5 Garden Color Mistakes (& what to do instead)

[@judymckerrow6720]

Well I would definitely get an F in your class. If I see a flower I like boom it’s in my garden. 🤣💐💚🙃

[@mrslvw]

Kinda same but now that I have some perennials established I'm build off those and sort of limiting based on that palette. However I mostly just direct sow from seeds so it's anyone's guess how things will actually grow in lol!

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Color theory is very fun to me and I love exploring how to use color to create moods and feelings in spaces. If you dont, just enjoy your garden as is. No problem.

[@mrslvw]

@@PrettyPurpleDoor oh no I like your color theory ideas and using them to tie my yard together this year. I don't have the budget to get full grown plants in specific colors but editing what's popped up. I aim for more of a cottage feel so I don't need a very strict palette but focusing on purples with contrasting yellows has been fun so thanks:)

[@rootelation486]

@judymckerrow6720 the world itself would fail her class because seeds plant themselves wherever they want to be. You don't have to have a color scheme or certain type of anything because it's your garden and you do what you like. If you plant it and don't like it you move it. I NEVER have a color scheme...I buy what I like and find a place for it. Sometimes what I'm looking for isn't available so I can't have it. I want ALL the colors because that's my style. Some people only want green because that's their style. You just can't put all these rules on gardening.

[@evilcuteness8194]

Nice. Needing the easiest flowers that I can direct sow that will actually survive my particular set of gardening skills limits my design options considerably. I don't know what that packet of seeds did in their former life to end up getting purchased by me, but it couldn't have been good.

[@progressnotperfection9920]

To each their own. I personally garden on a tight budget. I like to pick up plants on clearance and revive them and so I have lots of colors and textures everywhere. The pollinators love my garden.

[@67johnnyjoe]

Me too. There is no such thing as too many colors!

[@pamelah6431]

I hope you won't be too discouraged by the comments section. You seem like a confident, educated person whose entire self-image isn't based off youtube affirmation, but even so, it is sad how many people completely mistook your obvious good intentions and turned them into something patronizing or demeaning or whatever. This information is valid and I'm glad you're sharing it.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Appreciate your comment. I'm really surprised by the comments, too. I didn't invent color theory, just sharing what I've learned about it in my years of studying and implementing. I'm not defined by KZbin. But the comments are disheartening nonetheless. Making me reconsider the amount of time and effort I put into this free education.... Hours and hours and hours.... To be ridiculed. Why? We will see where it goes in the future 😊

[@pamelah6431]

@@PrettyPurpleDoor I understand. It's a shame. Free content and people are thankless. Well, I am a landscaper/garden designer myself and appreciate what you're doing, for what it's worth. It's always helpful to be reminded of even basic principles. Some gardens (and paintings) look better than others for a reason.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement. I realize for every negative comment there's a hundred people who enjoyed the video that didn't comment! So it's always nice to hear from those people too! If you're a garden designer, check out Paper Garden Workshop. I'm in a wonderful membership community filled with like-minded designers over there and it's a great source of inspiration and encouragement. Sounds like you'd fit in well 😊

[@pamelah6431]

@@PrettyPurpleDoor Thanks for the pointer! Will check it out. Keep your chin up.

[@aliciaprokos8790]

@@PrettyPurpleDoor Yes! That is so true! I am one of the 100. I love your content and recommended it to my daughter who lives in Seattle who is starting a garden of her own. She is also a real estate agent, and the best real estate agents actually have substantive advice on how to make a house sell for more or look more attractive. Your videos on foundation plantings and the commentary on scale, symmetry and simplicity, as well as the recommendation of evergreens for winter interest, are very useful to her. And if people don't want to use the color wheel, fine, but the garden will look 100% more cohesive and rhythmic with it.

[@cookielady7662]

Color mistakes? Say what? The most beautiful gardens I've ever seen are like giant crayon boxes with every color imaginable. I like tons of color in my own garden too.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Would love to see some examples of your favorite gardens.

[@Weeone5207]

THANK YOU! God's color palette is perfect.

[@ayoutubechannel8228]

It's almost like some designers put "clashing" colors together on purpose just to prove they can make it work.

[@melrosepark4463]

In my opinion, gardening should be fun and not complicated. I plant every color in my garden too though I have a lot more purples.😜

[@katewithat]

@@melrosepark4463 Same here lol

[@dburd58]

In Florida we pick what tolerates the heat and humidity.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Yes, the "science" of gardening, right plant right place. Lots of plants and lots of colors to choose from too. That's the "art" of gardening

[@doreen9838]

I love all colors!!!! Don’t care what it looks like it’s what I like

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Go for it

[@lilbobpeep]

lol, all the people all up in their feelings about color. I really appreciated this. There have been gardens that have left me unnerved because it was so chaotic and jarring in their manic color schemes. Thank you!!!

