Product News: Habitat Design Now Does Edible Landscape Designs!
Due to popular demand, we’re excited to announce that… we now do edible landscape designs!
What is an edible landscape?
An edible garden is a beautifully landscaped garden that incorporates edible fruit and veggie plants into the overall aesthetic and style of the garden. So, that means no raised veggie boxes that distract from the rest of your yard.
How can you get an edible landscape design?
Simply go through our online landscape design dashboard to select your style and color palette as you normally would — just make sure to select Edible in the Choose Your Plants section. Easy peasy!
Play around with different garden options, and only pay at the end. Then, receive professional landscape plans and a plant list within 5 days!
PS: If you have any questions about incorporating edible plants into your garden, schedule a call with co-founder Jessy Berg!
Formal Fountains for Small Gardens: Symmetry is Key
I’m not a particularly neat and tidy person, but I can definitely see the beauty in a formal water feature. Like formal garden design itself, a formal fountain is symmetrical, balanced and sophisticated.
- Photo via guardadolandscaping
Even the placement of a formal water feature fits the symmetry of the overall garden design. In a formal garden, whatever is planted and placed on the left side is exactly the same on the right side.
- Photo via suitcasesandsippycups
In the center of all that symmetry, you’ll find the water feature, doubling as a key focal point in the garden. When the formal fountain isn’t in the center of an outdoor space, it can be found at the end of a sight line or in the middle of wall.
- Photo via skparrott
A sculptural element often sits within the fountain itself. And while the practice is pretty common, I prefer to stay away from the little boy peeing. Puleaasssee!
- Photo via Sisson Landscapes
Finally, the formal water feature doesn’t have to be large or complicated – it can be a simple pot with recirculating water. As long as you remember these three basics when adding a formal fountain to your garden, you’ll achieve success!:
- Symmetry
- Central focus
- Balance
Ahhh, makes me almost want to organize my own space… Almost!
This article was written by Jessy Berg, professional landscape designer & co-founder of Habitat Design. Habitat Design provides full-service online landscape design planning for small and mid-sized gardens, & an online store of unique garden & home furnishings — all at an affordable price. Jessy believes that beautiful gardens should be accessible & affordable for everyone. Check out Habitat Design >
Bonnie’s Picks for a Mediterranean Side Garden
On Tuesday Jessy wrote about how to create a successful side garden with a Mediterranean flair. I’ve come across some perfect accents for a Mediterranean side garden and thought I’d share them here.
First, something I love to put in side gardens — especially right outside a window — is a fountain.
- Photo via GardenFountains.com
This fountain reminds me of an old Roman drinking fountain or trough, with a modern aesthetic. The great thing about this fountain is that it can sit flat against a wall or fence area, allowing extra space for a table or bench! Plus, it comes in a variety of colors and finishes so it will match your other decor in the garden as well. Get yours here >
Next, nothing screams “Mediterranean” more than a huge urn or jar! And I love the one below.
This is a Mediterranean Oil Jar with Handles by Frontgate. This big boy, finished with traditional Umbrian terracotta, is a great focal point for your side garden. I’d recommend placing it outside a window so you can enjoy it from indoors as well. Get yours here >
Finally, take a seat and enjoy your beautiful Mediterranean side garden on this Florence Bench.
I love the detail of the bench backing, and the fact that you can get a comfy cushion for the seat. Plus, the bench is made from weather-resistant aluminum so it can withstand harsh weather conditions. Get yours here >
How to Achieve Side Yard Success – Mediterranean Style
Ah, the elusive side garden: an outdoor space that’s often misunderstood, under-utilized and just plain forgotten.
- Photo Via Sunset Magazine
Side gardens are small, narrow and are either really shady or really sunny — factors that usually puzzle homeowners and gardeners alike. To solve the conundrum of a Mediterranean side garden, I’ve gathered some examples of beautiful small side gardens and side patios.
While these photos serve as inspiration, there are also some lessons learned here:
- Photo Via Eden Makers
1. Stick with your theme – In this case, stay Mediterranean. In such a narrow space, varying styles is going to really stick out. It’s best to stick with one style and go bold with it.
In this case, the plants alone – rosemary, lavender and blue fescue grass — give you the Mediterranean feel. Add in the casually placed stepping stones, with tan decomposed granite in between, and you’ll achieve a very rustic, earthy feel.
