This design template is bold and bright and full of blooms (welcome, pollinators!). All three of the plants in the design are covered in flowers and bring a great deal of cheer and beauty to your yard. Not only are they great for curb appeal, they’re also water-wise, low-maintenance, and can handle heat and sun. They’re tough as nails, yet so visually fun and exciting!

This template brings a fun pop of color and lots of blooms for the pollinators! The grasses in back create a backdrop full of greenery and texture, and the flowers in front bring the charm and color. These plants are also all low-maintenance and waterwise!

If you’re looking for plants that are tough, resilient, and low-maintenance, look no further! This template is full of hardy plants that do well in a number of conditions. Most of them actively improve the soil in which they’re planted and are very water-wise. And while these plants do form an excellent team, they each have individual qualities that bring beauty and visual excitement to your space. We’ll go over each component of this template below.

Good landscape designs are based on several different aspects. Some of the basic aspects include color theory, texture, and variety. This template doesn't contain many types of plants, yet it checks all the boxes for an appealing planter bed. Let's break down each of those aspects below.

As arranged in this template, these plants form a symmetrical hedge of somewhat loose, mounding plants. The symmetry creates balance, but the looseness of most of these plants and the variety adds softness and warmth. With this design, you also get a winning color palette and something beautiful in the landscape year-round.

This shade garden sticks to a black and white color palette, creating a fun statement bed in an area that can often be overlooked. Each of these plants are perennials–they’ll come back year after year and many of them will grow and spread and fill more space. They obviously complement each other with their contrasting black and white colors, but there’s a little more at work here, too. This design boasts a blend of shapes, sizes, and textures. The colors and variety of textures create contrast, and repetition creates unity. The plants in this design form a dynamic group and they each bring their own individual qualities to the landscape. Let’s unpack each plant below.

This planter bed template employs just three different plant species, yet it packs a massive punch, year round. It’s versatile, too–if you’ve only got a small space, this plan can be scaled down. Alternatively, it could be duplicated and stretched to fill a really large bed. All year round, your landscape will look beautiful with these powerhouse plants! Let’s break down some of the best qualities of this design.

This template is composed of plants that are tough and can handle cold winters and dry summers. Your yard will look beautiful all year, no matter the season! As arranged in the template, these plants stretch along a space that is approximately 60 feet wide. However, plants can be repeated and added to stretch further, or removed to fit this design into a smaller bed.

The plants in this design make a fantastic team! The colors clearly work well together, and the variety of shapes, sizes, and textures makes for a harmonious scene. A successful landscape design generally has one or two main focal points, then several plants that complement those stars. This template follows that method, but there’s an added layer of interest, because the stars of the show change each season. We’ll break that down below as we discuss the different colors you will see in your yard with each passing season.

This template brings you year-round color. Each season allows for different plants to have their moment of glory, and your yard will look good no matter the time of year! Autumn, in particular, is when almost every one of these selected plants is at its very best. That said, we’ll walk you through each season’s champions, concluding with the fall. 

As gardeners, we know that pests can be a constant threat to our plants. From aphids to caterpillars, these tiny insects can cause a lot of damage and can be difficult to control. However, there is a natural solution that can help: companion planting. Read on to learn how you can naturally control pests in your garden.

Designing a landscape can be a daunting task. From determining the layout to selecting your smallest perennial plants, there is a lot that goes into creating the yard of your dreams. Often, people jump straight to picking out their favorite plants or grab whatever looks best while they walk through the garden center. While plant selection is arguably the most visually apparent part of the landscape, your landscape will only be successful when you create a plan first. In this post, we’ll teach you how to confidently choose the right plants for your yard. Read on to learn more!

Gardening can be a rewarding hobby, but it can also be time-consuming and resource-intensive. Fortunately, there are plenty of low-maintenance and waterwise plants that can thrive in a variety of conditions. These plants require minimal upkeep and can help conserve water, making them a great choice for any garden.

Summer gardening can be a fun and rewarding hobby, but it can also be a challenge if you're not prepared. The warm weather and longer days provide the perfect conditions for your plants to grow, but it's important to know what you're doing to ensure success. In this article, we'll share our top 8 tips for summer gardening, and how creating a landscape design can enhance your garden.

Landscaping is an essential part of improving the overall aesthetics of your property. A well-designed landscape can enhance your property's value and make it more appealing. However, designing a landscape can be a daunting task, especially if you don't have the expertise. Fortunately, with the advent of technology, online landscape design has become more accessible, and Simplyscapes.com is leading the way. In this article, we'll explore the benefits of creating an online landscape design using Simplyscapes.