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Glad you liked the video! Surprised by all the negativity in the comments of this one, too. I guess I struck a chord! Lol

[@jwhite5396]

Piet Ouldolf’s garden designs are so beautiful and calming. I was going for that look on a much, much smaller scale, but then plant sales happened. 😃 Time to get back on track. Thanks for this video.

[@Gardenabundance]

Yes! You are spot on! For the first few years I gardened I could never figure out why I wasn’t happy with how it looked. Until I realized that it just all looked jumbled because of too many colors! So when I see something I want that doesn’t fit color scheme, I put it in a pot! that way it doesn’t disrupt the cohesiveness of the rest of the garden. Thanks for the advice.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

That's a great tip!! Love how you've found a way to have everything you love while still sticking to a color palette

[@ericam9129]

Don’t worry about too many colors . Always use blue flower to balance out.

[@CDavis-lp3cp]

Personal preference

[@cindianderson9443]

I totally agree with you on color. Mixed color and plants gardens stress me out. I like large swathes of color. I'm doing all purples and yellows in my yard.

[@lpsports]

I've been trying to stick to blue, purple, pink, red and white in my garden. However, I get these yellow and orange volunteers that pop up randomly... I let them live until they start to fade or overtake something I really want. I don't have the heart to remove anything that has the vigor to volunteer! I don't encourage them, but I can't kill them either :) I find it funny that people get so defensive about their personal color choices when they clicked on and watched a video entitled "color mistakes." I think you explained color theory well. Monet used a lot of color in his art, but he definitely had color palettes that he worked with!! :D

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Oh yes Monet was a master at color theory. Both in the garden and on the palette. Volunteers are nice. I usually don't have the heart to remove them either as long as they are native. Thanks for watching!!

[@Keyboardje]

My garden is mostly in the shade. I find I am rather limited in finding flowering shade plants, and therefore colors to choose from. So I'm glad with every flower I can have, so I don't really mind if they don't match perfectly.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

I get that. These are some of my favorite flowering plants for shade. kzbin.info/www/bejne/enPdhZyNha-ln9ksi=1xKoV2SV14Fx9w2g Also another video in this channel with flowering shrubs for shade.

[@Artemisgrier]

3 times I have been awed by residental plantings: 1.) green and white hosta border I drove past 2.) pink and red geranium window boxes all over France and 3.) a development where each house had several very large stands of one perennial in front (e.g. rudbeckia around a lamp post, lavender around the mail box and monarda by a shrub)…the whole neighborhood felt cohesive and it was fun to turn the corner to see what was next. Everything was so far apart that color choices weren’t significant. It was color blocking on a large scale and it made me think there was an HOA but there wasn’t. 😂 I wanted to live there!

[@user-hm5zb1qn6g]

good advice. Most people who think their garden looks great with a thousand colors have chaotic gardens that cause their non-maniac visitors visual stress.

[@joannemurphy7407]

sheesh!! So many snarky comments!! Some people are interested in learning about color theory which can get truly complex, so having some easy to practice tips is helpful.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Yes a lot of snark going on... Just ignore them like I try to. I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@jenmason40]

Fantastic tips!!! This is my 3rd year gardening & I’m learning so much & love having 3 season flowers. Love your KZbin videos. Cheers from Toronto, Canada 🇨🇦

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Glad it's helpful to you! Love my Canadian followers ❤️

[@naturalandproud6363]

Great tips! Using them will give you a garden with wow factor. I have neighbors who just plant a ton of random colors and flowers, because that is what they like. Then I have neighbors who clearly use a color palette and a year-round planting scheme. Their yards have a WOW factor all year long. Whereas the gardens with just random colors and flowers are colorful, but they also look.....chaotic. And by the late summer, those gardens don't have any color at all except for the mums that they have to buy every year.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Yesssss I find that to be true too. Reigning in the colors helps create more clarity 🌈

[@petegdula4749]

I was just on 'Proven Winners' yesterday on their color scheme selection. Today I saw this. Thank you. One more THING: I can't remember what video of yours I learned about using odd number of the same plant. Using even numbers seemed logical for me. Well, this year we made an effort to start by buying three of each; or if we had one or two already, bought enough to bring it up to three or five of each. What a difference!! Now my goal is to see where this method can be done with whatever is already rooted in my garden beds.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Awesome! So glad you're finding the videos helpful. The one you're referring to with groups of 3's is how to arrange plants in garden beds kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIO0fX13g72pi7csi=Jo38-tLxeHIcOOBf

[@charlenecardwell8288]

Great tips! Many comments here are almost taking offense to having to set parameters for garden color, but I really appreciate suggestions as to how to make my garden landscape flow nicely. Thank you so much! I know where I must start … I have a great spring and summer garden, but it’s sort of dull in fall and winter.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Glad it was helpful! Yes there's lots of offended people in the comments for some reason... Not sure why usually people are so nice in the comments.