- Photo via LA Times
2. Include a walkway and if there’s room — Or, even a sitting area. If your side garden tends to be shady, it can make the perfect escape on a hot summer day — your own private refuge. And remember: even if you’re making a narrow path for one person, it should sitll be at least 24″ wide so that it’s manageable.
- Photo Via Sunset Magazine
3. Decorate with focal points, and especially outside windows. Use plants, fountains and pots to create something special to see both as you walk down the path and as you’re inside looking out a window.
- Photo via Arcadian Lighting
4. Really take advantage of the extra space. I just love the garden above because it fits the Mediterranean style, and it’s edible! The homeowners have included raised beds to grow veggies and herbs in, and have also included tan gravel and spikey Phormium in a terracotta pots to keep it Mediterannean.
Also notice that the wood is light color and the path runs in a sort of a zig-zag manner. Both of these are tricks that make the space feel wider. Brilliant!
If you looking for more inspiration and ideas, check out the following:
- Side Yard Makeover by Sunset Magazine
- Smart Side Yard Solutions by Better Homes & Gardens
This article was written by Jessy Berg, professional landscape designer & co-founder of Habitat Design. Habitat Design provides full-service online landscape design planning for small and mid-sized gardens, & an online store of unique garden & home furnishings — all at an affordable price. Jessy believes that beautiful gardens should be accessible & affordable for everyone. Check out Habitat Design >
Spruce up Your Cottage Side Garden with French Accents
I’m always disappointed when a home’s gardens are beautiful in the front and back of the house, but the side yard remains un-loved.
- Photo via shootgardening.co.uk
Considering you only have a small space to work with, creating a beautiful cottage-style side garden isn’t too hard; adding a few simple elements can really make it shine.
- Photo by Fermob.
Fermob makes some gorgeous, French outdoor furniture. Adding this whimsical bench in organge (or any fun color – Fermob has tons to choose from) will create a nice focal point and seating area in your side garden. The best part is that Fermob furniture is made from lacquered steel and can withstand harsh weather. Get yours here >
Going on that whimsical cottage note, throw in a Bunny Leaf Bird Bath to watch your side garden really come to life. This friendly accent is perfect for an overgrown, cozy cottage garden – plus it’ll attract chirping birds. You could also include a birdhouse, bird feeder or a fountain for the same effect 
Get yours here >
Side Yard Success – Cottage Style
Don’t you just want to hang out and relax in the side garden below? With its curving pathway and overflowing flora, this garden is the perfect example of how you can create an amazing garden space in a narrow area.
- Photo Via Houzz.com
In this space, the designer used the cottage garden style to bring a normally wasted space to life.
So what makes these side gardens work so well with the cottage style? I’ve pulled together a few examples…
- Photo Via Fine Gardening
In this photo, notice the overflowing plants that creep onto the path, the winding stone path with irregular cut stones, the groundcover that fills in the gaps between the stones, and the variety of leaf sizes and shapes. All these elements contribute to the cozy cottage feel.
- Photo Via Better Homes & Gardens
Here, a stylish Gothic arbor serves as a decorative cottage ornament, with a flowering vine growing up.
- Photo Via Le Potager Decor
Accessories such as bird baths and wall fountains are scaled down fit the side garden, allowing the space to sill feel functional and look beautiful. Something I love to do is place a wall fountain outside a window so you hear the water trickling indoors. Of course, it also a beautiful focal point in your side garden!
- Photo Via California Coastal Rose
Finally, if you have a sunny side yard, use the space as a cutting garden. Grow roses and all sorts of cutting flowers that you can use to fill the inside of your home with your side garden bounty.
With a side garden, the options really are endless!
This article was written by Jessy Berg, professional landscape designer & co-founder of Habitat Design. Habitat Design provides full-service online landscape design planning for small and mid-sized gardens, & an online store of unique garden & home furnishings — all at an affordable price. Jessy believes that beautiful gardens should be accessible & affordable for everyone. Check out Habitat Design >
Elvis, & Tropical Accents for your Hot Tub Space
On Tuesday we discussed how to design a cozy, tropical space around your hot tub. Today I’m going to recommend a few items that scream “tropical.”
- Photo via Anthropolgie. – More about this chair below.
