Digging, sowing, and planting bring great rewards as plants grow and change throughout the seasons. Colors and textures evolve, and there is something new to see each week. Plants attractive to birds, bees, and butterflies liven up mixed borders.

Gardens are often described as “outdoor rooms,” and they can be thought of and planned as extensions of your home. An open-air room can be used for entertaining and socializing in much the same way as an interior space.

Gardens for busy people need to be easy to maintain, but they can still be lovely to look at. One of the special joys of having a garden is that you can simply sit, doze, read, or do nothing in the open air. Gardens like this require simple design solutions with a strong overall concept and a pleasing layout for long-term appeal, allowing owners to sit back and enjoy the view.

Exciting, stimulating sensations can be created using vibrant, hot colors, spiky plants, sharp lines, challenging artwork, varied textures, and bold use of lighting. But be warned: strident garden designs can be overpowering.

The presence of water, sunlit reflections, and natural plantings can help evoke a feeling of energy, growth, and rejuvenation. Soft colors and a complementary selection of natural materials enhance the mood. These are places for “recharging your batteries” after a long day at work.

Cool colors, simple flowing shapes, delicate scents, and restricted use of materials will create a calm and peaceful mood in the garden. These gardens should be private, unchallenging spaces, and they are often characterized by culinary, therapeutic, and medicinal plants, such as herbs or healthy crops. The provide a reassuring, relaxed, and restorative environment.

Most small yards will not need attention more than two or three times a week at most, although a yard filled with lots of pots will require daily watering in hot, dry spells. Generally larger gardens with lawns, mixed borders, a diverse range of plants, and productive growing areas will take up more time.

This is possibly the most common category, especially for people who only have spare time on the weekends. Lawns require weekly mowing and edge-trimming in the summer, and weeds need to be kept in-check throughout the garden.

Most shrubs, climbers, and perennials require attention at intervals. Seasonal pruning may be required in spring and fall, borders need weeding and feeding, and flowering plants should be deadheaded regularly. Lawns are impractical in this category, although meadows are an option.

Gardens requiring only infrequent maintenance will exclude lawns and hedges. Plan for “low” rather than “no” maintenance to avoid a sterile look. Many trees and shrubs only need an annual clean-up, and hardscaping will only need occasional attention.