Do you ever look at a neighbor's property and wonder why it looks so beautiful and how it complements the home or surrounding property so well? The secret may very well lie in the color choices made when planting, and in an understanding of cool and warm colors, as well as a sense of how contrasting color schemes work. When covering up landfill areas, create a distinct style and atmosphere with your ground cover and planting choices.

Keep these tips in mind to create beautiful, colorful displays in your yard or garden this year:

Contrasting color themes

When you are looking at what colors to integrate into your ground-cover this year, think about those shades that are on opposite sides of the color wheel. For instance, red is exactly opposite of green, and the two make a beautiful, vibrant display.

Some other contrasting color combinations that work include:

• Blue and orange
• Purple and yellow
• Navy blue and peach
• Mint green and plum

Cool colors

Cool colors give a garden a sense of calm serenity. These are colors that can be used as buffers between wildly contrasting shades, although may become overlooked when used in a border. Some cool colors to camouflage your landfill cover include:

• Blue
• Green
• Purple
• White

Warm colors

Warm shades dominate a garden and bring energy to a space. These are the gardens that are easy to see from a distance and that create the most effective focal points for your property. Some warm colors to highlight include these:

• Red
• Orange
• Yellow
• Pink

Reflecting color

A great technique that will enhance the overall cohesion of your outdoor space is to reflect the colors of a garden with those used in borders, edging, lawns, or other features. Some individuals may even reflect the colors of their home with the colors of the plants that they place in their gardens. For example, if you are planning on a bright yellow and orange flower garden in the yard, reflect this in a border of marigolds along the fill designated for the driveway.

Common combinations

It may surprise some that the most popular color combinations are blue, pink, and white. Since these shades go with a wide range of other colors, such as green, yellow, and purple, they provide the perfect foundation for any green-space, garden spot, or flower bed.

Color is an effective way to strategically bring cohesion and flair to your home, and this includes implementing these color techniques when you are looking to quickly cover the fill around your home. Check out the color wheel and consider what shades are most suited to your home's curb appeal. Ask garden retailers for these specific colors in native plants and flowers that will thrive in your environment, and ask landfill contractors for high-quality fill to create sustainable gardens and ground cover.

For more information, contact Berry & Vale Contracting or a similar company.