The power of colour combination in a garden

Andrew Mangwarara

HARARE’S Westwood suburb has several beautiful homes owned by middle-class residents.

However, one of the properties easily stands out, as the owner managed to use the power of colour combination to come up with a beautiful and mesmerising place.

A proper selection of colours for both the building and garden makes the home strikingly impressive.

The colours effortlessly blend.

You can change the mood of your garden through the use of colour.

For example, you can generate a calming effect by opting for a harmonious selection of soft shades such as greys, purples or blues.

Alternatively, you can change to vibrant, energetic colours by using reds, bright oranges and lime green. When selecting colours, create a pin board or palette on paper so that you can easily choose the plants you need based on their colours.

To make a lasting impression, use closely related colours.

The use of green is often overlooked but it connects us to nature.

There are many greens to choose from. They include brown greens and lime greens.

Try to add variety by incorporating deciduous shrubs and evergreen ones in the mix. On a deeper level, each colour has its own meaning.

White cools us down on hot days, whilst purple is often associated with originality, uniqueness and royalty. It is also known to calm the mind.

Blue is calm and aids our concentration and intuition.

Yellow helps us to feel cheerful, enhancing mental processes and clarity of mind, while red, as chosen here, adds excitement to a garden, which is exactly how I felt when I visited this private residence.

What mood do you want in your garden?

Choose blues, lavender and whites for an environment that promotes cheerfulness.

But for an energised garden, pick the reds, oranges and yellows.

Try to match your garden colours with the surrounding furniture and existing features.

Change the colour schemes for different parts of the garden to create variety. However, do so using not more than three colours in the whole garden.

Finally, try to use repetition in the garden.

Also use your favourite colour as this will motivate you to spend more time in the garden.

Further, select your plants wisely in terms of season, texture and form.

If you would like to be featured in our green-up campaign, contact us on the number above. Feedback: [email protected] or [email protected]