How to Build an Ornament Garden

Planning

• 1

  Plot your existing or future garden on graph paper. Include sites suitable for ornaments like statues, birdbaths, rocks and pools.

• 2

  Connect ornamental features with pathways. These can meander among flowerbeds and around ornaments or lead to optimal viewing areas with benches.

• 3

  Include different viewing levels in your design. Water can be below ground level in a pool or above it in a fountain. Put wind chimes in trees, place a mirror along a path to reflect a flowerbed, hang a planter on a wall or erect a tall bird feeder.

• 4

  Plan lighting to illuminate ornaments as well as walkways. Solar lamps produce soft lights for paths and spotlights are suitable for statues, while twinklelights grace a patio.

• 5

  Plant a specimen tree, such as a character pine or flowering shrub, as an ornament in large areas of lawn.

Statues

• 6

  Prepare areas for urns, gnomes, columns, birdfeeders and sculptures by leveling the dirt and tamping down to create a firm level foundation. Set the statues in flowerbeds or at the end of paths.

• 7

  Make your own ornaments by pouring concrete in molds available from craft and garden centers.

• 8

  Connect the statues and ornament features of your garden with pathways. Plot winding flagstones, concrete sidewalks or crushed gravel pathways leading from one ornament to another.

• 9

  Place seats or suitable sitting rocks near ornaments.

Water Features

• 10

  Set a birdbath on a level spot to add wildlife to your garden. Place it near a water source to make filling easy.

• 11

  Dig a reflecting pool next to a flowerbed to double the impact of the flower colors. Include koi in the pool to add their brilliant colors and movement to your garden.

• 12

  Plot the elevation of the garden to take advantage of slopes for waterways, waterfalls and pools. Waterways lined with rocks can cross the garden and flow under a bridge into a pool or fountain.

Patios and Furniture

• 13

  Plan a rest area or gazebo to enjoy your ornament garden. Put it under shade trees with a view of the garden features or provide umbrella tables for open patios.

• 14

  Dig up and then tamp down the area so it is level and the soil firm. Top patios with bricks, paving stones, concrete or gravel to provide a foundation for benches, barbecues, picnic tables or storage features. Gazebos have wooden floors and roofs that provide shade

  Gazebos have wooden floors and roofs that provide shade

• 15

  Ornament the area with a hedge or flower border or flower-filled ornamental pots. Plant species that won't crowd the area or block your view of the ornamental features. Include topiary figures for interest.