Landscape design is an art form that combines the beauty of nature with the skill of a designer. It’s a way of creating a stunning and functional outdoor space that enhances the value of your property and improves your quality of life. Whether you have a large or small yard, there are endless possibilities for creating a beautiful landscape that suits your style and meets your needs. Learn more about the important aspects of landscape design in this article.

When people think of adding new plants to their yard, they often put it on their spring to-do list. Springtime brings the excitement of new life and increased sunshine and warmth. After being cooped up inside and looking at a snowy landscape for a few months, many people are eager to get outside and spend some time in their yard! While it’s true that spring is a great time to fill out your landscape a bit more, fall is also a fantastic time to plant—and in many cases, even better than spring. Here are a couple of reasons why you might consider doing most of your planting in the autumn.

Fall brings new colors, cooler temperatures, and the excitement of change. With the changing leaves comes new things to do in the yard. Here’s a list of some of the best things you can do for your landscape this autumn.

There is an overwhelming amount of information available about designing your own landscape. While we believe that you can never learn too much about landscaping, we realize that too much information to sort through can require time and attention that most of us don’t have. We’ve broken down some of the most fundamental guidelines for you here. And if you do find yourself with a little extra time after all, check out our article on the Principles and Elements of Landscape Design for further reading.

With longer days and the kids out of school, it can be tempting to spend the summer completely transforming your yard, adding in all sorts of new plants and changing everything up. It should be noted, though, that the hottest season is not ideal for transplanting new plants in your yard. The good news is that summer is the perfect time to get outside and tackle all the projects that have been staring you in the face for months. We’ve pulled together a list of our best summer landscaping tips for you here.

Updating your landscape can feel overwhelming. For most people, their landscape is a work in progress, so it's okay if you fall into this category. However, there are many things that you can do to ensure that your outdoor reno goes as smoothly as possible. Read on so you can avoid making some of the most common landscaping mistakes.

If you just moved into a newly-built home, and the yard is probably either completely devoid of life, or just has a basic design with sod and a couple small trees. Whether you were involved in making all of the decisions that went into building your new house or you just finished house-hunting, you’re probably feeling a little tired of making decisions. This guide will help you avoid making mistakes in your landscape and help to get you feeling just as happy about your yard as you are about your brand new house!

Before 2019, over half of this sloped backyard was grass. One day, the owner of this garden realized that no one ever stood in the bottom half of her yard except for her when she came down to mow it each week. So, she set to work and in just three years, totally transformed her landscape. This garden is the perfect answer to the question of what to do with a sloped and awkwardly shaped yard.

Over the last 50 years, the owners of this garden have DIYed every aspect of their spacious, half-acre property. From the front, this house seems unassuming, but as you enter the backyard, your breath is taken away by a beautiful landscape that stretches 300 feet to the back fence.

This garden is the perfect mix of formal and flirty. The classiness of some of the more traditional foliage plants pairs well with the plentiful pops of color from a variety of blooms. From interesting topiary to overflowing planters, the plants in this garden can speak to any style.

In this garden, you can find a near textbook rendition of a water-wise garden. Even though you won't see any grass on this property, the landscape is still functional and eye-catching. This landscape was professionally designed and it shows.

Even though many people would worry about purchasing a home with an upward-sloped lot, the owner of this garden said the unique structure of the property was what especially compelled him to take it. Throughout the property, you can find incredible inspiration for making your landscape feel more secluded and natural, even in the middle of suburbia.

One of the best ways to increase the value of your home and the speed with which it sells is to have a well-maintained and nicely designed landscape. It can be a simple design, but if it is cohesive, balanced, looks nice year-round, and kept clean and tidy, your efforts will pay off massively. Taking care of your landscape is a home improvement that will bring a significant return on investment. In fact, it is the ONLY home improvement that brings a positive ROI!

In the last several decades, houses have become larger and lots and have become smaller, leading to smaller backyards. You may feel like you don’t have enough space to create the landscape of your dreams, but don’t worry. You don’t need a massive, sprawling space to be thrilled with your landscape. If you are intentional with the way you use your space, you can make your backyard (and front yard) incredibly functional and attractive. We’ve compiled a list of seven key tips to utilizing a small space. Through following these tips, you can have the yard of your dreams—even if it’s a postage stamp yard!

