21 Free Garden Design Ideas and Plans

Pollinator Garden

Ultimate Kitchen Garden

Fragrant Garden

A Glorious Kitchen-Garden Plan

Herb Garden

Even if your space is limited, you can grow herbs right outside your door. Assemble a collection of pots and plant the herbs that you use most often, as well as some varieties that are less familiar to you (you may discover a new fave!).

Some herbs are annual, so you'll need to replant every year, while other herbs are perennial and will come back for many years. Make sure to plant perennial herbs in a spot in your garden where they have plenty of room to spread.

Read more: 20 Best Perennial Herbs for the Tastiest Edible Garden Ever

Also read: Everything You Should Know Before Starting an Herb Garden

Cottage Garden

This adorable cottage garden integrates charming old-time annuals and perennials, herbs, and flowering shrubs to produce a simple, informal display that provides plenty of flowers for cutting.

Get the Cottage Garden Plan.

Porch Border Garden

Perennial Garden

Why plant new flowers every year? By incorporating perennial flowers, which return for many years, you'll be able to build a garden that will need little care from you to bloom.

But be patient! There's an old saying that perennials walk, then crawl, then run. So expect them to start out slow and finally kick into high gear in the garden during their third year in the ground.

Read more: 27 Best Perennial Flowers and Plants to Love in Your Garden

Water Garden

This small water feature is suitable for a residential garden in the city or suburbs, where it could be placed on a deck, terrace, or patio.

Get the Water Garden plan.

Raised Planter Garden

Patio Garden Bed

If you're constructing or repairing your patio, plan for a planting bed as part of the design. It'll help to define the space and make it feel more like an outdoor room.

Read more: 20 Best Patio Plants for a Lush Outdoor Space

Fall Cutting Garden

Nothing dresses up a home like fresh flowers, and growing them yourself is even more fun. This small raised-bed cutting garden will provide cut flowers for weeks and weeks.

Get the Fall Cutting Garden Plan.

Fall Decorating Garden

Tired of having to buy all the items you need to craft natural seasonal decorations? Why not take some space in your garden and grow your own autumn plantings?

Get the Fall Decorating Garden Plan.

Spring Bulb Garden

Nothing's more refreshing after a long, dark winter than greeting spring with bright and cheery flowering bulbs. But if critters are an issue, stick with bulbs they don't like, such as daffodils and hyacinths.

Plant bulbs in fall for a show next spring.

Read more: 16 Best Flower Bulbs to Plant in the Fall

Winter Flowers

Did you know many plants, such as these stunning hellebores shown here, can bloom in the winter? Plant winter-blooming flowers so you can enjoy your garden even when the weather is frightful.

Pick them now, plant them this fall, and they'll be making your winter landscape beautiful next year.

Read more: 19 Best Winter Flowers to Add Color to Your Garden

Flowering Trees

Vertical Garden

Rose Garden

Every garden needs roses! And they're not as fussy as you might suspect. New shrub types, such as Knockouts, are hardy and more disease-resistant so they're perfect even for beginners.

This plan will show you how to take an 11- x 15-foot plot and simply pack it full of roses.

Get the Rose Garden plan.

Bark-Appeal Garden

A garden shouldn't only be attractive in summer.

If your garden lacks winter interest, consider planting trees and shrubs with peeling bark and unique textures, which provide interest to your garden year-round.

Get the Bark Appeal Garden Plan.

Shade Garden

Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.

Chris is the Senior Food & Garden Editor at Country Living, where he covers all things edible or growable. He has two kids and lives in Birmingham, AL.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLvUp6ursZyew6q6xmeaqKVfnK6zsMSnoKefX5yus7DEp2SinJWWwHCzlm1taJ%2BRp7Gmuoypo5qmo2Q%3D