Island-Inspired Garden Design Ideas

Island-Inspired Garden Design Ideas

Unless you live on a tropical island, those of us who enjoy the occasional tropical island holiday often can’t point to exactly what it is that makes us feel like this is how life is supposed to be. You find yourself spending the majority of your time just lazing around anywhere you can, taking in the beautiful sights and sounds of a landmass that’ll have you feeling like you’re at the end of the world and that there’s nowhere else much to go than right where you are.

It’s simply the flora growing and flourishing in some of the most fertile growing conditions you’ll ever find, which is why island-inspired garden ideas should be stolen any chance one can get. You simply won’t go wrong with an island-inspired garden design.

White sandy areas

That beach party vibe can be recreated very easily by pairing some white sandy ground, in your home garden, with the placement of teak garden furniture. The larger the sandy area the better, but it would perhaps be pushing it if we suggested some kind of water feature such as a pond. If you can include something like a pond, go for it, because the richly fertile landscape of the typical tropical island doesn’t just encompass the ocean and the seaside.

Venture up the mountains of Dominica, for instance, and you’ll find some rocky pools and streams that are teeming with inland water life.

Topical plants and trees

Palm trees come into focus as perhaps the ultimate epitome of island trees, but it’s a hit-and-miss with regards to whether they’ll actually grow in your own garden. There are variations of palms that can grow even in colder regions, but then again there’s the matter of just long palms typically take to grow to consider. All these plants are great to add if you want extra greenery to enjoy from your teak garden furniture.

Otherwise, just fill your garden up with plants that flower brightly and you’ll be well on your way to replicating an island-style garden. P.S. many islanders love growing all sorts of functional plants that produce fruit or fresh produce, so even if something like an apple tree doesn’t bear fruit in your garden, it’s beauty can add that much desired island-garden feel.

Water features

If there are any water features to be included, they should look as natural as possible, unless, of course, you’re looking along the lines of a pool. Backyard swimming pools are vastly becoming the most popular water feature option, and many decide to have one fitted when they want to turn their yard into a tropical paradise. It is worth remembering though, that if you already have one, you may want to remodel your swimming pool to ensure that it fits in with the overall theme of your exterior. Either way, it could be a feature worth considering.

If you really want to get creative, make it a rocky pool with a grotto. This is could be all you need to turn your backyard into an outdoor space worthy of a tropical island.

Dense and thick foliage

Not every single portion of an island offers visibility of the ocean, so water features aren’t absolutely necessary. You’ll have to make up for the would-be water with some thick and dense foliage though, like reeds to simulate sugar cane and spinach to simulate the various types of dark-green, leafy plants that just love island weather. Of course, you can also add plenty of butterfly plants that’ll make all the nearby butterflies flock to your garden, giving it a more tropical and paradise-y feel.

Ruggedness

If you have a lawn, don’t rake away the dead grass when you cut it, this as a way to simulate the characteristic ruggedness of a typical tropical island garden. Remember, the features of the garden are only part of the puzzle. To get the maximum amount of value from your outdoor space you will want to have plenty of teak outdoor furniture to provide seating arrangements for you and your guests.

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