9 Ideas for Thoughtful Gardening in 2014

This year on Houzz I've seen how thoughtful gardens and good ideas transcend aesthetics and style. In profiled projects and articles, several core values surface. Though designs and trends drive forces, these ideas drill deeper, examining what the garden means without imposing rules. We've planted the seeds; in 2014 let's grow them.

1. Design a Garden That Makes You Feel Good

Gardens can extend your design style, complement home architecture, or share your worldview — but they can also be healers. Outdoor spaces, plants, and wildlife often have restorative powers no perfectly decorated room matches. Make your garden a place you're proud of, but most importantly, a place you feel yourself in. Don't worry about expectations; build a garden that makes you feel at home — that's the masterpiece.

See more: Unwind in Your Own Private Garden Escape

2. Use the Front Yard

Though rarely neglected, the front garden's function is constantly questioned. Curb appeal looms large, but that's not all they offer.

Consider bringing gardening and outdoor living front and center. Instead of a back deck, build a front deck if it works. Thinking of raised beds? Line your sunny entry for fresh produce on your way to the front door. Experiment with new plants in your hell strip.

See more: Take Back Your Front Yard: 8 Ways to Make It Social

3. Let Nature Inspire You

You want a garden reflecting your personality, lifestyle, and aesthetic — but also one that grows. What better place than native landscapes?

Not saying re-create Muir Woods, but use generations of plant trial and error tailored to your microclimate. "By studying naturally occurring plant combinations around the globe and in the field across the street, we may find the humblest yet most efficient plant combinations," says plantsman Dave Demers. Maybe this year look at the fringe for inspiration.

See more: Shape a Sea-Inspired Garden | Devise a Desert Garden | Grasslands to Garden | Mighty Mountain Gardens | Ideas for a Woodland Garden

4. Re-imagine the Lawn

Political leanings aside, traditional lawns consume lots of water, require lots of care, and sometimes aren't the right fit. Lower water bills and increase biodiversity by swapping sod for native grass, shrinking lawn edges, or eliminating entirely. Look at this lovely front yard conversion with blue fescue and echeveria.

See more: Get Along With Less Lawn — Ideas to Save Water and Effort

5. Make Your Garden a Wildlife Magnet

Why not design a garden attractive to all visitors? Plant pollinator attractors, leave seed heads through winter, add water features for thirsty birds and butterflies — win-win: wildlife gets a place, you enjoy the view.

See more: Attracting Birds and Butterflies

6. Leave Plants Up

Save chores by forgoing seasonal cleanup and letting plants stay up through winter. Like red wine or perfect boots, the winter garden only gets better with time.

See more: 7 Reasons Not to 'Clean Up' Your Fall Garden

7. Design for Winter Interest

We expect winter gardens to be transitional between fall's fiery glory and spring's rebirth, but winter gardens can be beautiful too.

Gardens like Denver Botanic Garden plan for winter interest. See how frozen grasses frame crimson seed heads and naked sumac?

See more: Inspiring Winter Scenes From the Denver Botanic Gardens

8. Make It a Group Effort

Whether planting a tree with your neighborhood, setting up a front yard lawn chair, organizing a garden tour, or trying a poetry box — realize the landscape doesn't stop at the fence line.

See more: 15 Ways to Make Your Neighborhood Better

9. Relax

At day's end, you want your garden as a refuge, not just a responsibility. You can't control which plants thrive, randomly die, flower, or when. Your garden has its own ideas.

You can steer it, but eventually birds, bees, butterflies, roots, squirrels, sun, and rain take over. Benjamin Vogt suggests being patient and "see what the garden has to teach you, what each plant and bird and insect shares about how nature works." The garden evolves; each year differs — but that's exciting. Embrace the change.

See more: How I Learned to Be an Imperfect Gardener