“The grass is always greener on the other side,” but with a little inspiration and a color wheel, you could set off your yard in a rainbow of color.
In most of Texas and the southwest, color areas can be changed out 2-3 times per year. Spring planted annuals are usually set out from late February through the first of June. A second planting of heat tolerant annuals, such as verbena or periwinkle, is frequently used from June through our hot summer months. Fall planted annuals, like pansies, are generally set out when temperatures begin to cool off in and around October. Taking advantage of seasonal color schemes can liven up your yard and keep your entire home looking its best.
The use of color in the yard is just as simple as it is on your walls! Make good use of a color wheel just like you’ve done time and again choosing paint at the local hardware store. A color wheel is nothing more than a rainbow in a circle but it can come in handy when choosing the right colors for your backyard oasis.
Hot colors & cool spaces
Red, orange, yellow, and combinations thereof are considered hot colors. Hot colors are noted for appearing closer than they really are, catching your eye first, and for presenting a "hot" lively atmosphere. If you want to attract attention to a particular landscape feature, such as a view or doorway, consider using hot colors. You might also want to use hot colors to draw the eye away from an unsightly view such as a parking lot or the neighbor's "trashed out" backyard.
Purple, blue, green, white and combinations thereof, are considered cool colors. Cool colors are noted for appearing further away than they really are, and for presenting a cool, relaxed atmosphere. Pastels are normally considered cool colors. Cool colors are great for making small areas seem larger and for giving the visual appearance that it's cool here in the South (that's visual, not physical!). Cool colors are also effective in sitting or meditation areas, presenting a tranquil mood to the visitor. They might also be worth a try outside the window of cranky neighbors.
Backdrops help present color
If you have a choice, neutral colors such as gray, or earth tones like brown, tan, and olive, make good backdrop for presenting color. They also provide the least amount of interference with your display. Keep this in mind when deciding the color of your house, fence, deck, and retaining walls.
Gray and white also have special properties. Normally they can be used anywhere in the landscape without interfering with a color scheme. They are also useful for transition from one color scheme to another. White is famous for lighting up landscapes as well. Therefore, in areas with a lot of shade, or where there's a predominantly green background consider white flowers or plants with variegated foliage.
Keep it in the family (of color)
Using related colors, those next to each other on the color wheel, will ensure that your taste in color can’t go awry. By simply choosing your favorite color and use any colors you want along with it as long as they are in the same family. For example, a bed full of white, pale pink, bright pink and red flowers will create a pleasing sense of harmony because of the colors all deriving from red and white.
One and done color
Another use of color which is very effective is a monochromatic color scheme. To achieve this effect you use any plants that you want as long as they are the same color. For example, you might want to try combinations of New Gold Lantana, Samantha Lantana, yellow Marigolds, Candlestick Plants, Euryops, Moonbeam Coreopsis, Dalberg Daisy, Sunflowers, yellow Zinnias, yellow Purslane, Variegated Ginger, Gold Dust Plant and Golden Euonymus in your summer landscape for a brilliant all yellow scheme.
Less is often more
With so many beautiful flowers of varying colors, it is quite easy to go off the deep-end, but try to limit your use of total colors, mainly unrelated colors, in the landscape. Your best bet in using color is to set your rules and limits ahead of time. Then you know exactly what you can and can't use when you are shopping.
Regardless, go with whatever makes you happy and you will always enjoy the outcome. But for those who aren't so artistic, stick to the basics, follow a few simple guidelines, and your neighbors will be green with envy.
Tips for maintaining a beautiful yard and garden
Prepare the soil well:
Utilize large quantities of organic matter to obtain optimum aeration, drainage and water holding characteristics. Generally speaking, beds should consist of at least 50% organic matter for best results. In addition, bed areas should be raised to a minimum of 4-6 inches to avoid "drowning" during wet, rainy weather.
ADDING FERTILIZER
Fertilizer should also be incorporated into new beds. Normal rate of application on new beds is generally 2 to 3 pounds per 100 square feet of a slow-release fertilizer formulation such as 19-5-9. Spade, rototil or otherwise mix well until uniform.
WEED CONTROL
To reduce weeding maintenance rototil one of the commercially available soil sterilants, such as Roundup, into the soil about three weeks before planting. Then just before or immediately after planting, apply a pre-emergent and leave it undisturbed on the surface.
Excerpts from: Texas A & M Horticulture http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu