When most of us think of a colorful garden, we envision beautiful expanses of flowers blowing in the wind.  While flowers do provide a great deal of vibrant color in a landscape, there are many other options for adding color to your outdoor areas.  In this article, we'll discuss some alternatives to flowers for adding color and dimension to your garden landscape.

When evaluating your landscape design, it's always best to start with the largest objects and work your way down from there.  Therefore, a good place to begin is by considering the trees in your yard.  Do they provide the function and color that you desire?  Trees are a great way to keep your home cool in the summer if they are properly placed, and they can also provide shade for your outdoor recreation.  They also are the most substantial and effortless color producers you may have in your garden.  A tree that blossoms in the spring or turns red in the fall can add a beautiful and significant splash of color in your yard.

Bushes are another landscape staple that often get overlooked.  Shrubs can add height, color, and depth to your garden.  They can enhance or hide certain areas of our yard or home and provide food and shelter for wildlife.  Whatever bushes you have, be sure you maintain them well and keep them trimmed.  A shaggy, unmaintained hedge can make the difference between great curb appeal and an unsightly mess.

The most expansive living element in your landscapes is likely the grass.  The varieties of grasses are too numerous to even begin to mention in this article.  In short, you should make sure that whatever type of grass you have is well suited to your climate and that it is healthy and well groomed.  A few lawn applications each summer will keep weeds at bay and regular trimming and edging will also make a significant impact on the overall look of your home.

Garden hardscape such as rocks, mulch, and edging materials are also very influential in the overall look of your landscape.  Colors and textures vary widely in all of these areas, so you should shop around when making your choices, assuring that the colors you choose in these three areas will compliment the rest of your landscape year round.

Structures such as sheds or workshops can also provide opportunity to add additional color to your landscape.  Begin by painting the building a color to match or compliment your house.  If the building is fairly plain, you could also add some architectural details like shutters or gingerbread corners.  Consider expanding your garden plants and landscaping around the shed, so that the building becomes part of the garden itself.  Another option is to add planter boxes or trellises to the sides of the building, taking advantage of the height for adding additional floral colors.

Last but certainly not least, garden accessories can also be colorful additions to your yard.  Garden accessories span everything from arbors and pergolas used to highlight a certain part of the yard to yard fountains or outdoor furniture.  Colors and textures in these products can really add a punch to any garden, so do your homework, shop around and you will come up with something to compliment all your hard work.

While it's true that flowers are usually the starts of a beautiful garden, it's important not to forget the many other colorful elements of a good landscape design.  By taking time to add color in a variety of areas, you'll find yourself with a unique and beautiful yard to enjoy for years to come.