But first, a little background: Every time I think tropical I think of my Aunt Jeanne from Ohio and her love for Elvis Presley. You’re probably thinking Elvis… Aunt Jeanne? What do they have to do with tropical!? Well, as a child my Aunt would swoon when she’d hear Elvis’s Blue Hawaii album. Just the cover of the album transported me to a tropical paradise — so of course I developed a thing for Elvis too!
Now I love to travel — especially to tropical locations, and I attribute that to Aunt Jeanne and Elvis. Since I’ve been to quite a few tropical locations I have a few pointers on creating a spa area to make you swoon!
- Gorgeous Bougainvillea. Photo via Apartment Therapy.
When it comes to plants, go green and go big — think Monstera, Snowbush, Octopus Tree and Coleus, Red Ginger or Bougainvillea (above) to add reds & pinks to your area. Also make sure to plant some White Ginger and Plumeria to give you the scent of the tropics. You can order these plants through an awesome site called Plant Lust.
Now, about that chair at the beginning of this post: I don’t know about you, but I have some friends who love to socialize but aren’t fans of the hot tub. Why not give them a spot to lounge while you lounge in the tub? The Pemba Beach Chair is perfect for just that. This brightly patterned fabric and wood beach chair fits with the tropical vibe very well.
- Photo via Pier1 Imports.
In addition, I just love this Cane Garden Seat from Pier 1 Imports. It’s a modern take on the traditional bamboo furniture you often imagine in places like Hawaii. Since we already have the perfect seat for your tropical hot tub space, I’d use this item as a table or plant holder. The bright white will be a nice contrast to your colorful flowers and chairs.
Creating a Tropical Garden Paradise Around Your Hot Tub
Lately I’ve been dying to go on a tropical vacation, or at least buy a hot tub. But since neither of these activities are happening in the near future, I’ll instead talk about designing a tropical garden space around your hot tub — with a tropical drink in hand!
- Photo Via Houzz
Choosing an in-ground hot tub
The first choice in choosing a hot tub is deciding what type to buy: in-ground or above ground.
In-ground hot tubs give a lot of flexibility in design, but are more expensive than above ground spas — because when you think about it, they’re basically mini-pools. Your tub can be any shape you want, and you can surround with plants and flowers flush with the spa. No stairs to climb with your Piña Colada in hand — just walk right in!
- Photo Via Coastal Living
As for plants to use in your tropical paradise, big leafed plants at different heights achieve a layered, tropical garden feel. Personally, I love to let the plants come right up to the edge of the spa for a cozy, intimate experience.
- Photo Via the Singaporian Government
However, if you prefer the modern tropical look, leave some breathing space around the tub, and plant away from the spa.
Choosing an above ground hot tub
While above ground spas are less expensive that in-ground, they take a bit more design thought because there’s a lot to hide… What’s to hide you ask? Well first of all, spas are huge and can be quite an eyesore. They also usually come with faux wood siding which draws attention to the tub in a not-so-great way.
- Photo Via Sundance Spas
Above is an example of what not to do when creating a landscape around a hot tub. A bunch of random pots and plants just doesn’t work and here’s why: The small pots do a poor job at hiding the hot tub. Plus, pots are difficult to maintain. It’s just much better to plant directly in the ground with the layered, large leafed plants.
I love the example above because it shows what most of us will face – a raised tub in the corner of the garden somewhere. The layers of tropical plants go a long way to hiding the hot tub and creating a cozy space. In this garden, I would have also added a mixed group of plants right up against the spa to further hide the paneling.
- Photo Via Tubinside
Finally, building a raised deck around the spa is a great compromise between an in-ground and free standing spa. The deck hides the tubs facade, but still allows for planting right up against the tub. Wood also blends well in a tropical environment — staining the deck a honey color gives it that warm, Bali feel.
Ahh, this post nearly satisfied my need for a tropical vacation!
This article was written by Jessy Berg, professional landscape designer & co-founder of Habitat Design. Habitat Design provides full-service online landscape design planning for small and mid-sized gardens, & an online store of unique garden & home furnishings — all at an affordable price. Jessy believes that beautiful gardens should be accessible & affordable for everyone. Check out Habitat Design >
Modern Rooftop Gardens: Restraint is Key
- Photo Via Decordir
Oh, how I love rooftop decks. They’re the ultimate small garden — and that makes them fun and challenging to design. Fun because you get to choose a style and go full speed ahead with it. Challenging because weight, drainage and other issues unique to “roofscapes” can create big problems.
