garden design – MarvinGardensUSA

Think Like a Landscaper When Planning Your Garden

One of the best tricks for planning you garden like a professional landscaper is to work around a focal point. This component of your design should be capable of drawing a lot of interest and attention from guests all by itself. However, by tying this in with other elements of the garden, a truly cohesive space can be achieved.

garden design — Source: Marvin Gardens Facebook

Your focal point can be a naturally occurring element, such as a large boulder or tree, or a strategically placed item, such as a building or sculpture. Larger gardens may employ more than one focal point, but this will detract value from a garden too small to handle it, appearing cluttered.

It’s important to employ a strong sense of contrast when developing your focal point and the rest of the garden. Although many aspects of the garden can be included in this venture, such as color, accounting for the texture of your garden gives one of the most subtle yet impactful impressions. Rhythm and repetition of design motifs are also very effective.

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

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.

Great Reasons to Take Another Look at Your Front Lawn

The front lawn is the first thing people see of your home, so they will already have a first impression formed even before they step into the front door. You therefore have to make sure that the front lawn is always on top condition — you’ll never know who may drop by.

home gardening landscaping — Source: Flickr

Aside from keeping the front lawn clean, you can also update it to increase your home’s curb appeal. Nowadays, this is an easier thing to do because of the many options for designing an outdoor space that are available to homeowners.

But how can you tell if your front lawn needs an upgrade? Here are some telltale signs:

The front entryway isn’t highlighted enough to be prominent.
It’s confusing to navigate a vehicle up or down the driveway.
Views from outside aren’t blocked, resulting in a lack of privacy.
The walkway to the front door doesn’t look welcoming.
Your maintenance and watering expenses are higher than you’d want them to be.

If your front lawn exhibits these signs, then allow us at Marvin Gardens to come to its rescue. We have an extensive collection of garden accessories to liven up your front lawn. Contact us for more details.

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.

Consider Adding Winter Branches to Your Container Gardens

One way to add dimension and enhance the seasonal look of your outdoor garden design is to add tree branches to your container gardens. This does not need to cost a lot of money, as you may be able to find suitable branches right outside your door.

One idea that works for both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays is to repurpose an interesting vintage or unique item as a planting container. All you need to do to make a quick container garden is to anchor some branches into the soil and perhaps add a colorful bow for an added festive touch.

For Thanksgiving, you could choose to put include redtwig dogwood or other colorful branches into your planter with assorted greenery. This garden design can easily follow through to Christmas by adding some white birch twigs and additional greenery, such as pine or fir branches and changing out the bow.

One whimsical look that you can create uses tall curly willow branches and pinecones. Insert the branches into a weathered pot and place the pinecones over the soil for a rustic look that will last until spring.

Get more ideas and advice from the garden design experts at Marvin Gardens.

Important Things to Do in Your Garden Before Winter

garden care ideas — Source: Marvin Gardens Facebook

The fall season is upon us and winter is approaching fast. Inexperienced gardeners may think that means a lull in activity but more knowledgeable ones understand that there are still plenty of things to do to get ready for next year. Here are just a few suggestions for where to start:

Plant Bulbs – It is important to get these in the ground before it freezes so that the plants have some time to root and establish themselves. Then they will be ready for an early spring thaw and you will have flowers as early as possible.
Divide and Transplant – Similarly, transplanting is best done now so that the plants are acclimatized to their new environment and ready to bloom at the earliest possible time.
Fertilize the Lawn – Don’t forget your lawn. The winter months create a long hiatus when your grass won’t be receiving much nourishment. A little fertilizer in the fall will go a long way towards keeping your lawn green now and in the spring.

For more information on these and other garden care ideas, please visit us at Marvin Gardens.

Too Busy to Decorate? We Can Help!

holiday decorating — Source: Marvin Gardens

Life is so busy these days and now with the holidays right around the corner when are you going to find the time to shop, cook and decorate? We here at Marvin Gardens can help lessen your load by taking care of all your exterior decorating and interior arrangement needs.

From fresh garland to stringing rows of bright sparkly lights, let Marvin Gardens worry about untangling those strands and figuring out why that one bulb won’t work. We also can supply beautifully decorated fresh wreaths for hanging on doors, windows and over fireplaces and assist in designing an outdoor space for that perfect holiday look.

Now that summer blossoms have faded, let us fill those exterior decorative vessels with red berries, pine cones and other eye-catching holiday greenery. For the interior you can supply your own vases or just stop by, select a few from our large selection, we’ll create fabulous unique arrangements and deliver them to your home at your convenience. These will be perfect for a Thanksgiving centerpiece or as elegant tablescapes during those holiday brunches and cocktail parties.

Marvin Gardens is here for all your holiday decorating needs. Please visit us online today.

Create a Table Centerpiece From Your Garden

garden design accessories — Source: Marvin Gardens Facebook

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and there is a lot to do before your friends and family sit down to dinner. You can cross one thing off your to-do list by creating a Thanksgiving table centerpiece from your garden. Pairing design accessories with items from your garden makes for a unique and meaningful table centerpiece.

Our favorite ideas include using:

Acorns and leaves. Look to the ground for acorns and leaves that will add color and texture to the table. A small sprig of leaves and a few acorns are perfect set against a cluster of roses.
Greenery. Pieces of greenery from pine, spruce, or noble trees can be collected and used in centerpieces. These garden items can be added to floral arrangements in vases or circled around candles.
Fall-blooming flowers. If you have mums or other fall blooming flowers in your garden you can use these in your holiday celebration. Choose a vessel that your guests can see over and consider wrapping it in burlap or raffia reminiscent of the harvest.

If you’d like to learn more about creative ways to decorate for Thanksgiving using things items from your garden contact the professionals at Marvin Gardens.

Make the Most of Autumn Leaves When Gardening

Autumn brings with it the falling leaves, which are a rich source of nutrients that are often mistaken for a hassle rather then the opportunity they truly are. Leaves provide a rich source of nutrients that can easily be harnessed and used in garden care.

Mulch
Leaves provide a great mulch that can be stored or immediately used in gardens and lawns. Rather than tossing the leaves, use a lawn mower to chop them up. If you want to leave it on the lawn, remove the bag from the mower and let it blow out onto the lawn. Through the winter the pieces will settle into the lawn and disappear come spring thaw.
If the plan is to use it in the garden, you can place whole leaves or the chopped up leaves directly into the bed. Over winter they will decompose and come the spring they can easily be tilled into the soil.

Insulation
Piling leaves onto plants, even potted ones, is a great way to insulate the plants and pots from the winter months. Terracotta pots can be insulated well enough with leaves that they do not have to be moved indoors.