[@WoodlandT]

These are very useful tips. I don’t work this way at all though, for a number of reasons. One reason is that I’m very much a plant collector. I don’t repeat a lot of plants because it would be cost prohibitive. So until they can be divided I achieve the visual effect of repetition by utilizing plants with similar characteristics in the same bed, for example I have hostas, Solomon’s seal and fatsia that all have a wide white margin interspersed with purple foliage plants and a few chartreuse accents. It works out eventually. But it takes a while to find suitable plants to create a design. I end up moving things around a lot. And frankly the process can be somewhat agonizing at times. If it’s possible I’d definitely recommend buying at least 3 of each plant. It generally makes it so much easier to create a cohesive garden

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Being a plant collector and trying to design a cohesive garden is quite the challenge! Sounds like you're doing well with it. I've been in many plant collectors' gardens and couldn't wait to leave 😁

[@judychambers919]

Foliage colors are important.

[@karenadams5400]

I call myself a color snob. I use purple and orange in my back yard and purple and pink in my front yard. Occasionally I use something different but most of the time I just use those colors. I really enjoyed your video.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Love that! Glad you enjoyed 😊

[@Warrior-In-the-Garden]

Excellent points! It drives me crazy to see commercial landscaping all over the place with color. Pastel pinks, warm reds and marigolds. No just no.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Totally agree! I think it's pretty easy to spot whether a space was designed by a designer, or just installed by a landscaper.

[@elizabethbarberis9957]

You are getting a lot of backlash but I totally agree with you. Although the only colors I won't have in my garden are brass and scarlet I'm careful what I put next to each other. Being a hair dresser I know the color wheel but for me I tend to like soft colors. I had red daylilies in my garden they just weren't scarlet. Screaming colors hurt my eyes. I want my garden to be relaxing and restful, and no it isn't boring. And yet ultimately it is your garden and you can do whatever pleases you.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Thanks for sharing your perspective 😊

[@christinaklein2852]

Thank you much for your lovely recommendations, very helpful and your conscious kind communication style ❤

[@fabricdragon]

while not "ideal" if you have a dominant plant or color that is found throughout the garden, you can get away with a wider range of colors because the repetition of, say, "white" throughout ties it together.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

I think it's absolutely ideal to have a dominant color. Why would that not be ideal?

[@denisecarrick5220]

I'm planning a gre and yellow garden. This motivates me.

[@nicholasryan5401]

Greeting's from Ireland, Interesting video, For me over the year's the main consideration is not colour but that the flower is bee and insect friendly. I like the natural look but that's just me. At the end of the day no matter what your garden looks like as long as it's make's you happy that's what's count's.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

There are so many pollinator friendly plants in every color of the rainbow. I don't think you'd ever have to choose between a color scheme you'd like and pollinator friendliness 😊 Thanks for sharing your process

[@Hayley-sl9lm]

I think it's possible to have a pollinator friendly more formal garden, it just might require a bit more planning and consideration. Like say if you wanted to exclude yellow? I mean in the US anyway, by excluding yellow you are really taking away a lot of natives in the sunflower family, goldenrods and other important late season flowers which are extremely beneficial. So you might have to work harder to get purple asters instead, or asteraceae w/white petals... I feel like bright red and possibly orange would be the most expendable colors although I am in the native range of California poppies and they're so loved by my bees I'd never exclude them.

[@hrchicoine]

I went to interior design school, but now doing landscape and garden design. Color has always been a huge part of my consideration, in just everyday life even. Clothes, decor, gardens, my guitars and guitar pedals, heck even my car/trailor/branding signage. I’m thinking about replacing my car for the business in the next year or two and whenever I see a good deal it’s ALWAYS the wrong color. 😂 So I 100% agree with you on this. Color theory, moods, goals for feeling, it’s all hugely important.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Oh it's so important. Lmao at the car color. I waited months for the right color car to come along 😂

[@daianebraginsky9254]

Absolutely beautiful combination love the colors and how delicate and pretty it looks. Also I really love how you use hydrangeas in combos like this.

[@debraisola9037]

I chose white flowering plants to plant all around..lots of different types of white/yellow daisy's and now im adding some colors. Thank you for sharing this

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Wonderful!

[@dollia7]

I love black! Thankfully, I garden for other reasons. Color is so important in a garden and for me stepping out of my color comfort zone means gardening with someone else’s taste in mind. I don’t like gardens that look too formal but I also don’t like really messy gardens. I think having a color palette is very helpful. Thanks for the tips!

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Glad it was helpful! I do love black also. I actually wrote an article recently with some of my favorite black flowers. That would be a fun garden to design! www.prettypurpledoor.com/black-flowers/

[@brendamoon2660]

No flowers clash! You can wear the wrong shirt with the wrong pants and shoes but all flowers loook great together. I love red with magenta flowers, its a hot color riot. This lady would loose her mind in my yard but I love it. I garden to have fun not to follow rules.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Don't call me "this lady" while commenting on my videos as if I'm not going to read your comment.

