Looking at the garden differently

Your own garden, viewed from nature, is a small part of a very large system. Just look outside your garden at the street, neighbors' gardens or the park nearby. Is there enough shelter for birds, are there flowers for butterflies? By looking at your garden with these glasses, you already notice very different things. In nature, there are several layers: grasses on the ground, flowers and shrubs above and if the trees act as a protective umbrella. An extraordinary whole. What is your contribution in this big picture? 

Ratio of hard and soft

The basic rule for a natural garden is the ratio of green to hard materials, basically 33% paved and 67% green. But what if you now want two terraces and yet also a connecting path between them, then it already goes very hard. As a solution to this problem are semi-paved: tiles in the grass, a terrace of tree bark chips, a path of pebbles or shells. Many organic shapes can also be created!
A lot of planting is often associated with a lot of work, but if you create compact borders with mixed plants and small lawns in between, it not only looks natural, it's also very easy to maintain. So easy! So you can use clean lines, create compartments, elevations with lush planting in them.

Level planting

Which plants are suitable for your natural garden? As I mentioned earlier, working in different levels is important. Low - ground covers and bulbs, middle - border plants and shrubs and high - hedges, climbers and trees. Here, start with the shapers: the hedges. They provide privacy and basic structure for the garden and a great place for birds to nest. Then choose at least one tree for your garden, preferably a small species like a Crabapple, a Japanese Maple or a Currant Tree. Also useful for shade near your patio. Finally, work with the medium-sized plants, choose variation and dare to work with color, for example blue with orange, white with red. Being bold with color makes your garden more exciting!

Choosing plants

For a natural border choose plant combinations that are also common in nature, spike-shaped flowers combined with umbel - Lavender with Lady's Mantle, ornamental grasses with plants with large leaves - Hosta with Torch grass. If you choose shrubs such as a Hydrangea or Peonies, put a large group together. If you really want to fill a large border with mixed plants, for example your entire front yard, choose up to 10 species and mix them randomly. Add a few stepping stones and you're done! Make sure you have variation in flowering time, leaf shape and flower color so it remains exciting.

Materials that are natural

Your natural paradise will be complete if you also go for natural materials, materials that last a long time or are sustainably produced. For example, natural screens of hazelnut branches, bamboo canes or tree bark strips, a wire mesh panel on which you let a climbing plant do its thing, European wood/chestnut wooden poles that you let climb or use for a pergola or partition, natural unedged Douglas wood for your fence. Turn a tree trunk into a table or bench. These materials set the mood in your garden, make you feel good and make you really create "nature." That your garden is contributing to nature and that does you good too. Because it exudes tranquility, you can relax in it.

Garden elements for nature

You can go one step further and intentionally add elements for animals to your garden. Consider a birdhouse, a water dish or pond, a bee hotel, a clutter corner for the hedgehog. Let nature take its course, let the leaves lie a little longer. With fruit trees and fruit shrubs you can also get the fruits from your garden yourself, the animals will thank you too. If you have fruit left over, you can make your own jam or applesauce. Or grape juice from your own grape. Or enjoy the free rainwater and set up a rain barrel for watering the garden.