, unusual shape, they make a strong visual impact in any garden.
Shrubs – Boxwoods, dwarf blue spruce and Japanese cedar are just three of your choices that make excellent spherical shrubs. It does take a little practice to get the trimming just right but after one season, you will be a pro.
Stone & Metal – Whether an intricately welded, metal globe or a simple roughly hewn stone, spherical sculptures in the garden are irresistible. Add one – or three! – to create a fabulous focal point in the garden.

For more information about these and other creative garden design ideas, please contact us at Marvin Gardens. We can be found online at MarvinGardensUSA.com or reached directly at 203-544-2020.

Ideas for Designing a Showstopping Front Yard

animal-sculptures — Source: Marvin Gardens

People’s first impression of your home forms at the first moment they set their eyes on your front yard. Even a beautiful interior design can’t shake off a bad impression once it’s already established.

For this reason, your front yard deserves a makeover if it’s currently making a lackluster impression. For this simple renovation project, think of a good outdoor design idea which you can easily execute. Start with a unifying theme that ties in all elements together for a harmonious look.

If you love the farmland aesthetic, for example, you can collect garden sculptures of farm animals and pair them with your plants and trees in your front yard. Continue the theme with farm-style fencing surrounding planting areas or an attractive farmhouse gate leading to your front porch.

If you want something less whimsical and more classic, try focusing more on attractive arrangements of flowers and other plants. You can add variety with container plants and classical statues.

There are many ways to decorate your front yard, but the final design boils down to what you like and what suits your home. Let your creativity take the reigns on this one! To get more ideas, visit us at Marvin Gardens or request more information.

Succulent Spotlight: Echeveria

If you’re looking for a new plant to spruce up your garden, then succulents are the way to go. Succulents will provide your garden with an incredibly unique look, and they are easy to care for as well. There are plenty of gorgeous succulents to choose from; personally, we recommend checking out the Echeveria succulent.

Echeveria succulents tend to thrive in milder climates and can be found in California as well as the American Southwest. They are one of the more popular succulents among homeowners due to the fact that they boast a colorful foliage throughout the year. While they are sensitive to cold, they make for a fantastic container plant, which means you can just take it inside during the winter months.

While they don’t need to be watered often to survive, Echeveria succulents do look their best with moderate watering. They also need full sun, but give them some shelter from especially harsh summer sunlight. Additionally, they are also tolerant to drought and resistant to deer, which means you don’t have to worry about your succulent becoming an afternoon snack!

For more advice on succulent arrangements, contact us at Marvin Gardens USA.