[@brendamoon2660]

@@PrettyPurpleDoor nothing negative intended by "this lady". If it sounded disrespectful I apologize. Lately I'm buried under a pile of rules I don't agree with. Maybe I'm getting too sensitive about it. Sorry.

[@donnaq7626]

yeah, I have received bouquets in every color of the rainbow and they were beautiful. My yard looks beautiful also and wow, I didn't need any training.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Umm. OK, sounds great 🤷‍♂️

[@wendymtzc]

You don’t need training just a thicker skin 🤷‍♀️

[@beautifulmoon8896]

Thank you for this video. I am working on some flower beds and a beginner. Your video was very helpful. I think I'll stick with purple for now and then add complimenting colors later on.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Love that idea!

[@sofiam7063]

I would like to hear more examples on colors that clash. The magenta and bright red was a great example.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

You'd probably enjoy reading more about The Müller Formula (or: Predictable Color Preferences). It's a bit more nuanced than just x color and y color don't work together. It's more about the shades and tints of the colors. Check it out! www.quora.com/Why-do-some-colors-match-but-other-colors-together-just-look-weird?ch=15&oid=1856185&share=e95aafe6&srid=3FIYL&target_type=question

[@4evachristmas]

I love a whimsical garden with lots of color but I definitely wished I watched a couple of your videos before I did my spring planting .so many great tips.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Awe thank you. You can always move your plants around! I make notes all season long so I don't forget by the fall what I want to change! 😊 Have fun!

[@4evachristmas]

@@PrettyPurpleDoor Hi, if you plant a row of little giant aborbovitae and your not sure if the spacing is right can you wait until they get bigger then remove some ,or just do it now while they are small.

[@4evachristmas]

The sphere shape one that is.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

I would not wait with a larger shrub or tree.

[@4evachristmas]

@@PrettyPurpleDoor 😊 thanks for the advice, I fell for the "oh they are so tiny now ,and I need to fill the space"

[@SunlessComa4614]

My training is limited to propagation in nurseries, growing from seed, pruning annuals, and merchandising using striping and waterfalling in garden centers organized by flower type, size, and growth patterns. My flowerbeds are organized by flower type, shade/dappled sun/full sun/water tolerance/soil type, and THEN color. Idc - I'm whimsical and like bees, butterflies, waterfalling using ROYGBIV, and planting panicle hydrangeas at the edge of my property. Once I have a flower type chosen for each bed, I stagger the colors not for curb appeal, but for pollination and fun! Edit: I spend an inordinate amount of time walking and hiking through the prairies and multi-terrain wooded paths of state and MetroParks, and that's my inspiration. I naturally overanalyze everything and am excruciatingly methodical by nature, and gardening is the one area where I try my hardest to let go and allow. The previous owner, my Grampa, was raised on a farm in rural Minnesota, and as soon as he and my Nana moved in he went about creating raised flowerbeds around the entire perimeter of the house. I'm ultimately trying to look at it as he did: the earth meets all of our physical needs, and we've caused a lot of damage. The least we can do is give back through soil fertilization, removal of weeds that pop up when we plant non-native species in areas they don't naturally grow, and invest not to make it pretty but to make peace. He passed last year, and after having to read some Michael Pollan books for my environmental sustainability degree, I feel like I understand my Grampa's perspective on a much deeper level.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Sounds good! enjoy your garden 😊.

[@sallyrucker8990]

At 8750 feet with -40 degrees temperatures in the winter, that really gives me a drastic decrease in the type of plants that can even work here. Ideally everything also needs to be deer and elk proof, as well. I started with a packet of wildflowers and have divided and grown my landscaping from there. Mostly white and purple work well here. I complement with yellow.

[@rm8553]

Thank you for all your valuable information Amy. Hoping to eventually achieve this as a new gardener.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

I hope so too! Thanks for watching!

[@tessa7413]

That’s my problem too. When at the nursery, I see what I like & forget about color coordinating.. and then my garden ends up looking kind of hodge-podgy. Color coordinating is something I’m trying to work on.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

It takes time and some restraint for sure. But it really helps 😊

[@debbydoodler33]

My house is light blue and white, so I used those two colours as my starting point. I'm gradually incorporating purples as I really like them and there's such a huge selection to choose from. For contrast, I have pops of burgundy and orange. I try to keep green foliage on the medium to darker side. I find the fall season kind of crazy because I get lots of volunteer sunflowers and some foliage turns red, but I like the changes 😅

[@judymckerrow6720]

About the only colors I don’t often use are red and orange. 💐💚🙃

[@NinmahMa]

I chose to install what’s called a mini meadow, a wildflower garden. This is the first year. So far there are many colours and I like it.