Every parent wants their children to spend more time outside. The battle against screen time is real and constant, and we all know that time outdoors is so good for us all—children, adults, and our relationships with each other. Outdoor areas provide opportunities for you to connect with your children. When you spend more time interacting with them outside, the benefits go both ways. We’ve pulled together three basic guidelines to help you transform your yard into a place where your kids want to spend time.

The world seems to feel more chaotic all the time. In the past few years, backyards have become a place where people can retreat and find joy in good company. By designing and installing outdoor spaces that are centered around social connections, your backyard can transform from a barren land that you own, to a richly engaging environment to help you and those you love become closer. Read on to find different gathering spaces you can add to your backyard enhance your socializing.

The “typical” grassy lawn is going out of style. It requires so much water and maintenance. Since water and time seem to be in scarce supply for many people, other options are starting to gain a little more popularity. However, you don't need to worry that artificial turf or rocks with cacti are the only options. Read on to find out about appealing alternatives to turf in your yard!

If you want start growing more of your own food, edible landscaping is a great way to incorporate style with function. Edible landscaping, sometimes referred to as gardenscaping, is the practice of growing edible or medicinal plants in your landscape as opposed to plants that are strictly ornamental. Instead of having plants that only look pretty, you can now grow things that look pretty and also yield harvests of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. This swaps an inefficient and unproductive yard for a more sustainable, productive, and healthier option. Read on to learn what you need to know before you begin.

Whether you’ve just moved into a new place with an empty yard or you’re looking to re-do your existing landscape, there are five main steps to the landscaping process. Putting in the time and planning into your yard will pay off in the end. Many times, people skip straight to step five and don’t set their yard up for success – Read on to make sure you don’t make the same mistake! 

You’ve decided it’s time to upgrade your landscape and you’ve already got a design planned out—now it’s time to get the plants and install them in your landscape. It can be overwhelming to figure out how to install your plants in a way that will set them up for success. Read on to find ten important planting tips.

After you have designed your dream yard, you may start to wonder how you should prioritize steps in the installation process. For many people, time, financial resources, or other factors may make it impossible to complete the entire project in a single season. If you fall into this category, you’re not alone, and you don’t need to worry. By prioritizing the right things, you can effectively install your yard over a much longer period of time, without feeling like your yard is in a constant project state. Read on to find out how!

When you design your landscape, there are 5 main elements that you need to consider. Each plays an important role in helping your yard to feel functional and stylish. By dividing your space into distinct areas, you can easily maximize your space and minimize confusion. We recommend incorporating each element into your front and back yard. Once you’ve finished reading through this article, you can start creating your own landscape design for free!

Now more than ever, our backyards have become places to retreat and find solace. With a little planning, you can create the yard of your dreams! It can be a place of gathering and fun, a cozy and charming hideout, or productive and full of life (or all of the above!). We’ve listed seven out-of-the-box ideas to jazz up your landscape.

With droughts continuing to affect the globe, many people are starting to look for steps they can take to minimize the effects in their own yard. Making the right planting choices can dramatically impact the water consumption that your yard requires as well as ensure that your plants thrive regardless of weather conditions. Read on to learn more about things you should know before selecting plants for your yard.

We know that some of you may envision sustainable landscaping as a yard with nothing but dirt, rocks and a few cacti. However, this is far from the truth. A well-designed sustainable landscape can look and feel like a lush oasis that both captivates the eye and relaxes the body. Sustainable landscaping obviously helps to preserve natural resources, but there are benefits that many people don’t realize. Read through to discover each!

Local nurseries are the backbone of local gardening. Shopping local is the best way for you to ensure that the plants in your yard grow and flourish. Using the Simplyscapes app, you can shop online inventories from your local garden center.

If you want to have the nicest yard on the block, but have no idea where to start, this is the post for you. Starting out with a plan for your yard is crucial to its success. If your design is based off of a solid foundation, you are less likely to run into obstacles along the way. Whether you're starting from scratch or updating an existing property, this post is full of things you must consider.

When you’re planning out the design for your yard, you have an opportunity to create a plan for your future health. Studies have shown that if people have an outdoor area that is accessible, attractive, and functional, they are more likely to spend time being active in that space. There are many benefits that come from spending time outdoors, and you can access those right from the comfort of your own home if you create the proper design. Read through to learn about the features you should consider when designing your yard.