Designing a modern roof garden
When designing a small, modern/contemporary roof deck, stick with clean lines. Also make sure to plant in groups, using a variety of contrasting materials and textures.
Need to see it to believe it? I’ve pulled together some photos from around the web that exemplify different modern styles for rooftop gardens and decks:
- Photo Via Adcommerical
This small garden works so well because of its simplicity in a tight space. The designer here practiced great restraint: He used only three different colors and textures of greens for the plants, shades of grey for the hardscapes (floor, pots and furnishings), and orange accents. All these work together to make this really small space inviting and cozy.
- Photo Via Manchester Deck UK
Don’t forget that there are weight and drainage issues with installing a rooftop deck garden. Soil weighs a lot when its wet and pots need to be watered often due to wind, sun and other elements. So, synthetic lawn like the one above is perfect for weight and maintenance issue. I also love how the lawn here creates a nice path and flow in an otherwise rectangular space.
- Photo Via Trendir
Some rooftop garden are created just to be viewed from the inside. Again, the clean lines of this contemporary style roof top garden, and the contrasting materials of stone, wood and glass give this space a very modern feel.
- Photo Via Trendir
The roof garden can also be loud because of wind and rising noise from below. Water features are perfect for creating white noise in these loud spaces. Even a small trickle of water can create a really nice vibe and sound. I also love the variety of angles in this space – check out the rectangles and squares overlapping each other on the ground, and on the wall fountain.
- Photo Via Minimlist Architecture
No matter how small, the modern garden is less about the plants and more about the clean lines. In the photo above, the plants are more sculptural in nature. Don’t try to fit too many plants into the garden.
My advice for creating a modern rooftop garden: Be brave and practice restraint!
This article was written by Jessy Berg, professional landscape designer & co-founder of Habitat Design. Habitat Design provides full-service online landscape design planning for small and mid-sized gardens, & an online store of unique garden & home furnishings — all at an affordable price. Jessy believes that beautiful gardens should be accessible & affordable for everyone. Check out Habitat Design >
Best Vertical Gardening Gifts: Staff Picks
Get your plants off the ground and put them on the walls where you can admire them! Vertical gardening allows the unique opportunity to display your plants as art. Plus, not only is vertical gardening visually stunning, but it’s low-maintenance and good for you (on account of the oxygen it produces).
So, why not give the gift of gardening and art, all in one? Here are our top vertical gardening gift ideas, hand-picked by the Habitat staff! (PS: Check out all of our Top Gift posts here.)
Jessy’s Pick: Vertical Garden Solutions’s Mini Pockets Panel
Jessy says: Vertical Garden Solutions has some great products, and I particularly love the Mini 60-Pocket Living Wall Panel. The small pockets make this vertical garden perfect for succulents. Insert differently colors of succulents to create an appealing pattern, like you see above. Order yours here.
Bonnie’s Pick: Woolly Pockets’s “Wally Three”
Bonnie says: I love the Autumn-like colors in this Wally Three photo. As you can see, the Wally Three is great for adding a strip of color on a wall, fence or window sill. Since the Wally Three comes in five colors, I’d recommend thinking about what kind of plants you’ll put in your planter before ordering – so that all the colors work well together. Order yours here.
Rob’s Pick: Urban Farmgirls’s Succulent Wreaths
Rob says: Ok, some may disagree but I consider these living succulent wreaths as vertical gardening, too! Hang one one your front door, above your fireplace or outside – they’re very versatile. Order yours here.
Sarah’s Pick: Plants on Walls Compact Vertical Garden
Sarah says: Since this is a free-standing vertical garden, it’s perfect for people afraid of committing to a wall installment (or renters!) This also means you can keep it indoors during the winter and outdoors on your patio during the summer. The best part: it comes with a 3 gallon tank an pump so it can water itself! Order yours here.
Jessy’s Second Pick: SG Plants’s Living Picture
Jessy says: Ok, so I couldn’t pick just one vertical gardening gift! I love these ‘Living Pictures’ by SG Plants. They’re made of recycled redwood and come in three sizes. Each kit comes with a wooden frame, wire mesh (to keep the succulents in place) and succulent cuttings. Or, you can buy the Living Picture already planted – your choice. Order yours here.