[@OfftoShambala]

Just getting more people to grow stuff matters more. But, as a designer, it’s good to think about these things too. This is something I think about.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Start a KZbin channel to encourage people to grow more stuff! Sounds like a great idea to me and we could really use the help. Hopefully you don't get pummeled in the comments like I do, though 😁

[@HandcraftedintheFoothills]

I have a color scheme in front yard as its more formal. I have white, pink and purple. Now in my backyard its a free for all of all colors and its for all seasons so i have 3 seasons of color

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Sounds great

[@elainemarcavage2619]

Good advice, good information, good in every way.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Thanks so much 😊

[@perseus6852]

Mistakes? I would say options, combinations, preferences or whatever. Flowers have nuances of memories, dreams, happiness, freedom... And always have mother nature as cocreator.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Sorry the word mistakes has triggered you. Just replace it with tips, as I'm really just providing color tips.

[@Sheila-sv1ly]

A bit confused. Gardening is art. Do you restrict color in art?

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Yes for sure I do restrict color in my paintings as well. And as a graphic designer I always started with a color palette. Usually brands and companies have set colors to go from. If you want to use every color then go for it though. I was just providing some tips if this is something you struggle with. I'm just a person on the internet you don't have to listen to me.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

When you get dressed in the morning, you put on clothes that match or go together. When you decorate your home, you try to choose cohesive colors and pieces that work together. When artists paint, they study color theory and explore how color works to evoke different moods and emotions. Theres so much to dive into and it's really fun to learn more about color theory. Restrictions of any kind actually simplify complex matters (like designing a garden and trying to choose lots of different plants and make them look good together). Any time you can create restrictions, it makes you intuitively more creative and better at problem solving. You may enjoy my free training here I talk about this a lot more in depth. On KZbin I just provide short tips and tricks to get people started but the training is a hour long: prettypurpledoor.com/secrets

[@annmc3878]

We have a big side yard with defined flower beds. I have a different color scheme selected for each one. Large bed going down the side of the house: purple, white with some yellow. First circle: bold colors dark reds, dark purple. Second circle: pastel colors focusing on coral, but some peach, yellow, orange and a tiny bit of purple. One landscape designer we had a long time ago said to not focus on color, but I like all colors, but just not together and find it helpful to have some color scheme.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Sounds beautiful. Color is the most fleeting aspect of planting design, which is probably why your designer suggested not to focus on it. Plant form and texture are also important when designing. But I love color myself and always try to focus on carrying it throughout the seasons 😊

[@honeybadger3408]

Really Informative, Thank you! 💜💜👍👍

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Glad it was helpful!

[@goblinb]

Talk about clashing colors; I seem to be in the minority about this, but I think white is the ultimate 'clash'. Everyone says it sets off other colors, but I disagree; it just sticks out like a sore thumb. In my opinion, it just doesn't go with anything. Well, maybe silver, green, perhaps pale colors, but with bright colors it just doesn't. And I'm just not fond of white anyway(maybe it's years living through winters in the midwest, lol). I love bright and deep colors! Although some of the most exquisitely scented flowers are white: gardenia, tuberose, jasmine, white gingers, lily of the valley, citrus blossoms, the Singapore and Celadine plumerias, white champaca. Red and magenta may not work(I think it's because they are too close on the color wheel) but I love bright orange with magenta or deep, bright pink. And joining that partnership with purple or violet, or yellow, or lime green is amazing in my opinion.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

I agree with you. I dont use much white in my gardens unless intentially with colors that I feel make white look it's best.

[@narasimha7187]

You can add white to any color scheme and it will augment the look

[@debs-more-plants]

Wow! Great video!

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Thank you 😊. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@debs-more-plants]

@@PrettyPurpleDoor I’ve been working in this as I’ve made mistakes before but working in a new space do trying to do better!

[@user-ov9bj3gk6i]

I believed in color scheme. Thank you

[@terrypauloregon]

I had a plan for my cottage garden pinks, purples, white and Blues. But as things bloomed that were giving to be. They bloomed. And now my color scheme is off. I now need to move some red and yellow day Lillies. I have a couple coral and orange but I don’t have a conflict with them yet because of where they are and bloom time. I do have black eyed Susan but they bloom late over by peony that is done blooming. So I hope this video helps me figure out where to put the odd colored things.

[@applecitylady]

omg thank you so much for the great tips!!

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

You're so welcome!

[@cipherklosenuf9242]

Someone designing a new garden is faced with many choices. Having a purpose, style and color palette has helped me determine what Not to include. If I had an established garden I would have different challenges…this crowding that …full sun is now full shade. The swing set is a faded hazard….or whatever. So in redesigning …purpose, style and color are considerations. If a bounty of color is a joyful expression that’s great! But, color may be one way to determine what to take out or cut back.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Yes for sure... Creating any kind of restrictions or rules for yourself is incredibly helpful to filter down all the choices you need to make. Thanks for watching!

