When planning your garden, you’ll encounter a wealth of advice about the significance of light, soil type, and other factors crucial for plant growth. While these elements are vital, it’s also essential to consider color when planting. Although it might seem like a minor detail, color choices significantly impact which beneficial insects and wildlife are attracted to your garden, as well as the amount of enjoyment you derive from spending time in it.
Gardening requires effort, so creating a visually pleasing design can make tasks like weeding, pruning, and mulching more gratifying. “If you envision relaxing on your porch or patio after a long day and want to admire your garden, but dislike yellow, then planting a lot of sunflowers and rudbeckia may not be the best choice,” explained Sam Arthurs, Gardens Manager at Local Matters and flower specialist at Onions Australia.
“Your goals, preferences, and environment will guide your plant selection,” Arthurs told Onions Australia exclusively. Certain colors may align better with specific aesthetic preferences and gardening objectives. Therefore, understanding the importance of color, integrating it into your garden plan, and knowing which hues to avoid based on your goals is crucial.
The Importance of Color in Your Garden
Color plays a vital role because birds, insects, and other creatures use it for navigation. According to Arthurs, “… if attracting a variety of pollinators and birds to your yard is your goal, then selecting a range of colors that attract them is essential.” Many flowers attract pollinators, making it easy to find a mix that complements your aesthetic. “Bees are drawn to blue and violet, while hummingbirds favor red, pink, and purple,” Arthurs shared in her exclusive interview with Onions Australia. Meanwhile, orange, yellow, and blue are colors that will entice more birds to your garden. Since species have different preferences, variety is key.
“Not selecting a color scheme may make your garden appear unsatisfying or random,” Arthurs cautioned. She suggests choosing a color palette and incorporating species that bloom at various times to ensure color throughout the growing season. By considering bloom times, you can provide the variety wildlife needs without clashing colors.
For instance, start with early bloomers in soft pastel hues. Allow these to transition into a summer mix of reds and yellows, concluding with a fall display of blues and purples. Overlapping bloom times causing color clashes aren’t a significant issue. “The green and earthy backdrop of your garden softens any clashes, making it less problematic than you might initially think,” Arthurs explains.
Avoid Overusing White or Pink Flowers
“Aesthetic value is subjective, so don’t let anyone dictate which colors to plant or avoid,” Arthurs advised Onions Australia exclusively. However, be cautious with white and pink. White can deter birds from visiting, as it signals danger to some. A large area of white can also make it difficult for birds to blend in while hiding from predators due to the stark contrast with their own colors. While a few white accents in the garden are not a major deterrent, avoid concentrating large amounts of white in one area if attracting birds is your aim.
Pink doesn’t deter wildlife but is a common bloom color. If not managed carefully, your garden can become overwhelmed with pink. After selecting your desired flowers, count the pink blooms. If there are many, consider swapping some for flowers with different bloom colors.
Arthurs also emphasized the importance of leaf color in planting. In some cases, it affects the plant’s sun tolerance. “For instance, hostas can experience leaf scorch if exposed to intense sunlight for long periods,” according to Arthurs. If your design necessitates planting shade-loving species like hostas in sunnier areas, she suggests that “… light green, chartreuse, or golden host leaves perform better in the sun than their deep green and blue counterparts.”