[@Debbio2222]

In the woods or forest, all colors grow together. They don't have a set pattern. They don't say I am blue and you are red so we shouldn't grow next to each other. This is good advice for someone who is looking for perfection amd unity, but gardening should be fun and enjoyable no matter what you plant together, you can always move it if it doesn't work for you. Thank you for the ideas. ,

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Yes nature is beautiful. Design is also beautiful 😊

[@Artemisgrier]

Nothing like coming up on a stand of ferns or mayapples…but there isn’t sharp contrasts of color in my woods. Hardly any color but green until fall. A few red berries or tiny red flowers are a thrill to see, but that’s because green and brown dominate…so one could say there is color theory at play and it makes her point…green and brown are restful and relaxing.

[@ratioetscientia]

I find that the color of the foliage also has a big impact on how any color looks. Bright reds and yellows are only going into my garden if they come with blue-ish or silvery foliage. A bright red with warm middle-of-the-road green foliage is too much for me.

[@ratioetscientia]

…unless it’s early spring. Any color is welcome in early spring 😅

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Lol I have this rule also with early spring bulbs. Everything goes.

[@Carl-iw9sy]

I like to collect different plants so our garden looks like a clown threw up in my yard 🤣

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Then this probably wasn't the video for you. You do you 🤡

[@richardeidemiller6739]

While a lot of color can be unappealing at times in a garden, often it can be quite beautiful . I believe the key is more about arrangement and balance. For my eyes if I only see one of every color it doesn't work well. If I see many colors but they repeat, are in drifts or balanced it does. I like many types from one color to many. It depends on how it's done. Vicki

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

For sure. There's lots to learn about color theory and how to use color effectively. While it can sometimes happen serendipitously, what you've said about balance, repetition (and also contrast) are tools we can use to make things look beautiful. I love everything about design. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@s.diller9206]

I always colored outside the lines, my garden is the same. 😅

[@susanwhitington7966]

I have a very large garden and try to let the color palette change as it goes from one area to another. My problem is that plants are not always what they claim to be. By the time I realize this it is too late to return them. The only choice is to move them, toss them, or live with it.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

That's true. They don't always look like we expect. I usually move them or take them to plant swaps if that happens and find something else that makes my color brain happy 😊 🌈

[@JuniperLynn789]

I do white, blue, purple, and pink (different shades of each) by the house and it looks cohesive. We want that flow for our house front. But by the greenhouse I have more variety of colors. Yellows and reds mixed in.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Sounds like a rainbow of color 🌈 good for you. Maybe add orange and that would be every color I think 😍

[@JuniperLynn789]

@@PrettyPurpleDoor very true! 😄

[@lesliehoward887]

I love this video and the message. I’m trying to create a small romantic flower bed and the only colors I have so far are soft peach and a dark red. What other color could I add to enhance that maybe a dark purple? I do have two dark green hedges as a backdrop. i’m trying to be really careful because I don’t want buyers regret when I see some thing I like, but I know the color it won’t blend. I’m glad to have found your channel.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Look for inspiration photos online and see what colors they use to get the feel you want. I can't really answer this question for you as it's personal to what you want. I would stay away from hot pink / magenta with the reds. The dark purple sounds nice.

[@joannarogers3660]

I found a lot of value in your video. I recently moved into a white farmhouse. The previous owners used only much between the alternating 4 woodland sage plants and 5 small red knockout roses along the front porch, leaving plenty of space in between. It has a very clean, almost formal appearance. Their colors are lovely and they appear to be doing well in hardy zone 6b with plenty of sunlight. But what other perennial plants, bushes, or ground cover will bring cohesiveness to the flower bed and give it a little oomph?

[@pamelaspooner7183]

Salvias. Hundreds to choose from in all colours. Can’t go wrong and tough!

[@joannarogers3660]

@@pamelaspooner7183 Thank you for your input. Growing up, I knew sage plants to be synonymous with salvia plants. The four that are planted along my porch are a beautiful purple. Alongside the red blooms of the 5 knockout roses they are especially colorful. I'm just having trouble deciding what else to add to the flower beds that will complement and add cohesion to the two bold plants that are already well established.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

You should probably incorporate some evergreens for winter interest and structure.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Check out my course, this is what I teach. Prettypurpledoor.com/course

[@Artemisgrier]

@@joannarogers3660consider perennial baby’s breath if you want a more cottage feel…lots of annual possibilities, but you’ll need to water more :) check out proven winners for their color palettes.

[@sue00009]

Wow, I do the opposite of this. I think it’s just that our brains work differently that everyone has such differing opinions on this. You either view things as a whole where everything has to coordinate or you view it as individual plants that happen to be next to each other. When I look at a plant, I’m looking at IT. How pretty the flowers are, maybe the leaves are variegated in a pretty way. I don’t care what it’s next to. I only see the plant I’m looking at, till I look at its neighbor and then I’m seeing that one. Other people seem to see things zoomed out. Like “hmm no, that color in the corner is clashing with that color in that other corner.” And they’re both valid ways to enjoy your garden. Whatever makes you happy, is the right way to do it.

[@gardeningjunkie2267]

I myself prefer a color scheme, but if you look at the gardens in Makinac Island, they are gorgeous and have a million colors. There must be some way they're making this work, that just doesn't work as well in a home garden.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Most of those gardens are designed by professionals who probably have studied color theory and design for years. It's like comparing a new artist to someone who's been painting a lifetime, they have more experience. You can use a lot of colors if you understand how colors work together. But it takes time to learn and master 😊. This is what I teach in my course.

[@mandocool]

I try to balance the colors in my garden because I want to create a certain feeling

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Yes me too 💜

[@ToniAcevedo-dy4kx]

If they bloom together they go together

[@janet3895]

I just made this mistake yesterday!😱red and magenta now what? Don’t want to replant

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Separate them, like I said in the video.

[@angiel3693]

As a gardener, I’ve not reached the point of worrying about the colors yet.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

I don't see why your level of gardening would stop you from choosing a color scheme. I find it makes things much easier and simpler and it's one of the first things I share with beginners.

[@iletired]

Just discovered your channel and really enoy it! I did well with my yellow/purple, but where I went wrong was vertical spacing. I can't seem to find a video where you discuss heights of plants and planning accordingly. Idea for a future video, or did I miss something?

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

I discuss this in my video about balance and how to arrange plants. But honestly you just put taller things behind... I'm not sure what else needs to be thought about. What is tripping you up so much?

[@katewithat]

Mine would probably end up in the examples of what not to do 😄

[@1980cah]

All of these were spot on until you used Epcot as an example of color clashes. Living 10 minutes away from the parks, I know several locals that work for Disney. I've had a pleasure of meeting many of their expert landscaping team members. They are highly trained and it is so fascinating to hear about how they plan different gardens. That garden there is supposed to be bold and excite. I wouldn't say it clashes. Instead it's a personal opinion. I also don't care for the combination used in that area. They change the flowers out frequently but it's usually the same color combinations or similar bold colors used together. Sometimes they add complimentary colors which I think looks much better. Disney is my go to for getting inspiration and finding colors, plant combinations, and textures that pair well. I take pictures and plan my garden based on it. I prefer a rustic cottage style garden for instance. The Norway area is speaks to me. They put together combinations that I never thought of using. Walking the parks has helped me plan my gardens and understand the feel and style I like. Before I would just buy something I liked and wonder why it just doesn't work and looks blah. I understood color combinations but the style is so important. I encourage that anyone that is looking for inspiration to go to a local garden or park. Happy gardening!

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Epcot was beautiful and I did an entire video praising how wonderful the flower and garden show was. Give it a watch. They need to experiment and push boundaries. Not everything is going to hit home for everyone. But I have so much respect for their designers and meant no disrespect. Just not a combo I would recommend, especially to a home gardener getting started 😊

[@1980cah]

@@PrettyPurpleDoor I watched it. It was great!

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

One of the epcot gardeners commented on the video and offered to answer questions to anyone who has them.

[@1980cah]

@@PrettyPurpleDoor I saw that. Very cool!

[@Selebrian87]

I love color so much and how can I stick to one coral bell! 😆 They’re all so beautiful, and it’s hard to be cohesive when the front of my house is quite literally half shade and half full sun my poor coral bells just were not surviving in full sun. That’s my hardest part with staying cohesive any suggestions when quite literally half the front of my house is full sun and the other half mostly shade? We have a big Japanese maple in the front of the house that only covers one side other half is straight sun ALL day.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

I would stick to one color range of coral bells for the shady side. For example, there are lots in the magenta family (dark burgundy or berry colors). On the sunny side, try echoing that color with a plant that likes full sun. For example, a burgundy colored sedum or dark foliage of a ninebark. Japanese maples do not do well in full sun, generally. They like some shade. This article has lots of tips for balancing an asymmetrical design www.prettypurpledoor.com/should-landscaping-be-symmetrical/

[@user-pt1ld2er4h]

Hello! I have a small garden, I just removed sod there. I need dwarf shrubs and some evergreens. Size should be under 3 ft. I like the Tater tot Arborvitae and plan on putting a small white gardenia tree in the pot. I also like coleus on the boarder. Question, do you have any suggestions for color in the middle? I do like the candy corn shrub but i'm not sure if the color will fit and definitely like the lil ditty viburnum but they seem to be all sold out. Pls help, I have a blank slate

[@svetlanapil8089]

If only we all had huge budgets to buy all plants at once. I started with an empty and large yard. For now im adopting all of the plants I can lay my hands on and starting a lot from seeds. I have no idea what will grow well and what not at our high altitude and super short season. Ill trow everything in and will edit later. I would say the biggest mistake people make in a garden is spacing out plants too far and not planting in masses.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

I don't think you need to buy all the plants at once... If you create a plan you can then plant in phases. But there's also nothing wrong with growing from seed and editing your choices later. I just like to do the research up front.

[@talietalie3949]

👍👍

[@evelynlamotte5797]

Where do I get the free design class?

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Hello! Here's the link: go.prettypurpledoor.com/secretrevealyt

[@ritaparker478]

Use colour wheel

[@lelyluck]

This is why I always stay away from red flowers 😔 I have red salvia and I have no idea where to put them in my garden

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Maybe give them to a friend or take it to a plant swap. Purple salvia are my favorite.

[@Damremont18]

Yikes, I’m encouraged when the plant actually decides to show up for the season! Actually, I don’t think Mother Nature had a well developed style sense. I don’t think they get embarrassed when the plant beside them decides to show up with in electric blue and it’s wearing a muted blue.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

If you like the wild style of mother nature, then go for it. I'm just explaining color theory and design to those who find it interesting and helpful.

[@sterlgirlceline]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@ekscentar1]

This is exactly what I did wrong with the pink blankets and light-red rose. It doesn't seem to bother anyone but me. The problem is that I transplanted an old rose last year, and that was the only place in the garden where she likes the most. But the transplant was so difficult that I can't change it now. In addition to weeding and all the other numerous jobs, I don't have enough time to transplant a plants with deep roots. I will add some zinnias, they are in all colors so it will be sweet again.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Aww I'm sorry. Yes maybe if you plant something in between to break up the colors it will help. That stuff bothers me a lot too.

[@ekscentar1]

@@PrettyPurpleDoor I would prefer to change the color of that rose. Is this possible by inoculating a new variety? Admittedly, I don't know how.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

I don't think so. Out of my area of expertise if it is possible.

[@pamelaspooner7183]

Please yourself. Period. Don’t garden for others’ opinions. And roses are tough! Dig it up and move it but cut it back so the inevitable smaller root system won’t have to support so much top growth while it tries to recover and grow more roots. No, you can’t change the colour. Grafting is way beyond your skill set, takes too long, and impractical when you can shop and buy the colour and type that suits you.

[@Dahliaismypassion]

Please don’t listen to influencers and plant what you like. Nobody needs “designer” gardens, like nobody needs designer bags. It is your garden , make it yours!

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

I'm not an influencer, I went to school to learn graphic design and landscape design. So Im sharing the knowledge I have for those who want it. Learning the subject/topic of "design" is not the same as buying a "designer" handbag.

[@mstamper77]

Depends whether you view a garden as art or not. If a garden is not art to you, probably none of this matters.

[@Kate98755]

hmmmm, guess MONET needed your guidance.....i go for the MONET EFFECT

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

If you look at any of monets paintings, he definitely does have a color palette he uses 😍

[@JosephGriego-su2vt]

I suppose nature got it wrong then. I’m more of the natural wildlife garden type. I want to try and naturalize my yard.

[@wendymtzc]

Wild life goes in the wild, in your home you CAN control if you want

[@Dahliaismypassion]

I agree, I love naturalistic gardens with many dainty flowers in all colors, they look amazing.

[@donglebingo]

I've never heard it pronounced shkeem before rather than skeem

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Sorry that's just how I say it. Hope you can overlook that

[@maidmarion2976]

It’s called personal preference and it’s the joy of gardening. There are no ‘mistakes’. How patronising.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Apologies if you found it patronizing. If you watch the video, you'll find that I'm very kind and try to explain things without upsetting people. But I do have several degrees and color theory *is* a real thing that artists and designers study. So I'm just trying to share my knowledge. Perhaps I'm just not for you, and that's totally ok. Lots of other types of gardening videos on youtube.

[@pamelah6431]

No, it's not patronizing, it's called education. There's a reason why some gardens look nicer than others and why some soup tastes better than others.

[@CynthiaLamb-jf2md]

No such thing as wrong colors or too many colors in a flower garden just because you say so.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

K

[@petebartlett2229]

Nature doesn’t pick colours or plants that coordinate… Do exactly as you please

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Nature doesn't but designers do. Either way, do whatever you want.

[@Anikanoteven]

I plant native plants. The color palette is very limited. When you value supporting wildlife over how it looks to humans, color theory is of zero value.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

Very true. At times, especially when planting native plants, the ecological value of certain plants outweighs the design aesthetics. However, if you aren't planting straight native for ecological value only, defining a color palette and introducing some "design" into the space can make a native planting much more acceptable and appealing to the general public. I've found that using a lot of natives but actually designing the space to be a great way to get more people on board with planting native.

[@Anikanoteven]

@@PrettyPurpleDoor yes, too true. I get a little annoyed by how few people understand the connection between our natural spaces health and native plants, hence my rather cross response.

[@PrettyPurpleDoor]

No worries. I totally get it. Natives are incredibly important. I find designing "around" them does help quite a bit to get more buy in with incorporating them into designs. Thanks for sharing your perspective.

[@ceciliamatos3288]

I have just subscribed because I find your channel interesting and I have much to learn. Your honest, straightforward presentations and interesting topics withdraw me to this channel. Thank you so much. Can’t wait to learn! ♥️🌸🌺🌷🥀💮🪷🌼